BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Trump lawyers might be penalized over Michigan election case

In this June 24, 2021, file photo, former President Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell leaves federal court in Washington. A federal judge is considering whether to order financial penalties or other sanctions against some of Trump's lawyers, including Powell, who signed onto a lawsuit last year challenging Michigan's election results. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

In this June 24, 2021, file photo, former President Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell leaves federal court in Washington. A federal judge is considering whether to order financial penalties or other sanctions against some of Trump’s lawyers, including Powell, who signed onto a lawsuit last year challenging Michigan’s election results. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge is considering whether to order financial penalties or other sanctions against some of former President Donald Trump’s lawyers who signed onto a lawsuit last year challenging Michigan’s election results.

The lawsuit alleging widespread fraud was voluntarily dropped after a judge in December found nothing but “speculation and conjecture” that votes for Trump somehow were destroyed or switched to votes for Joe Biden, who won Michigan by 2.8 percentage points.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the city of Detroit now want the plaintiffs and a raft of attorneys, including Trump allies Sidney Powell and L. Lin Wood, to face the consequences of pursuing what they call frivolous claims.

“It was never about winning on the merits of the claims, but rather (the) purpose was to undermine the integrity of the election results and the people’s trust in the electoral process and in government,” the attorney general’s office said in a court filing.

U.S. District Judge Linda Parker in Detroit is holding a hearing by video conference Monday.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Indeed, election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well, and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six Republican voters who wanted Parker to decertify Michigan’s election results and impound voting machines. The judge declined, calling the request “stunning in its scope and breathtaking in its reach.”

The case appeared to be mostly handled by Detroit-area attorneys. But the lawsuit also carried the names of Powell, Wood and four more lawyers from outside Michigan.

The roles of Powell and Wood are unclear; they never filed a formal appearance in the case, according to the docket. But they’ve been targeted in the request for penalties.

Latest News

Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, also a Democrat, want the state to receive at least $11,000 in legal fees. Detroit is asking the judge to disgorge any money that lawyers have collected through a post-election fundraising campaign. The city also wants the lawyers to face disciplinary hearings in their respective states.

In response, attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila insisted there was plenty of evidence to support the lawsuit.

“They are a new form of political retribution,” she said of possible sanctions. “Such abuse of the law has no place in this court and is contrary to the law it hypocritically invokes.”

In New York, Rudy Giuliani has been suspended from practicing law because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Trump’s election loss.

Midwest

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

55°F Clear Feels like 54°
Wind
4 mph NW
Humidity
53%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
49°F Mainly clear. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph NNE
Precip
1%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent