# Is Sidney Powell insane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 22, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169 "2020-11-22T04:25:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/382 "2021-04-26T19:23:49Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > One wonders whether Powel is feeding her lawyers the arguments she wants to make, or whether she’s hired people just as nutty as she is to defend her. Well, if _you_ were a lawyer, and also not a clearly insane person, would _you_ represent her if she showed up on your doorstep looking to hire you? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/383 "2021-04-26T19:30:01Z")
Depends if she can afford my retainer or not. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/384 "2021-04-26T19:33:16Z")
I’ve met a lot of people online who don’t understand the difference between an opinion and a fact. It seems like a lawyer should be able to tho. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/385 "2021-04-28T19:26:04Z")
So following this argument it seems that they are saying that it is logically impossible for anyone to be guilty of defamation. So why do we have laws against it? They can’t really expect that the judge would actually accept this line of reasoning, can they? ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/386 "2021-04-29T16:35:07Z")
That’s how I interpret their claims… but I doubt they really have any intent to defend the “logic” of those arguments. Looks like more of a hopeful smearing and blurring of definitions and claims in order to confuse and annoy the judge enough to get irritated and toss out the whole case rather than sit through all the silly BS arguments that are sure to come. My assumption/hope is that a judge will have seen enough cases to know the difference between serious arguments and the BS posturing of high-profile cases. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/387 "2021-05-13T17:28:35Z")
I swear: conservatism is just a big grift. > **[Company: Ex-Trump lawyer raiding nonprofit for personal use](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-lifestyle-business-election-2020-government-and-politics-917bfd39a2e37f7e101d0492c88fc05f)** > > Former Trump attorney and self-proclaimed “Kraken releaser” Sidney Powell has told prospective donors that her group, Defending the Republic, is a legal defense fund to protect the integrity of U.S. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/388 "2021-05-14T12:34:11Z")
Powell doesn’t have 1.6 billion bucks, does she? What happens If the judgement goes to Dominion for the full amount? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/389 "2021-05-14T14:12:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I swear: conservatism is just a big grift. Whatever the current American right-wing is - and it ain’t conservative - is a big grift. That article suggests that Powell may not actually be raiding her non-profit group to pay her bills, but presumably only the companies and their auditors know the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/390 "2021-05-14T15:53:47Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Powell doesn’t have 1.6 billion bucks, does she? > > What happens If the judgement goes to Dominion for the full amount? Bankruptcy court. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/391 "2021-05-14T17:18:24Z")
I’m not sure that Bankruptcy will solve it. > **[Are Lawsuit Judgments Discharged by Bankruptcy?](https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/bankruptcy/lawsuit-judgments-discharged.html)** > > Learn about wiping out lawsuit judgments in bankruptcy. > Exceptions to Discharge > > Certain types of debt can’t be discharged in bankruptcy. If a creditor obtains a judgment against you for a nondischargeable obligation, filing for bankruptcy will not discharge that judgment. Some of the most common types of nondischargeable judgments include those related to or arising out of: > > ``` > domestic support obligations such as child support and alimony > criminal penalties, fines, and restitution > certain taxes > student loans > debts acquired by fraud, misrepresentation, or false pretenses > willful and malicious injury caused by the debtor, and > death or injury caused by the debtor's drunk driving. > > ``` I think a couple of those could apply to the dominion case, so she can probably look forward to wage garnishments and property leins for the rest of her life. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/392 "2021-05-14T17:53:48Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I think a couple of those could apply to the dominion case, so she can probably look forward to wage garnishments and property leins for the rest of her life. Which ones? > domestic support obligations such as child support and alimony Clearly not applicable. > criminal penalties, fines, and restitution This is a civil lawsuit, not a criminal trial. Not applicable. > certain taxes > student loans > debts acquired by fraud, misrepresentation, or false pretenses None of those are applicable. > willful and malicious injury caused by the debtor I Am Not A Lawyer, but I _think_ that’s referring to physical injury. If that includes injury to reputation, then that would be an applicable exception. > death or injury caused by the debtor’s drunk driving. Not applicable. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/394 "2021-05-16T02:08:00Z")
Wait. I thought I deleted that. Ignore the above. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/395 "2021-05-17T00:01:59Z")
What am I missing here? All I see is three silhouette targets. Her technique seems about as good as her lawyering. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/396 "2021-05-17T00:09:44Z")
Yeah, like I said, I wanted to delete the above. Apparently you can only delete so many posts in a day. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/397 "2021-06-01T01:46:45Z")
Who needs facts or logic when you have a biker vest? > **[Ex-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell showed up to a QAnon conference in a biker vest...](https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-trump-lawyer-sidney-powell-tells-qanon-crowd-trump-can-be-reinstated-as-president-2021-5)** > > Powell, who represented Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has long promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/398 "2021-06-01T08:22:53Z")
The “insane” theory gains a lot of new evidence there. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/399 "2021-06-09T17:08:14Z")
[Apparently](https://news.yahoo.com/sidney-powell-just-eviscerated-her-162126316.html) at the same event she also undermined her own lawyer’s earlier arguments on her behalf by flip-flopping and saying she did actually mean what she said about Dominion and intends to prove it (her lawyers said her words were just opinion that no-one should take seriously). Since she already tried to “prove it” multiple times and lost every time in court, I just can’t see why she’d keep trying what she knows won’t work. Is all this bluffing an effort to raise enough money to cover her eventual loss in court… or is she really insane? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/400 "2021-06-09T17:42:01Z")
I remember her saying that she had evidence. Doubling down on all this BS. So, what is it - - No reasonable person would believe what I said (her defence) - or, That she has evidence that what she said was true. She said she did on national TV. She’s a Trump supporter. Their standard for facts and evidence is any bullshit they can spout. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/401 "2021-06-09T18:31:37Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > Is all this bluffing an effort to raise enough money to cover her eventual loss in court… or is she really insane? She could be sane, but just incredibly fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169/402 "2021-06-10T15:16:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > So, what is it - > > - No reasonable person would believe what I said (her defence) > - or, That she has evidence that what she said was true. She said she did on national TV. Maybe she could split the difference and produce evidence that no reasonable person would believe what she says. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sidney-powell-insane/926169.md?page=21)