Opening Arguments

Latest Episodes:

OA708: Stormy Daniels Strikes Back! Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew tackle the rumors swirling around the Manhattan DA's office that Donald Trump is about to be indicted in connection with the 2016 payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Will Stormy indeed be the one to take down Trump? Listen and find out!

In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew update you on Alex Jones's bankruptcies.

Notes OA 154: Stormy Daniels is a Legal Genius! https://openargs.com/oa154-stormy-daniels-is-a-legal-genius/

DB Story https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-an-offer-to-testify-before-a-new-york-grand-jury-signals-trouble-for-trump

Karen McDougal story https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/23/596257288/former-playboy-model-spills-alleged-affair-details-trump-tried-to-pay-her

AMI non-prosecution agreement https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1119501/download

52 U.S.C., Subchapter I https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/subtitle-III/chapter-301/subchapter-I

NY Penal Law 175.05 https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2022/pen/part-3/title-k/article-175/175-05/ New York Penal Law 65.10 https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-penal/part-2-sentences/title-e-sentences/article-65-sentences-of-probation-conditional-discharge-and-unconditional-discharge/section-6510-conditions-of-probation-and-of-conditional-discharge

N.Y. Penal Law 255.17 https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2022/pen/part-3/title-o/article-255/255-17/

NY CPL 30.10 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/30.10 11 USC § 523 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/523

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OA707: Peter Navarro Gets Spanked By Government In Presidential Records Case With Major Implications For Trump Mar 14, 2023

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Today, Liz and Andrew break down the DOJ's sweeping win "in replevin" against Trump loyalist goon Peter Navarro. What's replevin? Why do we care? Listen and find out for this case that has significant implications for the Presidential Records Act, which in turn may have significant implications for any former Presidents who have refused to give back their Presidential records.

We begin with a terrifying development in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, currently on the desk of Liz's sworn enemy, Judge Kacsmaryk.

Notes Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. the FDA https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65768749/alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-v-us-food-and-drug-administration/?order_by=desc

Cato Institute on Navarro https://www.cato.org/commentary/spectacular-economic-ignorance-peter-navarro

Presidential Records Act, 44 U.S.C. § 2201 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/44/chapter-22

Stern Letter to Navarro https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.4_1.pdf

DOJ Civil Division Letter to Navarro https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.6_1.pdf

Irving Letter https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.5_3.pdf

US v. Dean, 989 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1993) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1562611946262688408

Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391 (1976) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=10520682160164643446

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OA706: Flynn "Sold Out" His Country... and Now He's Suing It! Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

Liz and Andrew break down the latest LOLsuit from Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

You may recall Gen. Flynn from screeching "Lock Her Up!" on the campaign trail while surreptitiously serving as an unauthorized lobbyist for Turkey's brutal authoritarian regime. You may recall him as a pro-Russian stooge who lied about being a pro-Russian stooge. And you may recall him as having been pardoned by Donald Trump after Bill Barr tried to rig the Department of Justice in his favor.

However you remember this bozo, you'll be shocked to discover that he now thinks he deserves FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS for... having friends in high places. Fortunately, his lawsuit doesn't stand a chance in hell of succeeding, as Liz and Andrew make clear.

Notes Flynn complaint https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523.1.0.pdf

OA Amicus Brief http://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020.06.09-Amicus-Brief.pdf

OA Amicus Show (Episode 394) https://openargs.com/oa394-the-amicus-show/

OA 689 https://openargs.com/oa689-lawsuit-or-interpretive-dance-why-not-both/

22 U.S.C. § 618 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/618

18 U.S.C. § 371 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/951

2019 DOJ Report on Crossfire Hurricane https://www.justice.gov/storage/120919-examination.pdf

28 U.S.C. Chapter 171 https://t.co/sFiQAXafWI

28 U.S.C. § 2401 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2401

Form 95 https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/claim-damage-injury-or-death

28 U.S.C. § 2675 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2675

Sconiers v. US, 896 F.3d 595 (3d Cir. 2018) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8262809632148475317

Flynn v. Pelosi https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61634816/flynn-v-pelosi/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

OA 696 https://openargs.com/oa696-in-which-james-okeefe-pretends-to-be-a-journalist/

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OA705: Can Dominion Really Take Down Fox News?? Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

THIS IS AN EPISODE YOU'LL WANT TO SHARE!

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News. You know some of the salacious details that have been leaked, but you don't know just how badly Fox has mangled the law. You won't want to miss it!

Notes Bartiromo-Fratto emails https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23697625-bartiromo-fratto-summary-redacted

Exhibits - Delightfully mad emails https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23698221/redacted-149-200.pdf

Dominion MSJ https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/redacted-documents-in-dominion-fox-news-case/dca5e3880422426f/full.pdf

Dominion Reply Supporting SJ https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-08-PUBLIC-Dominion-SJ-Reply-Brief-Fox_Redacted.pdf

Fox News Reply Brief Supporting SJ https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/25-FNN-SJ-Reply-Brief.pdf

Edwards v. National Audobon Society, 556 F.2d 113 (1977) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=515638952298472646

Hogan v. Herald Co., 84 A.D.2d 470 (N.Y. 4th App.Div. 1982) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14598091554089425482

Brian v. Richardson, 660 N.E.2d 1126 (N.Y. 1995) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15437079674012061938

BONUS! Page v. Oath Inc., 270 A.3d 833 (Del. 2022) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3804284272223089234

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OA704: Democrats Play Offense On January 6! Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew break down how the Democrats are playing offense with respect to Republican efforts to gaslight America and whitewash the findings of the January 6th Committee.

Specifically, they tell you about the 316-page report on GOP Witnesses that Jim Jordan is trying (and failing) to call whistleblowers. You won't want to miss this breakdown! But first, Andrew has to update you on the latest right-wing lies about that dingus Raland Brunson and his nonsense pleadings in the Supreme Court.

Notes OA 668 https://openargs.com/oa668-a-new-case-right-wing-sources-are-blatantly-lying-about/

OA 692 https://openargs.com/oa693-mike-pence-cant-testify-against-trump-cause-hes-a-senator-now/

AP, “Supreme Court Will Not Hear Case to Oust Biden, Reinstate Trump” https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-supreme-court-trump-biden-election-850929590422

House Judiciary Report on GOP Witnesses https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2023-03-02_gop_witnesses_report.pdf

5 U.S.C. § 2303 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2303

18 U.S.C. § 1752 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1752

D.C. Code § 10–503.16 https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/10-503.16

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OA703: You Win a Toy Yoda! And 100 Grand! Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew provide an update on the new Republican broadside against Fani Willis in Georgia before breaking down the law around bad April Fool's Day jokes.

Notes New York Times article on Indiana legislation https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/us/republicans-district-attorneys-trump.html

Georgia SB 92 https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/216780

GA Constitution Art. VI, Sec. VIII, Paragraph II https://law.justia.com/constitution/georgia/conart6.html

McLaughlin v. Payne, 761 S.E.2d 289 (Ga. 2014) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18437690967547452063

29 U.S. § 216 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/216

Fast v. Cash Depot, Ltd. http://hr.cch.com/ELD/FastCash110718.pdf

Gill lawsuit https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/100-Grand-lawsuit.pdf

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OA702: Will Donald Trump Be Held Civilly Liable for Inciting the January 6th Insurrection? Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Blassingame v. Trump, a set of consolidated cases pending in the DC Circuit that will affect whether Donald Trump will have to compensate the victims of his attempted January 6th coup. You won't want to miss this one!

Notes US amicus brief in Blassingame v. Trump https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510.1218497852.0_4.pdf

42 U.S.C. 1985 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1985

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OA701: Fox's Defamation F-Tussle and the Texas Broodmare Tax Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew break down two stories that are all over the news: a proposed new bill in Texas that is an assault on both marriage equality and families. And then we have an update on how Dominion is doing in its defamation lawsuit against Fox News. You won't want to miss it!

Notes Texas HB 2889 https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB02889I.htm

TX Biennial Property Tax Report 2020-2021 https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/Biennial-Property-Tax-Report-Texas.pdf

2005 IRS bulletin - Frivolous Tax arguments https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb05-14.pdf

2007 IRS bulletin - more frivolous Tax arguments https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb07-14.pdf

Flora v. US, 362 U.S. 145 (1960) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13305625317215905

Helvering v. Mitchell, 303 U.S. 391 (1938) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1082206999326140100

US v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15904210835021146815

Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3833/text?r=98&s=1

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OA699: Will Scumbag Payday Lenders Use the Supreme Court to Crush Liz Warren's Dreams?? Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Today, Liz and Andrew take a deep dive into Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, a case that the Supreme Court just granted certiorari to review. Is the conservative Roberts court going to gut Liz Warren's signature accomplishment, the CFPB? Listen and find out!

(Yes, Andrew screwed up the numbering so you got episode #700 before #699... now everything should be good!)

Notes CFPB v. CFSAA cert petition and 5th Circuit opinion https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-448/246429/20221114155607407_No.%20CFPB%20et%20al.%20v.%20CFSA%20et%20al.pdf

Responsible lending https://www.responsiblelending.org/research-publication/fact-v-fiction-truth-about-payday-lending-industry-claims

The Victims of Payday Lending https://www.responsiblelending.org/issues/victims-payday

OA 126 https://openargs.com/oa126-mick-mulvaney-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/

12 C.F.R. § 1041.8 https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1041/8/

12 U.S.C. § 5511 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/5511

Seila Law, LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 207 (2020) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14557349188638541514

12 U.S.C. 5497 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/5497

OPM v. Richmond, 496 U.S. 414 (1990) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1013607894853666546

Kate Stith, Congress’s Power of the Purse, 97 Yale L.J. 1343 (1988) https://openyls.law.yale.edu/bitstream/handle/20.500.13051/16554/62_97YaleLJ1343_June1988_.pdf?sequence=2

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OA700: Rumors Of Trump's Testimony In Strzok Suit May Be Greatly Exaggerated Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

You may have seen the news accounts that a court ordered Donald Trump (and FBI director Chris Wray) to be deposed in connection with a lawsuit. Well, today, Liz and Andrew break down the DOJ's ongoing battle with Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Why is the government still fighting this? Will they really get to depose Trump? Listen and find out!

Notes 5 U.S.C. 552a https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/552a

Lisa Page's story to Molly Jong-Fast https://www.thedailybeast.com/lisa-page-speaks-theres-no-fathomable-way-i-have-committed-any-crime-at-all

Hatch Act https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title5/html/USCODE-2015-title5-partIII-subpartF-chap73-subchapIII.htm#:~:text=%C2%A77321.,political%20processes%20of%20the%20Nation

Strzok response https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963.88.0.pdf

EO 13233 https://sgp.fas.org/news/2001/11/eo-pra.html

Strzok opposition https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963.100.0.pdf

Strzok filing re motion to quash subpoenas for Trump and Wray, apex doctrine https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963/gov.uscourts.dcd.209963.88.0.pdf

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