Jae C. Hong/AP
A California judge formally recommends that attorney John Eastman be stripped of his license to practice law for his role in legal efforts to keep Donald Trump in power after losing the 2020 presidential election. did.
Eastman, a prominent figure in conservative legal circles and a former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, created a plan in which each state would send a pro-Trump slate of electors to Congress to support then-Vice President Mike Pence. , played an important role in supporting. Unilaterally block or delay the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.
“Mr. Eastman's misconduct constitutes a very serious ethical violation that requires strict professional discipline,” Judge Yvette Rowland of the California State Bar wrote in her ruling. “Eastman has submitted court filings, countless Americans and other Made multiple patently false and misleading statements in public statements heard by the public on January 6, 2021.”
Judge Rowland also criticized Eastman's defiant response to the accusations against him.
“His lack of insight into the illegality of his misconduct is deeply concerning,” Judge Rowland wrote. “Eastman has the right to defend himself, but his actions go beyond that and reveal that he does not fully understand the wrongfulness of his actions.”
In addition to the disbarment, Judge Rowland recommended that Eastman pay a $10,000 fine.
Judge Rowland's recommendation will be reviewed by the California Supreme Court, which will ultimately determine whether Judge Rowland can retain his license to practice law. Meanwhile, Judge Rowland's ruling places Eastman's license on “involuntary suspension” status, effectively barring him from practicing law.
Following the decision, attorney Randall Miller, who represented Eastman in the state's attorney lawsuit, said Eastman would appeal. “Dr. Eastman's response to the legal issues he was asked to evaluate after the November 2020 election is based on authoritative case law, past housing elections, a study of the constitutional text, and extensive academic material. Miller said in a statement.
California attorneys say in their lawsuit against Eastman that Eastman committed “serious and “He misused his license in a harmful way.” In doing so, he betrayed his fundamental duty and oath he was sworn to uphold. ”
Mr. Eastman has denied all wrongdoing, insisting that he is only a passionate defender of his client, Mr. Trump, and that the legal arguments are reasonable and arguable. Testifying in his own defense in California state court, Eastman continued to make his case that the 2020 election was marred by widespread irregularities. His recent media appearances have also cited widely debunked claims about election fraud, including from his pro-Trump film “2,000 Mules.”
California courts refuted Eastman's claims in court, using evidence and testimony from state election officials. Mr. Eastman testified that he has not taken steps to independently verify some of the claims of election fraud he has asserted in legal proceedings.
One of multiple Trump lawyers under investigation
Eastman is a lawyer who promoted the Trump campaign's 2020 campaign and has since faced disciplinary action from legal authorities, including Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark, Jenna Ellis, and Sidney Powell. One of them.
Eastman also faces state criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia, for his involvement in the Trump campaign's legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He pleaded not guilty. As first reported by Politico, Special Counsel Jack Smith has also ordered the recording of Eastman's testimony in California state court, suggesting that Eastman is also under federal surveillance. .
Before joining Trump's defense team, Eastman served as dean of Chapman University School of Law and campaigned unsuccessfully for California's attorney general in 2010.
After the 2020 election, Eastman joined President Trump's legal efforts to overturn the election results, advancing claims of fraud that have been consistently rejected by courts. Mr. Eastman then wrote a memo in which Mr. Pence planned to block Congress from certifying Mr. Biden's electoral victory.
On the morning of January 6, 2021, Eastman took to the stage with Rudy Giuliani at the pro-Trump “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse near the White House, claiming the election was tainted by “fraud.” . In his address to the audience, Eastman said, without any evidence, that the computers tallying vote totals had a “secret folder” that could be used to falsify the results, and told Pence that Pressured to take action.
Despite a pressure campaign from Trump, Eastman and others, Pence ultimately rejected the plan as unconstitutional.
A mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, injuring 140 police officers, forcing lawmakers and staff to evacuate or take shelter, and delaying the certification of electoral votes.
“Thanks to your bull[****]we are currently under siege,” Greg Jacob, who served as Pence's general counsel, emailed Eastman as the riot unfolded.
“The 'siege' is because you and your bosses didn't do what was necessary to air this in a public way so the American people could see for themselves what happened.” replied Eastman.
Despite the attacks, Eastman continued to advocate for Pence to block the certification of Biden's victory.
Days later, Eastman sought to protect himself from potential legal repercussions related to the Capitol attack.
“If it is still under consideration, I have decided that I should be added to the list of pardons,” Eastman said in an email to Rudy Giuliani on January 11, 2021.
Eastman said the California attorney's legal investigation was politically motivated. “This is not republicanism, this is authoritarianism,” his lawyers said in their closing argument.