Ella Lee

All this and more in The Gavel, written by me &
@zschonfeld.bsky.social. We publish weekly, on Wednesdays.

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And in WI, the case against three Trump allies appears to be more or less on track.

A state judge refused to throw out the charges in August.

In NV, a venue fight has tied up the case.

AG Ford says the case belongs in Clark County, but a judge ruled Carson City. Ford's appeal is pending at NV's top court.

To ensure the case lives if he loses, 1 of 2 counts were refiled in the latter. Electors pleaded not guilty & trial set for July.

In GA, Fani Willis's office was disqualified. Georgia’s Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council must pick a new prosecutor by Nov. 14 or the case could be dismissed.

PAC director Pete Skandalakis said Monday that a new prosecutor had not yet been picked and declined to comment further.

In MI, AG Nessel is still weighing whether to appeal the dismissal of charges against 15 pro-Trump electors, her spox said.

The standard 21-day window to appeal has passed. But prosecutors could ask to file a delayed application, which can be brought up to 6mo later (June).

In AZ, AG Mayes was recently given an extension to Nov. 21 to decide whether to press forward with her office’s case or let it fizzle out.

A state judge ordered prosecutors to return the case to a grand jury, and a mid-level appeals court declined to review the case. So:

The state cases against Trump's allies and the so-called "fake electors" have been dealt several blows in recent months.

Now, the Dem AGs who brought the charges are at junctures where they must make critical decisions about the future of the cases.

The 2020 election subversion cases are on life support — but they’re not dead yet.

In this week's edition of The Gavel, @thehill.com's weekly courts digest, some updates on where things stand (🧵):
thehill.com/newsletters/...

Background here: thehill.com/homenews/adm...

SCOTUS wants additional briefing in the pending case about Trump's National Guard deployment to the Chicagoland area:

Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive candidate for Congress in IL-9, was hit with federal charges tied to an ICE protest alongside five others, including local political candidates.

They're set to be arraigned on Nov. 5. Story: thehill.com/regulation/c...

U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie, a Clinton appointee who sits on a federal court in South Carolina, has been assigned to weigh Comey's challenge to interim-US atty Lindsey Halligan's appointment.

Filing: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71459...

An appeals court has temporarily lifted the part of a judge’s order blocking Trump’s federalization of the National Guard in Illinois but says they still can’t be deployed for now (though, looks like the TX troops can stay in the state):

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

New: The indictment of NY AG Letitia James over real estate fraud allegations may ring a bell.

Though far smaller in scope, it echoes the civil fraud case she mounted against Trump that put her in the president’s crosshairs.

Story: thehill.com/regulation/c...

NY AG Letitia James has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two charges stemming from mortgage fraud allegations, making her the second prominent Trump adversary to face criminal charges after he vowed to seek retribution against his perceived enemies.

Story: thehill.com/regulation/c...

#4 in United States v. James (E.D. Va., 2:25-cr-00122) – CourtListener.com Summons Issued and delivered to USM in case as to Letitia A. James. Initial Appearance set for 10/24/2025 at 09:00 AM in Norfolk Mag Courtroom 2 before Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller. (dbra, ) (En...

Letitia James's initial court appearance in Norfolk, Va., is set for Oct. 24, before a magistrate judge:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601...

The two-count indictment against New York AG Letitia James:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/71601...

Ex-FBI director James Comey's arraignment has been moved up to Wednesday at 10am.

Judge cites security & other conflicting matters that are expected to draw "large numbers of people to the courthouse" at the same time.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

BREAKING: Illinois and the city of Chicago have sued to block Trump's deployment of National Guard troops.

Filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Story: thehill.com/regulation/c...

NEWS: The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over Trump’s effort to fire the Fed's Lisa Cook in January.

In the meantime, she can stay in her role:

More court docs confirm the grand jury did not indict on one of the three counts prosecutors pursued against Comey:

NOW: A 2-page criminal indictment against James Comey has been filed:

A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making a false statement and obstruction, just days after Trump called for his longtime foe's prosecution.

Story by The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch:
thehill.com/regulation/c...

Story on how we got here & the SCOTUS battle to come, w/ @zschonfeld.bsky.social: thehill.com/homenews/adm...

Kagan, joined by Sotomayor & Jackson, dissents from the majority's decision to let Slaughter's removal stand until the court decides the case:

The Supreme Court takes up Trump's firing of FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, setting up a showdown over its 90-year precedent enabling protections for some regulators.

In the meantime, the firing can go into effect:

Utah has filed formal notice of its intent to seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with killing Charlie Kirk:

Story: thehill.com/regulation/c...

NEWS: Utah prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk.

Comes as Utah County AG Jeff Gray announces seven charges against Robinson, including aggravated murder. Story tk.