Sidney Powell’s Plea Deal Is So, So Bad for Donald Trump
SlateOn Thursday, Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor election interference charges in Fulton County, Georgia, becoming the highest-level figure to admit guilt in the vast conspiracy to try to overturn the 2020 election. Given her history of flamboyant statements and conspiracy theories, former special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee Norman L. Eisen notes that “the jury is literally out on how probative she will be as a witness.” He continued: “She may have particularly damning pieces of information to share with a jury that are corroborated so that any credibility issues are bolstered by other witnesses, documents, or evidence.” Powell is only the second domino to fall among Trump’s alleged co-conspirators agreeing publicly to cooperate against Trump. What’s more important, for the purposes of the prosecutions against Trump, though, is that the House Jan. 6 committee revealed that she was an active participant during a critical White House meeting in the weeks before Jan. 6, during which Trump allegedly sought to have her appointed as special counsel in order to seize voting machines. According to Jan. 6 committee testimony, Trump at one point asked his staff to “prepare the forms” to have Powell’s appointment made official. Powell’s link to both the Dec. 18 meeting and the Jan. 7 vote machine theft will make her a critical witness against Giuliani, who was also charged in Fulton County, and against Trump.