Bush-Era Ethics Lawyer Rips 'Scam Artists' Trump, Powell for Fundraising Off Election Lies

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Attorney Richard W. Painter, who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, suggested that criminal fraud charges should be filed against former President Donald Trump and lawyer Sidney Powell—calling them "scam artists" for fundraising off of lies about the 2020 election.

Trump and his former attorney Powell claim that the last presidential election was "rigged" or "stolen" in favor of President Joe Biden. Although the former president and many of his allies continue to promote the conspiracy theory, they have not provided any evidence. Meanwhile, Trump and Powell have raised millions of dollars as they claim to be fighting against "election fraud."

"Let's be clear about something: Spreading fake news alone may be protected speech under the First Amendment. But spreading fake news to ask for money is commercial speech, and courts enforce laws criminalizing fraud," Painter, now a law professor at the University of Minnesota, wrote in an opinion article published by MSNBC on Sunday.

"There is no First Amendment right to lie to people to get their money," Painter asserted.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bush-era-ethics-lawyer-rips-scam-artists-trump-powell-for-fundraising-off-election-lies/ar-AARJKCJ

[Faux pas]

1. I

Love Richard Painter ⁸

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Really. And where is the BBB, should they be saying something about these patently false

attempts to raise money 'supposedly' for election purposes (but nothing ever happens, election-wise, the money disappears in one pocket and never shows up again).

"Let's be clear about something: Spreading fake news alone may be protected speech under the First Amendment. But spreading fake news to ask for money is commercial speech, and courts enforce laws criminalizing fraud,"