A California state judge recommended stripping attorney John Eastman of his law license due to his involvement in attempting to overturn the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election on behalf of Donald Trump.
Eastman, formerly Trump’s personal lawyer and currently his co-defendant in a Georgia criminal case related to election interference, faced accusations of violating California attorney ethics rules by misleading courts and making false public statements.
Judge Yvette Roland of California’s State Bar Court, who presided over a disciplinary trial against Eastman last year, asserted that Eastman’s actions were marked by deceit and dishonesty. She criticized his plan to undermine Joe Biden‘s election victory as unlawful and lacking factual or legal support.
The ruling now awaits consideration by the California Supreme Court, which holds authority over disciplinary matters.
Eastman’s attorney, Randall Miller, defended his client’s actions, stating that Eastman’s legal assessments post the 2020 election were grounded in established legal precedent, constitutional research, and scholarly material.
However, George Cardona, chief trial counsel for the California State Bar, emphasized the harm caused by Eastman’s abandonment of his legal duties and the threat posed to democracy, advocating for his disbarment.
This legal saga is further complicated by Eastman’s indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, in August 2023. He faces charges alongside Trump and others over efforts to overturn Biden’s election win in the state, to which both Eastman and Trump have pleaded not guilty.
Eastman, a former law professor, gained attention for drafting memos suggesting Vice President Mike Pence could reject electoral votes, a proposal Pence rejected citing constitutional constraints.
The repercussions extend beyond Eastman, with notable Trump allies facing legal scrutiny. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani had his New York law license suspended and potentially faces disbarment in Washington, D.C.
Similarly, former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark is undergoing a disciplinary hearing this week in Washington, D.C. Both Giuliani and Clark face charges in Georgia alongside Trump and Eastman, maintaining their innocence.