Category Archives: chicanery

“Fox News, Dominion Defamation Trial Delayed Amid Network’s Push to Settle”

April 17, 2023, 7:32 amchicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ: A Delaware judge delayed the start of the widely anticipated trial on a voting-machine company’s defamation claims against Fox News, an announcement that came as the network is looking for a possible way to settle the case. Superior Court… Continue reading

“Quid Pro Crow”

April 15, 2023, 3:49 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern in Slate (with maybe the best pun in an article title I’ve ever seen): When news broke last week, by way of dogged reporting in ProPublica, that Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted decades’ worth… Continue reading

“Special counsel focuses on Trump fundraising off false election claims”

April 12, 2023, 7:12 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: Federal prosecutors probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol have in recent weeks sought a wide range of documents related to fundraising after the 2020 election, looking to determine if former president Donald Trump or… Continue reading

“These state officials praised ERIC for years before suddenly pulling out of the program”

April 11, 2023, 5:57 pmchicanery, election administration, voter registrationRick Hasen

Jessica Huseman for Votebeat: When newly elected Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off a series of election security reforms in 2019, he said, “protecting the integrity of Florida’s elections” was one of his “top priorities.” In addition to giving $2… Continue reading

“Trump’s response to criminal charges revives election lies”

April 10, 2023, 7:27 amchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

AP: Legally, the most important words former President Donald Trump said after he was charged with 34 felonies by the Manhattan District Attorney last week were “not guilty.” But, politically, the most significant may be “election interference.” Trump’s repetition of… Continue reading

Fox News defamation suit settles

April 9, 2023, 6:16 pmchicanery, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

No, not those suits. This is the settlement of a separate defamation suit by Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, based on comments on Lou Dobbs’s show on Dec. 10, 2020. Khalil was roped into the Dominion/Smartmatic conspiracy nonsense, but… Continue reading

Kari Lake tries to make election denial a litmus test for 2024

April 8, 2023, 1:41 pmchicanery, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

But not with particular subtlety. And I think you should get even more specific, ‘Was the 2022 election for governor in Arizona stolen?’ And if they won’t say ‘Absolutely, yes,’ that’s a big red flag,” she added. “That’s a… Continue reading

“With more costs to come, Shasta County will spend $950,000 on new voting system”

April 7, 2023, 1:11 pmchicanery, election administrationJustin Levitt

The $950,000 is apparently for “the equipment needed to hand-count ballots”; the final bill will also include personnel costs estimated at more than $1.6 million.

How Fox Chased Its Audience Down the Rabbit Hole

April 6, 2023, 5:55 pmchicanery, election subversion riskJustin Levitt

Jim Rutenberg in the NYT Magazine with a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep dive on how we got to the Dominion defamation lawsuit.

House Judiciary Subpoenas Former Manhattan Special Assistant DA Mark Pomerantz

April 6, 2023, 4:28 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, legislation and legislaturesJustin Levitt

Here’s the cover letter attached to the subpoena, explaining House Judiciary’s rationale for conducting a deposition. Pomerantz worked on the Trump investigation for the Manhattan DA’s office, resigned in protest when Trump was not charged earlier in DA Bragg’s tenure,… Continue reading