Former Trump Lawyer Disbarred in California for Election Interference Efforts
John Eastman, a former attorney for President Donald Trump who spearheaded attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, was disbarred in California on Wednesday. This decision stems from his actions over five years ago and reflects the ongoing repercussions of the election-related controversies.
The California Supreme Court upheld the state bar’s recommendation, concluding that Eastman could no longer practice law within the state. In addition to disbarment, he has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine as part of the ruling.
Eastman’s attorney, Randall A. Miller, expressed intentions to seek a review from the U.S. Supreme Court. Miller described the disbarment as a “threat to the rule of law,” arguing that it contradicts long-standing U.S. Supreme Court precedents that safeguard First Amendment rights, particularly regarding attorney discipline.
As the principal architect behind a plan to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory, Eastman played a pivotal role in the election turmoil. Evidence presented by a House committee investigating the events of January 6, 2022, indicated that Eastman was aware his plans were not legal but still attempted to persuade Pence to reject electors from contested states, thereby aiming to overturn the election results.
Following the events of January 6, Eastman sought a pardon from President Trump. Although Eastman was not granted a pardon at that time, Trump later extended broad pardons to several individuals associated with the election dispute, including Eastman and another former attorney, Rudy Giuliani. However, these pardons were primarily symbolic, as neither Eastman nor the over 70 others pardoned faced any federal criminal charges.
Giuliani, who was also disbarred for his involvement in the election interference efforts, is not the only associate facing significant legal repercussions. Eastman’s disbarment follow a series of disciplinary actions initiated by the California Bar in 2023, resulting from an ethics investigation. He faced 11 separate disciplinary charges for advancing questionable legal theories aimed at disrupting the electoral process. A judge ultimately found him guilty on 10 counts and recommended disbarment.
In a social media post, fellow former attorney for Trump, Sidney Powell, criticized the decision, labeling Eastman’s disbarment as “disgusting and very wrong.” Eastman continues to navigate a landscape of legal challenges due to his post-2020 election activities.
Currently, he, alongside Trump and 17 other co-defendants, faces charges of violating Georgia’s extortion laws. Like Trump, Eastman has consistently maintained his innocence. Notably, the case concluded last year when state prosecutors dismissed the charges against Trump, Eastman, and their co-defendants.
