Episode 4: Trump's Latest Indictment, Hunter Biden's Failed Plea Deal, Michael Oher's Alleged Conservatorship, and the Tragic Case of Fajr Atiya Williams

Hosted by Syanne Bloom and civil rights lawyer Ashley Jacobson, this episode uncovers the latest breaking news stories that have captivated the nation.

We start by dissecting the shocking indictment involving former President Trump and his alleged involvement in the 2020 Georgia election meddling case. Additionally, we explore the unexpected twists and turns in Hunter Biden's plea deal that has taken everyone by surprise.

Shifting gears, we spotlight the real-life narrative behind the beloved film "The Blindside" by discussing the intriguing allegations surrounding Michael Oher's adoption—a revelation sparking conversations.

Amidst these headline stories, we also address the heart-wrenching case of Fajr Atiya Williams, a young disabled black girl who tragically lost her life on a school bus due to a harness strap that went unnoticed.

Please tune in for insightful discussions, thought-provoking analyses, and a journey into the depths of stories shaping our world today. Stay informed, engaged, and empowered with Unveiling Democracy.

Note: As always, we remind our listeners that this podcast is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal assistance, we encourage you to seek guidance from a local attorney who can provide professional counsel.

*As always, we remind our listeners that this podcast is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal assistance, we encourage you to seek guidance from a local attorney who can provide professional counsel.*

Transcript

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Welcome to Unveiling Democracy. I'm your host Syanne Bloom and I'm thrilled to be here alongside my esteemed co-host civil rights lawyer Ashley Jacobson.

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And today's episode we're diving headfirst into this week's compelling breaking news stories.

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From the latest indictment involving former President Trump in the 2,020 Georgia election meddling case to the unexpected twist in Hunter Biden's plea deal.

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There's a lot to unpack. Additionally, we'll shed light on Michael Orr, the real-life inspiration.

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Behind the iconic film, The Blind Side, and the astonishing allegations suggesting that his adoption might have been more than meets the eye. So let's move into. One of the breaking news stories that came out I think just in the last couple of days, it is Michael Orr's case or allegations.

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Yes.

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That he's brought forth. So I'd love to hear your thoughts on it Ashley.

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Yes, well we certainly are no strangers to the controversy of conservatorships. Right? And so when we're talking about any type of conservatorship case.

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It's important to know what that is and what the effect of how having a conservator has on the individual and first a little bit of background.

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Michael Orr is a professional football player. He, like you said, had a version of his story told in the movie The Blind Side.

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He's now saying, and he has been saying quite frankly that that version isn't accurate for many years.

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But he didn't realize. How inaccurate it was in totality until recently.

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So in February of 2,023, Michael Orr discovered that he was not in fact legally adopted by the Tui family.

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As depicted in the film. In that movie which a lot of people have raised concerns about promoting white saviorism for quite some time.

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Where a white family comes in. They see how they depicted him as and you know, under privilege I would say quote at risk.

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Youth as many people would would claim. And he was a high school student who his own right in real life was already a very good football player at that point.

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But in the movie they basically say they found Michael, they brought him into the family. They legally adopted him.

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They saved him.

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Oh gosh.

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They taught him football. They allowed. Right, they really portrayed this image of you know, aren't we such great people for adopting this at risk teenager, brought them into our home, and then now he's this huge success, went on to play college football and Obviously the NFL as well.

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But Michael or discovered in 2023 of this of February, 2,023 that they in fact didn't legally adopt him.

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Hmm.

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They instead Set up a conservatorship. And what a conservatorship is depends on the state that you're in.

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But for the most part, conservators manage the money. The financial accounts. And the financial interest overall of their ward.

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And sometimes you hear the term ward. With regard to guardianships in some states, you can become a legal guardian of an adult.

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And a conservator of the adult and in those states a guardianship covers like the well-being the medical care the overall needs of the individual, whereas a conservatorship focuses on the money.

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In other states, I can do both the well-being and the money and either way these individuals who are appointed or ordered by these individuals who are appointed or ordered by the court to be conservators.

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Have a fiduciary relationship. In the sense that they have to make responsible choices. And they have to be able to Explain those choices about how money is managed.

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To the court. As an attorney who has witnessed a lot of conservator and guardian hearings. I can tell you that there tends to not be a lot of investigation.

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Into the evidence presented in those hearings and those hearings at times. Can move very quickly and Get things like guardianships and conservatorships in place.

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Hmm.

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Before the person even realizes what's happened. And so it breaks my heart for Michael or not only to have your story told in a way that You know, is inaccurate.

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He alleges that. He was already very good at football. He alleges that the way they depicted him in the blind side.

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Was not accurate when it came to like his cognitive and his learning abilities in the movie.

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Yes.

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They really portray him as struggling a lot in school and regardless of grades I don't know what his grades were honestly it doesn't really matter.

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But they definitely portrayed him. As being. You know, this. Lost cause that they then saved.

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And.

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Yeah, I feel like they portrayed him like he was like a 5 year old in this you know it was very dehumanizing I think

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Yeah, yeah, and no surprise that Back in those days, which were not that long ago, but it still happens today.

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No.

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A lot of white people interpreted that movie much differently. Then people of color and I can understand why.

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Yes, they did. Yes, they did and I've had conversations with people who are white and love that movie and I'm like, well, what do you love?

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About that movie exactly. Oh, well, that she helped, you know, turn his life around. You know, I wanna be like that and it's like.

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Yeah.

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I just get I'm I think we're all sick of the white saviorism message at this point and I think that this story this new story that just broke out about him making these allegations I think it's going to get darker and II hope it wakes people up to.

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Seeing that Just because it's 2023. White Saviorism isn't dead or like dying.

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I just feel like feel like that people get better at hiding it and we as consumers also invite and encourage these types of movies.

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Right.

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That are made to make us feel good about it, you know, ourselves. So I'm interested in seeing how that all unfolds.

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Yeah, me too. And you bring up really good points about White Saviorism. I think the media likes that narrative.

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And. Everyone likes a feel-good movie, but for a lot of people, it's not a feel-good movie.

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And, and

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Also, when you have Sandra Bullock playing a lead role, like of course a lot of people love Sandy, right?

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Okay.

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And And in Sandra Bullock. I think may have a different take on that film now being a mother of Black children?

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Hmm.

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She's kind of started to voice over the years. How it will occur up to a lot of.

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Discrimination and racism and things that she knew existed before but it's just different when you're a parent.

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But The astonishing thing that came out of this lawsuit Which, or filed upon realizing that he had a conservatorship in place, and he in the filing had to file a petition to and he in the filing had to file a petition to end the conservatorship in place and he in the filing had to file a petition to end the conservatorship like Britney Spears had too, though I will note.

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People support of Britney Spears looks a lot different than the reaction that a lot of people are giving Michael or.

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Oh yes, yes, they're saying he benefited and it's that oh my god is so gross it's the same thing people in florida are saying about you know enslavement that benefited them.

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I'm just, it's appalling because I thought about that immediately, the Britney case and then his like I was like wow look at that you know we have such a negative viewpoint of black men.

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Yeah, yeah, it shouldn't be that way for sure. And with Michael or the arguments of, well, didn't he benefit from them?

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Bringing him into their home and telling his story and raising awareness and all of that. I think it really takes his individual efforts.

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Out of the equation. And says it's all because of what these people did that he is where he is today.

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No.

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That is absolutely not the case. He was already incredibly talented at football. He was already on a certain path.

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Might his life have been different? Of course, none of us know how our lives would be different had certain things not happen.

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But importantly, he did not financially benefit. From the blindside movie. And it is quite appalling.

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To me as an attorney. To see in the filings if true that the Tui family gave a sizeable chunk of money.

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To their biological kids. From the movie proceeds. And not Michael when it was his life.

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It is.

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Yeah.

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Wow, that's so gross, but it's very American honestly it's very on brand with how we roll here but I'm glad that these things are suddenly.

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Unfolding and on the top of that you know as far as race goes there was an incident in New Jersey with a little girl, a black little girl who was a little girl, a black little girl who was disabled.

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Where she was on a bus and basically got strangled. By her harness.

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By her hardness. Yeah, yeah. And this case is heartbreaking. I know it was hard for you to read.

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It was hard for me to read and and it's certainly hard for this family and for a lot of families that experience similar situations.

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And a little girl 6 years old like you said out of New Jersey. Passed away. And when she was on a bus, the bus hit a bump and her harness shifted in a way that cut off her ability to breathe.

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And there should have been. Ways that whether it's a bus driver or an aid. Would observe students with harnesses like that.

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Make sure that they're safe while on the bus. And clearly that did not happen. And so her, her name was, I hope I'm saying this right Faja, it's FAJR is how you spell our first name.

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And her mother and family have shared their story and their grief with all of us and It just makes my heart hurt.

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I will say it's not surprising to me as a disability rights attorney. And a civil rights attorney that.

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Something like this might happen. I've had many cases. In the state of Michigan. That involve schools.

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Either failing to plan or not properly implementing plans for safety. On the bus, or in the classroom.

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And it is just something that is completely avoidable.

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Exactly. It didn't have to happen. She didn't have to die. And honestly, that's a horrible way.

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To die and the fear she must have felt too and II found it. I found the story shocking because As I was telling you, and you know, our private conversation, I used to be like a pre-k teacher and I worked with a lot of kids who had disabilities and I don't understand how Anyone could not.

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Pay attention to the kids they're being paid to look after and I understand. That they're not paid well.

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Neither was I, but that has nothing to do with the kid. You know what I'm saying?

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Right.

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Like, so I just, I was disgusted by the story and I saw the video too of her parents crying and it broke me and I also noticed how little attention this story is getting.

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Yes, and that's another huge problem. I'm glad that you brought that up because I live in the Ann Arbor area in Michigan and there is finally a tension being brought to this issue here.

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There was, there is a student who in Ann Arbor. Was assaulted the allegations are that the student was assaulted by an aide that was tasked to work with the student on the bus.

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And. The family claims. That the school made efforts to cover it up. For weeks and that the student was coming home.

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In a heightened state, something was clearly wrong. So the parent went to the school and said, why is my child coming home like this?

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There's something that's happened. Something has to have happened because my child was acting one way every day and then out of nowhere there's this change in behavior and this frustration and I'm trying to figure out what's going on here.

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And the school said, no, no, no, everything's fine. Nothing. We don't know of anything that happened.

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And 5 weeks later. It comes to light that other students witnessed and reported what happened. That there was evidence that the school did not address and they didn't share it with the parent.

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And as a lawyer that represents parents and kids a lot in school related cases, I am completely unsurprised.

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I've dealt with that school district specifically and that school not following that school district not following protocol. And there is very Relaxed policies.

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On when schools need to report things to parents. When incidents occur, how they document it when they should or should not call the police or 9 1 one if a student is injured.

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And I am glad that people are starting to hold that school district accountable here in Michigan, but I know.

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From other cases I have worked. And from being a disability. Advocate who's like you connected to the disability community in person and online.

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So many of these incidents occur every day. And parents never know because the school never shares it. Students don't feel comfortable or safe coming forward or they're non speaking and they're not able to access communication devices to help them explain what happened.

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And it is tragic and incredibly frustrating.

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Yeah, it definitely is and Honestly, even though most people don't hear about it, the disabled community hears about these stories all the time and it's very traumatizing.

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Right.

so what do you think? Is next. With that case with the Williams case in reference to.

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The little 6 year old who passed away.

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Well, I'll say this. I think it's important for parents and kids and adults with disabilities to know that you have a lot of rights that you can enforce to hold schools accountable when something like this happens.

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At the federal level, we all know about or I'd hope all of us know about the American at Disabilities Act.

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For students, there's also the individuals with disabilities education act. But then at the state level, there in every state is a disability rights law that provides protection to disabled people in schools.

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The workplace and in the community. And so it's vital to know that even if you've reported incidents to your state's office or Department of Civil Rights.

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And it goes nowhere that you still have the legal opportunity to pursue it in court. And I get that there are not as many lawyers Practicing that area of law and I hope that improves.

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I get a lot of calls from people all over the US and I try to always find an attorney to refer them to if I can't represent them.

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But in the state of Michigan, certainly give me a call. And but it's important to know that one major step that you can take is to report it to the Office of Civil Rights to reach out to an attorney.

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And if you're not able to take it further than that, what I would love to see is more communication with our lawmakers.

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To add more measures in place to protect. Students with disabilities, I think we're more likely to see more legislation around.

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Yeah.

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Children, what disability is? That's positive. Then adults with disabilities. And people tend to ignore that.

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Right.

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Disabled kids usually. Grow into disabled adults. And so there's a lot of more empathy or you know, sympathy for kids.

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But I think there's, going to be a lot of talk around. Ways that we need to protect kids in schools in general.

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And I hope that lawmakers recognize that they must address the staffing issues in schools. I'm seeing a lot and I know you and I just talked about this.

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Out of the podcast but Seeing a lot of staffing issues in schools and then schools then using those staffing issues as excuses.

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For bad behavior or injury. And it is not a good excuse. Saying more understaffed. So we should be held responsible for.

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For who we hire. Yeah.

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Poor teachers and A. For who we hire and who are in the position now. It's ridiculous.

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But there needs to be more. Requirements when it comes to training. For anyone who works in schools, not just teachers, and we need to resolve the hiring issues.

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Because I'm seeing a lot of long term substitutes. Being quote promoted into special education teachers.

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And I'm sorry, you just, most people are not. Equipped with the training. To become.

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Special education teacher when they were just a paraprofessional or an aid.

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Yeah, no, not at all. And it's scary that they're being put in the same.

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Environment with children that they don't understand. I saw that happening a lot when I was a pre-k teacher where we would get children who are disabled and Nobody would know what to do and I saw a lot of frustration taken out on the children and of course I told and it's just that these things happen all the time and it's comes down to the quality.

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Right.

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Of the people they're hiring for these positions. And I'm wondering what

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Well, there be any accountability for the staff that were supposed to be. Taking care of her on the bus.

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Yes, so I hope so. I know that they the prosecutor where that case is in New Jersey. Did pursue child abuse charges.

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And. I know that. In our court system. There are different avenues for pursuing it criminally as well as civilly.

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In civil court And so I really hope that this family gets. Some type of accountability and justice though of course it will never ever.

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Amount to losing their young child. But I also really hope that This can be a springboard to call attention to the wider issue of student safety in schools and recognizing That students are not just.

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The students when they're in your classroom. These are well rounded kids who deserve to have their disability.

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Accommodated in safe ways in transportation. Extracurricular activities. In the lunchroom in the hallways and so often in IEP meetings I will see teachers and special ed directors focusing on accommodations for testing.

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And that needs to be addressed, absolutely. But. The well rounded nature of. The students experience outside of the classroom isn't taken into account.

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Yeah.

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And especially with things like emergency planning. School shooter drills, all of that. Students with disabilities are often.

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In the most vulnerable position because of poor planning. I hope that changes.

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Yeah, I've always wondered about the Yeah, that's what I hope to see if anything, maybe some sort of legislative.

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Change to prevent that from happening again. We can move on now to our next topic. Which news broke in the middle of the night of Trump's latest indictment.

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Yes.

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Yes.

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Where him and 18 of his allies were charged in the Georgia. Election scheme. And I want to get your thoughts.

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On that because that's huge because it's like it seems like the whole ship is going down now.

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Yes, and I think initially it was easier for his supporters to say, okay, one indictment, 2 indictment.

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Every indictment, you know, incidents, I can overlook that. But what I love about How Georgia handle this.

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Is that regardless of any of my political stances as an attorney I respect the way that the Georgia district attorney handled all of this.

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I mean, they really provided a very detailed They presented a lot of evidence to a grand jury that I think is more difficult.

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To debate. And certainly an indictment. Is not a statement of final legal conclusions. It's essentially saying is there enough probable cause to Bring the case forward.

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Yeah.

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And the grand jury thought that it was and the district attorney. Recognize that This case should be handled and a methodical way in a way that.

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Accounts for, any argument of bias by my office. And I thought that she really laid that out effectively.

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What's interesting too is that as an attorney, I can tell you it is not normal. For a court to stay open that late.

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How was I?

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I was shocked, cause what happened was I was, I went to bed, I waited as long as I could and I was like, okay, this is not happening, so I went to bed and then I randomly woke up in the middle of the night.

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I was like, I thought they would have said, okay, it's too late. Let's start again tomorrow.

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But no, they really wanted to get this done and I loved them for it and I also love to see Rudy Giuliani and Sydney Powell and the others.

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Being held accountable for the roles they played and I really hope that there are others. That have yet to be held accountable that I hope that they get held accountable to.

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Well, and it's interesting because Like you said, the indictment. Includes Trump and 18 others including many of his attorneys as well as other allies and and staff who assisted him in you know, allegedly reaching out to a number of officials in Georgia.

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And trying to get. The election overturned. I mean, there's just no other way to say it.

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They were like, this is what we need. To tell people we want in this state. Do it and the way that it was.

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Yeah.

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You know, the facts are presented is that They were pretty clear and they were pretty arrogant. To say a lot of things that are now coming back to haunt them if true and It's not great as a lawyer to see other lawyers acting in the way that his lawyers did.

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And I think it's definitely. Coming back to Bitam.

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And what's what I think is sad is that A lot of the evidence I think we a lot of us have already seen and heard, right?

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.000
Yes.

00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:01.000
The phone call that he was he had in Georgia was wild come on fellas give me a break.

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:07.000
Hi, 11,000. And that It's just, I don't know what they thought would happen.

00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:12.000
It just seems like it's common sense to know that this stuff is going to come out eventually.

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:24.000
Right and The lawyers knew better. From, I have to believe. New better than to think that that was allowed.

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:33.000
And I also just for the life of me will never understand how an attorney Could just put their life on the line.

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:53.000
For him or anyone in that way, you know, even if this was a democratic President, you know, not on the conservative side as an attorney I would never compromise my license or my personal freedom.

00:32:53.000 --> 00:33:02.000
But by doing something that I knew was legal and and the lawyer professional code of ethics makes it super clear that you Cannot do that.

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:17.000
And so I would be surprised if any of them come out of this unscathed, even if they decide to take some type of deal where they cooperate because You're not, you're light, you're law license is not safe.

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.000
No.

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:34.000
After something like this and so essentially that to explain to people what the Georgia excitement is They handled it like a traditional Rico case like a racketeering type of case something that you would have heard about related to mobs, but a lot of people don't realize that it also pertains to a lot of different groups.

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:51.000
And essentially it's where you've got this organized conspiratorial effort. To do something that is illegal and there's somebody that's dictating what needs to be done.

00:33:51.000 --> 00:34:02.000
But there are also these overt apps. These actions that people take. To perpetuate that. And to carry out the crime.

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:24.000
And so in this case, one of the interesting things is that the district attorney, her family, a lot of officials the court clerk have received credible threats to their lives based on the way that this has all been publicized as well, which is why I think they were really methodical to do this late last night.

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:33.000
And the judge wanted this to come out overnight. Have some time to simmer, let people process it today.

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:43.000
But It's a big deal and the reason it's a big deal is a lot of people hear about Rico cases from like FBI investigations, right?

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.000
Yes.

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:57.000
This is a Georgia Rico case. So they brought it on our state statute and that statute. Has a prison sentence.

00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:58.000
Thank you.

00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:07.000
Of at least 5 years attached to it for anybody. Involved. So Trump is facing time now in a more concrete way and Georgia.

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:21.000
By filing it under the state. Yeah, statute also muddies the waters for any Attempt by Trump if elected to pardon himself?

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:25.000
Because it's a state crime.

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:26.000
Yes.

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:34.000
I love it. I love that. All his 4 cases. It sounds so weird to say that about a former president.

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:44.000
But out of all of his 4 indictments I should say. Which one do you think? Could be the one to hurt him the most.

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:57.000
So could it be this Georgia? Okay, so you know. Because I'm wondering like this guy this guy has like 9 lives he has like a cat he gets away I just wanna make sure he's not gonna get away.

00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:12.000
Yes, well I think I personally am most excited about the Georgia Keys just because I feel as though in a nerdy way, it was laid out the way I would have laid it out if I was a lawyer working on that case.

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:22.000
The way it was written and handled but That's just from my initial glance at the indictment.

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:42.000
And of course hearing the district attorney there speak and explain. But, you know, I think. Was interesting that the Georgia district attorney said was she was asked a question in the press conference last night.

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.000
I saw that.

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:47.000
Do you wanna go first or last? In being the indictments that are tried. And she was like, I don't wanna be first or last, but I wanna get this done within 6 months.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:37:00.000
I think that that's. Very wishful thinking on her part and she knows that But I think that the first

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:08.000
You indictments that you've seen. Are all damning to him and should be taken very seriously.

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:23.000
But the Georgia case. Affects his liberty and his freedom in ways that the other indictments don't in my mind and that again I think that prison sentence kind of lingering over his head.

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:32.000
Going to be the most problematic for him. And there are a lot of discussions with the other indictments about what's free speech, what's political speech.

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:41.000
Can you use that as a defense? I think I'll certainly try. But when it comes to the evidence.

00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:54.000
The strongest evidence I've seen has been in. The documents withholding. Indictment and in in the Georgia case so far but we'll see I'm sure a lot of evidence will come to light.

00:37:54.000 --> 00:38:07.000
Yeah, I agree. And we saw that Hunter Biden's plea deal. Felt through and we talked about that in episode 2 and we really thought it was going to be a sealed.

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:13.000
Deal. I mean, everybody thought, right? So what the hell happened?

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:16.000
Well, politics happened.

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:17.000
Of course.

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:34.000
And I can tell you that. I think that in that second episode where we talked about Hunter Biden's case, one of the things I said was that

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:43.000
Is uncommon is when the attorneys are not on the same page about what the plea deal entails and when we recorded that second episode.

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:54.000
We recorded it the day before his hearing that was supposed to solidify that plea deal. And by all appearances at that time.

00:38:54.000 --> 00:39:03.000
The prosecutor and Hunter Biden's attorney were on the same page. We're doing this plea deal, we're going to enter it into the record, most likely the judge is going to accept it.

00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:10.000
But then in the hearing the next day. The judge asked a question about How broad is this plea deal?

00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:22.000
Will it cover? The gun. Charges where he was charged for not disclosing a history of substance use disorder.

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:33.000
When purchasing a firearm. And. The prosecutor. Kind of stumbled in.

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:41.000
Being clear about that. As did Hunter Biden's attorney and it became a concern that they were not on the same page.

00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:43.000
And when you're doing a plea deal, You must know why it covers and what it doesn't cover.

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:52.000
And you best be on the same page about that because otherwise It's just going to bring the court involved.

00:39:52.000 --> 00:40:03.000
Again and again and potentially. Take that plea out and be appealed. And, and it was a mess.

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:14.000
I think both lawyers. Probably left that hearing. Disheartened and disappointed. I think it could have been avoided.

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:21.000
But then between that and all of the political noise around Hunter Biden. And being the president's son.

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:31.000
It caused more of a delay. Where it slowed things down by the attorneys not being on the same page about the plea.

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:45.000
And it gave a chance for these talking heads in politics to say, well, hold on a minute. If we're taking the time to figure out what the plea covers and doesn't cover, we should also take the time to investigate this further.

00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:51.000
And look into our concerns with him getting preferential treatment as the president's son.

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.000
Hmm.

00:40:52.000 --> 00:41:04.000
And I think many of them wanted the opportunity to also look into President Biden. And this is a great way to get out of him in their minds.

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:09.000
So a special prosecutor. Has been appointed now for Hunter Biden.

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:16.000
That was best to bring that up. Yeah, I was, I, what is going on? That shook me too.

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:21.000
I know. And I think had this been any other defendant.

00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:28.000
I don't think that this would have played out like this at all. But a special prosecutor for everyone.

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:38.000
They can be appointed for a few different reasons, but most often it's a prosecutor who is brought in.

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:52.000
For an impartial evaluation of. How the prosecutions handle the case. So sometimes they're brought in because there's a conflict between the current prosecutor's office.

00:41:52.000 --> 00:42:05.000
And the defendant. I'll give an example. Let's say a district attorney. Elected or appointed to be a judge in the future.

00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:11.000
And when they're sitting on the bench. As a judge going about their day-to-day life.

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:22.000
They might have. An instance where they. Encounter the same people that they brought cases against as a former prosecutor.

00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:34.000
So in that case, the judge might. Decide to recuse themselves or step back and say I can't be impartial I have a history with this defendant Blah, blah, blah.

00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:40.000
Many times judges don't recuse themselves because they say, I'm aware of the history, but I'm not biased.

00:42:40.000 --> 00:43:03.000
I just happen to have had a case against this person before. We can have a whole other podcast about recusal of judges and all of that because it's very complicated and messy but I've also seen special prosecutors brought in for kind of like The inverse of that and where there's some type of history with the current prosecutor and the defendant.

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:14.000
Whether some indication of. Business relationships between the 2 where They're bringing in an outsider to act in that role.

00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:31.000
And to do what Jack Smith did. In some ways. Where you're saying. Fresh eyes looking at the case is this being handled fairly is this plea deal detailed, everyone knows what they're getting into with it.

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:38.000
Is it fair? And they kind of come in to quote save the day.

00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.000
So we'll see.

00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:45.000
Hmm. That's a lot. So a lot of news in the last. Couple of days.

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:46.000
Yes.

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:54.000
And I kind of feel like our country looks weak. Right now because of all of these. Ridiculous political.

00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000
Controversies and scandals like this is terrible. We have a former president who's been indicted now 4 times.

00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:05.000
I don't even know if that's going to be the last time. Then we have the situation.

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:08.000
Who knows?

00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:13.000
With Biden and now being. Investigated. And I just feel like it looks like we're not the United States.

00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:34.000
We're the divided United States. You know what I'm saying? Like. I feel, you know, one side is trying to hold.

00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:35.000
Yeah.

00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:42.000
The far right. Accountable for all the stuff that went down on January sixth. And then there now trying to find something on Vitam, which again, if there's definitely something on him, I want that to come out too.

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:43.000
Right.

00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:54.000
Because we don't want none of this nonsense. In our lives. And so I don't want to keep treating this like as if it's like your favorite football team and it gets on my nerves.

00:44:54.000 --> 00:45:00.000
Right.

00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:01.000
Right.

00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:06.000
When people do that because Like you guys, this is our lives. So like, don't be mad at the people who are coming with these.

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:14.000
With these investigations, you should be concerned about the fact that there's so much corruption in our government.

00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:22.000
Right. And I think that's definitely getting lost in a lot of the social commentary and I'm so glad that you said that.

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:40.000
Certainly as a podcast, we want to share the news so that everyone is informed, but we try to do it in a way that presents kind of all sides of it and allows people to look into these issues more on their own to see where they land and what their opinions are.

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:57.000
Bye. But it is disheartening to see. The drawbacks of social media. Play out in these stories that we've covered and how differently everyone is treated.

00:45:57.000 --> 00:46:03.000
You know, I think when it comes to the Michael orkeys that we discussed with conservatorships.

00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:14.000
We brought up how Britney Spears. Was really in large part supported by a lot of people for wanting to end her conservatorship, but when Michael or does it people are alleging, oh, he's doing it because he's broke.

00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:25.000
Why didn't he bring this up sooner when in fact he has brought it up sooner, but just more information recently came to light to him.

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:26.000
Right. Yeah.

00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:40.000
Traumatic information. Which he has every right to address. And it's like these are people's lives, whether it's Michael or Hunter Biden, President Trump, and Trying to seek the truth and hold people accountable.

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:48.000
For wrongs. Is not a Democrat thing. It's not a Republican thing or it shouldn't be.

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:50.000
It's just a human thing.

00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:58.000
I completely agree. I'm so glad. We got to talk about this today and thank you.

00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:10.000
As always, for giving us your incredible insight and knowledge. And I'm sad that we couldn't be joined by Tammy.