Attorney Scott Pilutik wrestles with the news of the day, from a lawyerly perspective…

[Regarding this story: Republicans Ask For Whistleblower, Hunter Biden To Testify In Impeachment Inquiry]

Let’s say you’re on trial for robbery and your defense is that the guy you robbed was also a thief. You call the guy you robbed as a witness at your trial, thinking that once everyone learns that he’s also a thief, the court will surely view your robbery as perfectly justified. But the court won’t let you call him as a witness, mentioning something about relevancy and how it’s “not the way that works.” Unfair! you squeal.

Continue reading GOP strategy is to ask for Hunter Biden and the whistleblower to testify

 
Attorney Scott Pilutik wrestles with the news of the day, from a lawyerly perspective…

[Regarding this story: This Impeachment Won’t Be a Legal or Political Battle. It Will Be an Information War]

Everything Dahlia Lithwick writes here is spot-on, but I’m reminded of the words of many coaches I’ve had through life, and that’s to clear your head about what you think and fear the other team is doing and play your game. If you let your opponent take residency in your brain you’re halfway to defeat.

Continue reading The impeachment will be imperiled if Dems actually pay attention to GOP clowning

Attorney Scott Pilutik wrestles with the news of the day, from a lawyerly perspective…

[Regarding this NY Times article: Sondland Updates Impeachment Testimony, Describing Ukraine Quid Pro Quo]

Even before EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified I pointed out that he appeared to be positioning himself to Have It Both Ways, a strategy that is almost always doomed, in all areas of life, but especially so when you’re as far out of your league as Gordon Sondland is.

Continue reading Gordon Sondland ‘updates’ his testimony to confirm a quid pro quo

 
Attorney Scott Pilutik wrestles with the news of the day, from a lawyerly perspective…

[Regarding this story: ‘Get the emails’: Revealed memos suggest Mueller probe failed America. Can Congress fix it?]

Over the weekend a slew of documents were made public as a result of a FOIA request by BuzzFeed and CNN to obtain unpublished Mueller investigation materials. It’s a grab bag of pretty revealing stuff, but there were two standout takeaways. The first (discussed deeper in story above) is that Trump instructed his campaign staff to “get the emails,” referring of course to the Russian-hacked emails belonging to the DNC.

Continue reading ‘Get the emails’: The stunning revelations about Trump in new Mueller probe materials