The newly revealed phone call suggests the RNC chairwoman and former president could face corruption charges in Michigan.
For what? Let’s read the news and find out.
Is Ronna McDaniel facing corruption charges in Michigan?
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel could face corruption charges in Michigan for her alleged involvement in former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case, according to a report released Saturday. .
Michigan officials revealed the RNC leader was involved in the former president’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in his favor.
According to newly leaked audio of a November 17, 2020 phone call, Trump and McDaniel tried to convince Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, not to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Biden. In a phone call two weeks after the 2020 election, Trump told the two election officials they would look “terrible” if they certified the election results. “We must fight for our country. We cannot let these people take over our country,” the former president said.
McDaniel later said on the call, “If you can go home tonight, don’t sign it.” We’ll get you lawyers once Trump says, “We’ll take care of it.” »
According to Anthony Michael Kreis of the Georgia State University College of Law, McDaniel’s offer of lawyers to election officials to combat possible legal issues could be used to file corruption charges against her.
Posting a screenshot of Michigan’s corruption laws, Kries wrote on A promise was offered in exchange for an official act, unlike in Georgia where the preferred method seems to be limited to intimidating officials.”
His message added: “And this is before any other public corruption conspiracy/election fraud type crimes that may well be involved. »
Reported old phone conversation between RNC chairman, former president and Michigan state officials raises possibility that McDaniel’s could be charged with bribery if Michigan state officials misinterpret “offer of lawyers” as an attempt to bribe public officials. However, it remains unclear whether McDaniel will be safe to face corruption charges in Michigan.
Will Donald Trump be accused of corruption?
In further anticipation, the recording of a leaked phone call in November 2020 raises questions about whether Trump will face corruption charges in Michigan.
The phone call shows the former president and the RNC chairman pressuring two state election officials to prevent them from signing the document and certifying the 2020 election results.
Whether Trump will face corruption charges depends on the legal interpretation of his “offer of lawyers” to election officials.
Under Michigan state law, bribery of a public official consists of an “offer or promise” which can be any “gift, gratuity, money, property or other thing of value”, the purpose of which is to influence the act, vote, opinion, decision or judgment of such a public officer.
Several legal experts have given their opinions on the likelihood that the former president will be charged.
Professor Kreis wrote in his article on On the one hand, it’s not what we typically think of as a bribe. On the other hand, it is a materially valuable thing offered in exchange for a corrupt official act.
He added: “If we view bribery (laws) as criminalizing the offering/accepting of goods that personally enrich or benefit the public official, then dangling a lawyer does not fall within this prohibition. But the terms of this law are not so limited. Be curious to see the case law.
In another statement, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote: “Offering a public official something of value (the services of an attorney) in exchange for withholding an official action (certifying the Wayne County vote ) looks like a classic case of bribery under Michigan state law. »
In another statement specifying the likelihood that Trump would face corruption charges, Ian Bassin, co-founder of Protect Democracy and former associate White House counsel, wrote on reviewing Michigan’s statute of limitations. Section 750.118 of the Code. If Trump offered Wayne County Board members something of value in exchange for an official act in his favor, there’s a word for it.”
Although the Michigan Attorney General’s Office previously indicted 16 Republicans for pitching fake voters to win the former president in the 2020 election, it is unclear whether Michigan law enforcement officials are considering corruption charges against Trump.
It is therefore unclear whether the former president will face state corruption charges. He could be charged if judicial authorities decide that the offer to pay lawyers for two election officials constituted bribery of a public official.
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Why will Trump and his Republican sidekick regret this phone call to Michigan?
The phone call between Trump, MacDaniel and Michigan election officials in November 2020 could result in specific legal and political consequences for these figures, making them regret their conversation.
While it is unclear whether the former president and RNC chair will be charged with corruption in Michigan for offering attorneys to election workers, the phone call that exposed their failed attempt to change the election results of 2020 with the help of two Michigan election officials may induce legal challenges. This can be considered important evidence against Trump and McDaniel from a criminal law perspective.
The recording could double the legal problem for the former president, who already faces two criminal charges over his attempts to overturn the 2020 elections in Washington DC and Georgia, because it could be used as evidence to uncover the acts Trump’s illegal acts during and after the 2020 election and how he attempted to stay in power after losing the election to President Biden.
Additionally, it could damage McDaniel and Trump’s reputation among the people. This could particularly impact the former president, a favorite for the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race.
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