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Randall Eliason

@rdeliason.bsky.social

47K followers 340 following 280 posts

White collar crime prof, former federal prosecutor, columnist and blogger, a cappella singer, husband, dad and grandpa.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · Feb 16

There's never been a better time to become better informed about white collar crime topics such as fraud, public corruption, and obstruction of justice.

You can purchase my course, "White Collar Criminal Law Explained," at the Great Courses website.

www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/whit...

The Great Courses

www.thegreatcourses.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 5d

How long will it be until Trump has Lindsey Halligan indict the Nobel Peace Prize committee?

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 6d

The idea of Lindsey Halligan, and whatever out-of-state flunkies agree to help her, squaring off against Pat Fitzgerald is kind of amusing.

Imagine your local little league team playing the New York Yankees.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Comey Pleads Not Guilty and Will Seek to Dismiss Charges as Vindictive

www.nytimes.com

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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 9d

Breaking MSNBC:

A top prosecutor in Virginia has informed colleagues she plans to decline to seek charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James — resisting intense pressure from Trump, according to two people familiar with her discussions. www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

Top prosecutor is rejecting Trump pressure to charge New York AG

A key federal prosecutor in Virginia, where James Comey was indicted, is resisting bringing charges against Letitia James.

www.msnbc.com

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 16d

You can disagree with how Eric Adams ran the city, but you have to admit he did more to expose Emil Bove’s corruption than any other mayor.

Scott Shapiro @scottjshapiro.bsky.social · 17d

You can disagree with how Eric Adams ran the City, but you have to admire his integrity and judgment

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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 16d

Right now, I’m thinking of two career DOJ prosecutors I know who quit rather than participate in the Trump administration’s dirty deal with Adams.

Andrew Solender @andrewsolender.bsky.social · 17d

NEW: Jeffries praises Eric Adams in a statement, saying he has "served courageously and authentically for decades" and that "meaningful progress has been made" during his mayoralty.

Says he will "publicly weigh in" on the mayoral race "well before the start of early voting.”

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 17d

The grand jury hears only the government's side. If prosecutors can't even convince all the grand jurors to find probable cause, there's almost no chance they can convince a unanimous jury at a contested trial of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

That's why career prosecutors said there is no case.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 17d

I reviewed the court transcript.

It’s true that only 14 grand jurors voted in favor of the Comey indictment, but the total number of grand jurors who voted is not specified.

The minimum number required for a quorum is 16; the maximum is 23.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 18d

New on MSNBC: According to the court transcript, only 14 of the 23 grand jurors voted in favor of indicting James Comey on the two counts that went forward.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 19d

Authoritarian Trump may be able to order his lackey to get an indictment, but he can’t control the judge or the jury.

Zero chance Comey gets convicted.

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Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 19d

Start taking bets on how many Scaramucci’s until the Comey indictment is thrown out.

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George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 20d

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

Attorneys who ignore their ethical duties to do Trump's bidding risk being sanctioned and even disbarred. Happened to Giuliani, Powell, Chesebro.

I'm confident the career AUSAs in the EDVA will follow their oaths - even if it means resigning rather than helping obtain an unjust indictment.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

Well, he got a case dismissed, which does not require the approval of the grand jury. So it's a bit different.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

I don't think the opinions of other prosecutors that the case is weak constitutes exculpatory evidence within the meaning of this policy. Not that she has any intention of following DOJ policy in the first place, or even any clue what it is.

Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

If Halligan tries to get an indictment, watch for two things:

1) Another mass resignation event of prosecutors who refuse to violate their ethical obligations by helping her;

2) The grand jury refuses to indict.

There’s a decent chance we will see one or both.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 21d

Tick, tock.

Lindsey Halligan, the newly-installed prosecutor in EDVA, has less than a week to secure an indictment against James Comey before a key statute of limitations runs out.

Ben Wittes and I examine her charging options.

Spoiler alert: they all suck.

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

LAWFARE
The Situation: Choose Your Own
Adventure: Lindsey Halligan
Edition
Benjamin Wittes, Anna Bower
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 4:52 PM
Share On: f X in
Any way you play, you lose.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

If this happens, the first defense motion is going to be to dismiss for malicious prosecution - and Trump’s social media post over the weekend will be defense exhibit one.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 21d

BREAKING on MSNBC:

Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to be indicted in the coming days in the Eastern District of Virginia, where a prosecutor who opposed bringing the case was recently fired, three sources familiar with the matter told MSNBC.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 20d

Ah - thanks!

Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 21d

Why anyone would take any kind of medication or health advice from Trump or RFK Jr. -- instead of from, you know, actual doctors and health experts -- is beyond me.

NPR @npr.org · 21d

The President says pregnant women should stay away from Tylenol due to possible autism link. World health authorities strongly disagree, say the drug is safe in pregnancy.

World health officials reject Trump's claims that Tylenol is linked to autism

The President says pregnant women should stay away from Tylenol due to possible autism link. World health authorities strongly disagree, say the drug is safe in pregnancy.

n.pr

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 21d

With no prosecution experience, Trump's new US Atty in VA won't know where the grand jury room is, much less how to get an indictment. To indict Trump's targets she will need help - and if prosecutors follow their own ethical obligations, they should refuse.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/trump-esca...

Trump Escalates His Weaponization of the Justice Department

Punish your enemies, protect your friends

www.sidebarsblog.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 22d

My latest on Sidebars: Trump sees the criminal justice system as a tool to use to punish his enemies and protect his friends - and he’s escalating. It’s right out of the authoritarian playbook, and it’s scary stuff.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/trump-esca...

Trump Escalates His Weaponization of the Justice Department

Punish your enemies, protect your friends

www.sidebarsblog.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · 22d

Always a pleasure to speak with @thebradblog.bsky.social

Brad Friedman / The BRAD BLOG @thebradblog.bsky.social · 22d

Trump 'Border Czar' Reportedly Took $50k in Undercover Sting, Trump DOJ Dropped the Case: Today's #BradCast

Guest: @rdeliason.bsky.social, former DOJ Public Corruption chief; Also: Trump orders Bondi to indict foes; Disney/ABC announces Kimmel's return...

FULL STORY, LISTEN: bradblog.com?p=15508

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 23d

There is only one way to resolve this.

RELEASE THE HOMAN TAPES!!!

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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 25d

"In an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents — who were posing as business executives — win government contracts in a second Trump administration..."

Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump's DOJ shut it down.

The FBI and Justice officials closed the investigation, which a Justice Department appointee had called a “deep state” probe in early 2025.

www.msnbc.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Subway sandwich guy will now be charged with a misdemeanor after a grand jury refused to indict him for felony assault.

In a number of cases grand juries, as the voice of the community, are standing up to the excesses of Trump's DOJ.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-grand-...

The Grand Jury Emerges as a Check on Trump's DOJ

Grand jurors are refusing to indict flimsy felonies

www.sidebarsblog.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · Aug 28

My latest on Sidebars: critics claim the grand jury is just a rubber stamp. But imagine if Trump’s DOJ could pursue felony charges based solely on his grievances.

Right now the grand jury is acting as one of the key checks on abuses of power by Trump’s DOJ.

www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-grand-...

The Grand Jury Emerges as a Check on Trump's DOJ

Grand jurors are refusing to indict flimsy felonies

www.sidebarsblog.com

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · Aug 27

I guess we're still not understanding each other. A no bill is always extraordinary because it almost never happens. Critics of the GJ say it always just does what the prosecution wants, but that was not the case here. And if the GJ would have approved a misdemeanor - that would be appropriate.

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Randall Eliason @rdeliason.bsky.social · Aug 27

No, it's not legal, it just shouldn't be charged as an 8-year felony. Some kind of misdemeanor is probably appropriate.

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