Topline
A California judge ruled Wednesday that former President Donald Trumpās ex-attorney, John Eastman, should be disbarred from practicing law, noting the State Bar of California proved all but one of Eastmanās 11 misconduct charges it brought against him related to his aid of Trumpās efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
Key Facts
Judge Yvette Roland recommended Eastman, who entered Trumpās circle in 2019, be disbarred considering the circumstances surrounding his conduct.
Roland found the State Bar of California satisfied its burden of proving all but one of the charges against Eastman, which include one count of failing to support the Constitution and laws of the U.S., two counts of seeking to mislead a court and six counts of moral turpitude by making various misrepresentations.
The California Supreme Court will decide to endorse or reject Rolandās recommendation.
Eastman can appeal Rolandās ruling, though his license will be rendered inactive during any periods of legal review.
Roland also recommended a $10,000 sanction against Eastman āfor making numerous false and misleading statementsā about his conduct during the 2020 presidential election.
Eastman didnāt immediately respond to Forbesā request for comment.
What To Watch For
Eastman is also one of several Trump co-defendants who allegedly attempted to overturn election results in Georgia in 2020. He faces nine criminal charges including a violation of Georgiaās racketeering act, two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, filing false documents and more. The indictment against Eastman alleges he contacted Georgia state officials and pressured them to unlawfully appoint alternate presidential electors who would vote for Trump.
Key Background
Eastman is considered to be the legal architect behind Trumpās attempts to overturn the 2020 election. He first became involved in Trumpās legal matters in 2020, when he submitted a filing asking the Supreme Court to let the former president intervene in a lawsuit designed to throw out election results in four swing states won by President Joe Biden. The longshot suit ultimately failed. Eastman provided Trump with strategies to overturn his election loss, arguing former Vice President Mike Pence could refuse to count some of Bidenās electoral votes during a congressional session on Jan. 6, 2021. Eastmanās strategy was predicated on having swing state Republicans sign off on illegitimate alternate electors who would deem Trump as the winner of their states.
Further Reading
Who Is John Eastman? The Attorney At The Center Of Trump’s January 6 Strategy (Forbes)