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Trump is now facing ‘a plethora of potential criminal charges’ – according to this defense attorney
Speaking on CNN this Wednesday, legal analyst Norm Eisen said that in light of recent testimony before the Jan. 6 committee, "Trump's involvement in violence" on Jan. 6 is now being scrutinized, making legal action all the more possible.
Defense attorney Caroline Polisi agreed, saying there is "now a plethora of potential criminal charges at play."
"We talk a lot about what crimes could be charged here, and yesterday was the first time I certainly saw that we saw a through line between seditious conspiracy, the violence that took place [on Jan. 6] we heard about in the first hearing with the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, and actually President Trump," Polisi said.
"Up until this time, yesterday essentially, I could only see exposure for obstruction of an official proceeding, potentially obstruction -- conspiracy to defraud the United States, things of that nature," she continued. "Now we're actually getting around to the realm of seditious conspiracy."
IN OTHER NEWS: The DOJ is going to make Mark Meadows a suspect or target of an investigation: Ex-Justice Department official
Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top White House aide with unique access to Trump and the inner workings of the West Wing, testified Tuesday at the sixth June hearing of the House committee probing the attack on the US Capitol.
An executive assistant to Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows, she was a central figure in the White House around the period of the insurrection on January 6 last year.
In some of the most explosive testimony from the hearings so far, Hutchinson said Trump and some of his top lieutenants were aware of the possibility of violence ahead of the attack -- contradicting claims that the assault was spontaneous and had nothing to do with the administration.
Hutchinson said she recalled her boss saying four days before the insurrection: "Things might get real, real bad on January 6."
READ MORE: Morning Joe offers profane advice to longtime ‘buddy’ Mark Meadows
Hutchinson had sought out Meadows, she said, after a White House meeting involving Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
As they were heading to Giuliani's car, he asked her if she was "excited" for January 6, she testified.
When she asked what was happening on that day, Hutchinson testified that Giuliani "responded something to the effect of, 'We're going to the Capitol,'" Hutchinson said.
"'It's going to be great. The president's going to be there. He's going to look powerful. He's going to be with the members. He's going to be with the senators. Talk to the chief about it. Talk to the chief about it. He knows about it.'"
Watch the video below.
With additional reporting by AFP
The DOJ is going to make Mark Meadows a suspect or target of an investigation: Ex-Justice Department official
Former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman explained Wednesday on MSNBC that Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony before the House Select Committee was a "game-changer."
Hutchinson was a top aide in the White House in the lead-up to the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election and the attack on Congress on Jan. 6. Speaking under oath to the committee on Tuesday, she linked her former boss, then-chief of staff Mark Meadows to first-hand knowledge about several possible conspiracies.
Litman first explained that he thinks former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone will ultimately come forward about what he knows. Cipollone hasn't been willing to come forward, but he's been called out by the committee on several occasions. Just last week, co-chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) named him, but said that the evidence they've received from witnesses indicates he "tried to do the right thing."
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) noted that one of the reasons they've talked about him so much as a witness is that they have heard his name so many times from so many witnesses.
IN OTHER NEWS: Attorneys scramble to block subpoenas of Georgia lawmakers in investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn election
"We have a pressure of history, the kind of John Dean moment and 'what side are you on.' It is big enough that for a guy like Pat who wants to be an establishment figure, get further jobs in administrations and the like, her forthrightness and courage makes a poor contrast with his cravenness and his, sort of, I don't want to say hiding behind, but his assertions of privilege really are makeweight now because we know Biden says that there is no privilege," Litman explained. "Moreover, Cipollone is a told Bill Barr guy from the start and Bill Barr did come forward and testify. My best guess is that they are trying to work out an arrangement for him to come forward. Not because he is in general hot water, but because he doesn't want to be on the wrong side of history and a narrative that has now gotten profoundly more serious in the last 24 hours."
As for Meadows, host Chris Jansing asked why someone like him would come forward if he's a potential target for the Justice Department.
"This is what happens with potential criminals," Litman said frankly. "You decide maybe you should play an open hand. I have no doubt that Meadows is thinking about — you're right, Chris, he is too big to get a free ride, but he is not too big to get some consideration. So, he has to rethink his posture and think of what kind of problems he is in if he doesn't come forward. He is thinking mainly about himself and his own skin. But there are reasons that suspects have for not coming forward to cooperate. I don't see it happening with him. on the other hand I see it as way more likely than I did yesterday that the department will make him a very serious suspect or target of investigations."
See the discussion below:
Is Mark Meadows headed for a DOJ probe? youtu.be
Ted Cruz criticizes Elmo for ‘aggressively’ advocating COVID vaccine for kids in new ‘Sesame Street’ PSA
Elmo, the beloved red Muppet character on the long-running children’s television show “Sesame Street,” is now vaccinated against COVID-19 — but not everyone is happy. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took to Twitter to express his outrage at a public service announcement featuring Elmo and his dad Louie, which was designed to encourage parents and caregivers to get informed about COVID shots for younger kids. “You were super duper today getting your COVID vaccine, Elmo,” Louie says during the 60-second spot. “Yeah, there was a little pinch, but it was OK,” the little furry red monster, who’s 6 1/2 years ol...
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