Conservative attorney John Eastman is making a heartfelt plea to California ethics authorities, urging them to grant him permission to continue practicing law. This request comes at a time when Eastman himself is facing an imminent criminal trial on racketeering (RICO) charges in Georgia.
The former ally of Donald Trump is seeking a temporary halt to the judge’s order. This would allow him to continue representing his clients and earning money while he defends himself in the Georgia RICO case.
The motion to stay argues that placing Dr. Eastman on inactive enrollment would not only be highly prejudicial to him but also to his clients.
Eastman’s legal acumen is supported by his attorneys as well.
According to the stay motion, Dr. Eastman is highly regarded for his expertise in constitutional law matters, and his clients and colleagues often seek his representation. The motion argues that if the Order placing Dr. Eastman on inactive enrollment is not stayed, it would harm his clients by depriving them of his extensive knowledge and skill as a passionate advocate.
According to Eastman and his legal team, if he is unable to continue representing his current clients, it would hinder his ability to afford his mounting legal expenses. These payments are directly linked to his previous work representing Trump in lawsuits challenging the outcome of the election and devising legal strategies.
The motion filed on Wednesday argues that if the Order placing Dr. Eastman on inactive enrollment is not stayed, he would lose his ability to make a living as an attorney.
According to his attorneys, their client is facing a difficult situation as he is unable to afford legal representation, which is particularly unfortunate given the charges he is facing in Georgia.
The motion states that losing income from practicing law would greatly hinder Dr. Eastman’s ability to defend himself in Fulton County.
Eastman gained notoriety for writing two of what are now known as the “coup memos.” In these memos, he provided guidance on potential situations where President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory could be invalidated.
In addition, the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election at the U.S. Supreme Court, initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, was also supported by the former Chapman University law professor.
The Lone Star State strongly criticized the expansion of mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, labeling it as a “significant risk for fraud.” They emphasized that the mere suspicion of fraud in a closely contested race could warrant a review, regardless of whether actual fraud occurred. However, only two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, supported the idea of hearing these arguments, and the Supreme Court ultimately declined to do so.
In his own defense, the conservative lawyer maintains a defiant tone when discussing the nature of his pro-Trump legal efforts.
According to Eastman, he served as the legal representative for former President Trump and his campaign committee during the Fall of 2020 and January 2021. He explains that his role was to address the alleged irregularities in the November 2020 presidential election. As a result of his involvement in over a dozen legal actions related to this representation, Eastman states that he has already accumulated legal fees and expenses exceeding $1 million. He estimates that the total cost of these ongoing matters will range between $3 million and $3.5 million.
Both GOP elected officials assert that they have thoroughly examined the indictments in both D.C. and Georgia and are of the opinion that the charges and allegations against Dr. Eastman are baseless and driven by political motives.
