memeorandum: Eight Possible Explanations — Many Bad, Some Good — for SDNY's Delay in Turning Over Cohen Files (emptywheel)

12:15 PM ET, March 15, 2024

Top Items:

Fulton County DA Fani Willis case against Trump can continue if she or special prosecutor Wade remove themselves, judge rules — Trump co-defendant Michael Roman accused Willis of misconduct for her “clandestine” relationship with Nathan Wade, whom she appointed as special counsel.

Discussion: Fox News, The Daily Beast, Breitbart, WCNC-TV, Blaze Media, New York Daily News, Bloomberg, DNyuz, NBC 7 San Diego, The Guardian, The Post Millennial and IJR

Washington Post:

Fani Willis can stay on Trump Georgia case, but only if Wade steps aside, judge says — ATLANTA — The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against former president Donald Trump and his allies ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) …

Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Judge rules Fulton DA Willis can stay — if Wade steps aside — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must either step aside or cut ties with her special prosecutor before the election interference case against Donald Trump can move forward, a judge ruled Friday.

Discussion: WAGA-TV, Mediaite, CNBC, Twitchy, acecomments.mu.nu, New Republic, PoliticusUSA, Trending Politics Conservative, Washington Examiner and CBS News

New York Times:

Live Updates: Judge Says Fani Willis Can Stay on Trump Case If Ex-Boyfriend Withdraws — The Atlanta district attorney's romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor she hired to oversee the case created an “appearance of impropriety,” the judge said, ruling that the prosecution can't proceed unless he leaves or she steps aside.

Discussion: HotAir, The Hill, RedState, BizPac Review, UPI, Trending Politics Conservative, Raw Story, KRON4, Althouse, Power Line and Lawyers, Guns & Money

WSB-TV:
EXCLUSIVE: Judge McAfee talks about upcoming ruling over to remove Willis from Trump case

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Fox News, NBC News, Twitchy, CNN, Los Angeles Times and NewsNation

CNN:
Fulton County judge says district attorney Fani Willis can continue to prosecute the 2020 election interference case

NBC News:
Judge denies one of Trump's motions to dismiss classified documents case

Olivia Rubin / ABC News:
Fulton County judge says Fani Willis disqualification ruling ‘should be out tomorrow’

Discussion: MeidasTouch, New York Times and CBS News

New York Times:
Manhattan D.A. Offers to Delay Trump Hush-Money Trial for Review of Records

Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:

I Listened to Trump's Rambling, Unhinged, Vituperative Georgia Rally—and So Should You — The ex-President is building a whole new edifice of lies for 2024. — I'm sure you had better things to do on Saturday evening than watch Donald Trump rant for nearly two hours to an audience of cheering fans in Rome, Georgia.

Discussion: Washington Post

Washington Post:

A majority of House Republicans retreat from their retreat — Good morning, Early Birds. Congrats to NC State for knocking off Duke in the ACC men's basketball tournament. Tips: earlytips@washpost.com. Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. Thanks for waking up with us.

Discussion: The Daily Beast, USA Today and Washington Examiner

Stephen Neukam / Axios:

Biden's team to Speaker Johnson: Your impeachment inquiry is over … - House Republicans have spent the last year and a half on an impeachment probe that appears unlikely to end in charges against President Biden. — The investigation — launched amid Republicans' allegations …

Discussion: The Bulwark, UPI, Associated Press, Forbes, Crooks and Liars, The Guardian, New Republic, Raw Story, The Hill, New York Times, USA Today and HuffPost

Tyler Pager / Washington Post:

Joe Biden's obsessive search for the right words … One day when Jen Psaki was serving as White House press secretary, she was asked to introduce President Biden at a virtual event commemorating Greek Independence Day. It was no big deal, Psaki thought — she would join the Zoom session from her office …

Philip Bump / Washington Post:
Trump goes on a weird riff about acid — again

Discussion: Mediaite

Lindsay Whitehurst / Associated Press:
Ex-Trump White House official convicted of contempt must report to prison, appeals court finds

Discussion: Washington Post, Raw Story, New York Times, Washington Examiner, USA Today, New York Post, The Daily Beast, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Hill, Political Wire and Law & Crime

emptywheel:

Eight Possible Explanations — Many Bad, Some Good — for SDNY's Delay in Turning Over Cohen Files — As Adam Klasfeld and others reported yesterday, Trump is asking to delay his New York trial on charges that he engaged in fraud to cover up the hush payments he made to get elected in 2016.

Manu Raju / CNN:

Schumer discusses ‘long-shot scenario’ with Manchin: Last-ditch Senate run in West Virginia — Hear more from Sen. Joe Manchin and the fight for control of the US Senate on “Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju” at 8 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET. — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently discussed …

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon, Washington Examiner and The Hill

Samantha Chery / Washington Post:

And the RBG Award goes to ... Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch? — Four men — plus Martha Stewart — will receive the award named after the late Supreme Court justice, who championed liberal causes and women's rights — Since 2020, a foundation has honored prominent women …

Discussion: WSET-TV and The National Pulse

Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:

Supreme Court outlines when officials can be sued for blocking people on social media — Former President Donald Trump's frequent use of Twitter lurked in the background as the justices weighed whether an official's activities online can constitute government action.

Discussion: Associated Press, USA Today, CBS News, The Post Millennial, SCOTUSblog and DNyuz

Debra Kamin / New York Times:

Powerful Realtor Group Agrees to Slash Commissions to Settle Lawsuits — The National Association of Realtors will pay $418 million in damages and will amend several rules that housing experts say will drive down housing costs. — American homeowners could see a significant drop in the cost …

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Bangor Daily News and Los Angeles Times

CBS News:

Red flags raised about FBI's Biden informant as far back as 2016 — Federal prosecutors were put on notice as far back as 2016 that Alexander Smirnov, the confidential FBI informant whose alleged lies about President Biden's business dealings fueled — and then damaged — a Republican impeachment effort …

Discussion: Truthout

Wafaa Shurafa / Associated Press:

The first ship to use a new sea route approaches Gaza with 200 tons of aid — A ship carrying 200 tons of aid for Palestinians was seen nearing Gaza on Friday. The ship set sail for Gaza from Cyprus on Tuesday in a pilot program for the opening of a sea corridor to the territory …

Discussion: Associated Press, Reuters, NaturalNews.com and Political Wire

Noah Berlatsky / Public Notice:

Republicans don't actually want you to remember 4 years ago — This free edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers. If you aren't one already, hit the button and sign up to support our independent journalism. — ✍️ Subscribe to Public Notice ✍️

Discussion: Mediaite

Jeremiah Poff / Washington Examiner:

TikTok needs a conservative US buyer — The prospect of TikTok needing a U.S. buyer increased this week after the House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the social media app's parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a ban.

Discussion: Fox Business, New York Post, Financial Times and Washington Times

AJ McDougall / The Daily Beast:

Indicted FBI Rat Was Paid by Texas Firm Tied to Trump World: Report — MONEY HONEY — An American company that forked over a huge payday to onetime FBI informant Alexander Smirnov has ties to a British firm owned by business associates of Donald Trump, according to The Guardian.

Matt Young / The Daily Beast:

Tornadoes Leave Chaos and Destruction After Pounding 3 States — Police walked back confirmation that at least 3 people died in Indiana after a tornado swept through a trailer park. — Police have walked back earlier claims that at least three people were killed in Indiana …

Discussion: Forbes, WALV-TV, The Columbus Dispatch, WAGA-TV, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, ABC13, CBS News, DNyuz, NewsNation, Plain Dealer, NBC News, WRTV Indianapolis and Fox News

CNN:

GOP nominee to run North Carolina public schools called for violence against Democrats, including executing Obama and Biden — The Republican nominee for superintendent overseeing North Carolina's public schools and its $11 billion budget has a history marked by extreme and controversial comments …

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Raw Story, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Political Wire

Associated Press:

Trump-backed Senate candidate faces GOP worries that he could be linked to adult website profile — For Republicans eager to regain the Senate majority this year, Ohio offers a prime opportunity to pick up a critical seat. But ahead of Tuesday's primary election, there's mounting anxiety inside …

Discussion: The Hill, Talking Points Memo, Washington Times, The Guardian, Breitbart, Mediaite, Axios, Raw Story, Fox News, Daily Kos and NBC News

Danielle Wallace / Fox Business:

Bernie Sanders tangles with reporter over question on 32-hour workweek: ‘I can yell as loud as you’ — Sanders snaps at FOX Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn over a question about his new ‘Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act’ — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lashed out at FOX Business correspondent …