OA239: The Fourth Circuit's Puzzling Emoluments Ruling
Opening Arguments
Opening Arguments Media LLC
4.3 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 28 December 2018
⏱️ 84 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today's episode takes a deep dive into the just-released one-page order by the Fourth Circuit staying all discovery in the Emoluments litigation brought by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. How do we fill more than an hour's worth of time on one page? Why is this ruling really, really bad for everyone?? Listen and find out!
We begin, however, with a brief foray up Yodel Mountain to discuss (1) the reports circulating that Michael Cohen's phone was in Prague in the summer of 2016, and (2) the ethics review of "Acting" Attorney General Matthew Whitaker concerning the Mueller probe.
After that, it's time for a deep dive into the Emoluments litigation, the strange procedural posture of Trump's response, and what this means for civil litigation generally (and this case in particular). You won't want to miss it!
Then we end with an all new Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #107 on defamation. As always, if you'd like to play along with us, just retweet our episode on Twitter or share it on Facebook along with your guess and the #TTTBE hashtag. We'll release the answer on next Tuesday's episode along with our favorite entry!
Appearances
None! If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.
Show Notes & Links
- Click here to read the Whitaker ethics review letter, and here to read the Steele dossier.
- We last discussed the Emoluments litigation in Episode 226.
- You can check out all of these documents: the Fourth Circuit's order, the motion to stay, and the opposition filed by Frosh.
- Trump's argument is based on 28 USC § 1292(b) and relies on Fernandez-Roque v. Smith, 671 F.2d 426 (11th Cir. 1982).
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The first refugee ever elected to Congress. |
| 0:07.0 | The machinery of democracy should work for everyone everywhere, not just in certain places |
| 0:25.5 | and not just on a certain day. |
| 0:27.5 | How it sees nothing without a demand, it never has and it never will. |
| 0:35.0 | We still have to be willing to show up every single day and demand our seed at the table. |
| 0:45.5 | So f**king proud of you guys! |
| 0:54.5 | Welcome to Opening Arguments, the podcast that pairs an inquisitive interviewer with a real-life lawyer. |
| 0:59.5 | This podcast is sponsored by the Law Offices of P. Antertloris LLC for entertainment purposes, |
| 1:04.5 | is not intended as legal advice and does not form an attorney-client relationship. |
| 1:08.5 | Don't take legal advice from a podcast. |
| 1:19.5 | Hello and welcome to Opening Arguments, this is episode 239. |
| 1:22.5 | I'm your host Thomas Smith, that over there is Andrew Torres. |
| 1:25.5 | How are you doing, Andrew? |
| 1:27.5 | I am fantastic, Thomas. How are you? Do you have a nice holiday? |
| 1:30.5 | I did, I thank you for asking out a great holiday. |
| 1:32.5 | We received some delicious rye from somebody. |
| 1:37.5 | Thank you for that. |
| 1:39.5 | Very much appreciated. |
| 1:41.5 | I will say I'm hurting a little bit because I suck at fancy football. |
| 1:46.5 | But you know, doesn't suck at fancy football everybody. |
| 1:48.5 | Andrew Torres, time to announce the opening arguments, patron league results. |
| 1:55.5 | All right. |
... |
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