Randall Eliason
@rdeliason.bsky.social
White collar crime prof, former federal prosecutor, columnist and blogger, a cappella singer, husband, dad and grandpa.
Pinned
Randall Eliason
@rdeliason.bsky.social
· Feb 16
The Great Courses
www.thegreatcourses.com
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...
You can purchase my course, "White Collar Criminal Law Explained," at the Great Courses website.
www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/whit...
Big fan of @hcrichardson.bsky.social but her description of the FL ballot case here is misleading. These were not “rejected mailed ballots” but merely a proposed envelope design submitted for approval in advance. The post makes it sound like actual mailed ballots were rejected, which is not correct.
September 13, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Big fan of @hcrichardson.bsky.social but her description of the FL ballot case here is misleading. These were not “rejected mailed ballots” but merely a proposed envelope design submitted for approval in advance. The post makes it sound like actual mailed ballots were rejected, which is not correct.
To travel internationally today is to be constantly having these conversations: “Yes, we know he’s crazy. We don’t understand how it happened either.”
It was nice when we could travel and not be embarrassed for our country or to say where we are from.
It was nice when we could travel and not be embarrassed for our country or to say where we are from.
September 10, 2026 at 7:20 AM
To travel internationally today is to be constantly having these conversations: “Yes, we know he’s crazy. We don’t understand how it happened either.”
It was nice when we could travel and not be embarrassed for our country or to say where we are from.
It was nice when we could travel and not be embarrassed for our country or to say where we are from.
Reposted by Randall Eliason
What Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social does is a huge public service: www.stevevladeck.com/p/246-making...
246. Making Sense of the Mail-in Ballots Ruling
The Supreme Court’s grant of a stay in one of the mail-in ballot cases is deeply wrong, but it’s also not the main event over whether Trump’s patently unlawful executive order can take effect.
www.stevevladeck.com
August 24, 2026 at 11:29 PM
What Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social does is a huge public service: www.stevevladeck.com/p/246-making...
My latest on Sidebars: Sometimes something that looks, walks, and quacks like a duck . . . is still not a duck.
Trump’s Truth Social scheme and the law of insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
Trump’s Truth Social scheme and the law of insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
Why Trump's Truth Social Early Access Scheme Is Not Insider Trading
Corrupt but not criminal
www.sidebarsblog.com
August 17, 2026 at 7:12 PM
My latest on Sidebars: Sometimes something that looks, walks, and quacks like a duck . . . is still not a duck.
Trump’s Truth Social scheme and the law of insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
Trump’s Truth Social scheme and the law of insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
My latest on Sidebars: Trump is selling early access to his market-moving Truth Social posts to allow subscribers to make millions by trading based on the posts before the public sees them.
It’s sleazy, unethical, and corrupt. But it’s not insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
It’s sleazy, unethical, and corrupt. But it’s not insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
Why Trump's Truth Social Early Access Scheme Is Not Insider Trading
Corrupt but not criminal
www.sidebarsblog.com
August 17, 2026 at 12:38 PM
My latest on Sidebars: Trump is selling early access to his market-moving Truth Social posts to allow subscribers to make millions by trading based on the posts before the public sees them.
It’s sleazy, unethical, and corrupt. But it’s not insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
It’s sleazy, unethical, and corrupt. But it’s not insider trading.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/why-trumps...
The reflecting pool case was just another example of Trump's Justice Department trying to please him and back up his fantasies through abuse of the criminal justice process.
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
Jeanine Pirro struggles to give Trump the wins he craves the most
She’s delivering on some core priorities — but the Reflecting Pool is just the latest politically charged prosecution to fall flat.
www.politico.com
August 5, 2026 at 1:20 PM
The reflecting pool case was just another example of Trump's Justice Department trying to please him and back up his fantasies through abuse of the criminal justice process.
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
The vote on Blanche's nomination is set for tomorrow, but there are signs it may be in trouble.
Here's hoping some in the Senate are developing a spine. Blanche has no business being Attorney General.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Here's hoping some in the Senate are developing a spine. Blanche has no business being Attorney General.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Todd Blanche Should Not Be Attorney General
His record is disqualifying
www.sidebarsblog.com
July 29, 2026 at 9:53 PM
The vote on Blanche's nomination is set for tomorrow, but there are signs it may be in trouble.
Here's hoping some in the Senate are developing a spine. Blanche has no business being Attorney General.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Here's hoping some in the Senate are developing a spine. Blanche has no business being Attorney General.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
This disgraceful prosecution -- spearheaded by Todd Blanche -- is one of many reasons the Senate should reject his nomination to be Attorney General.
Comey asks judge to dismiss Trump 'seashells' case citing lack of 'true threat' (Dan Mangan/CNBC)
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
July 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This disgraceful prosecution -- spearheaded by Todd Blanche -- is one of many reasons the Senate should reject his nomination to be Attorney General.
Reposted by Randall Eliason
Comey asks judge to dismiss Trump 'seashells' case citing lack of 'true threat' (Dan Mangan/CNBC)
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
July 27, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Comey asks judge to dismiss Trump 'seashells' case citing lack of 'true threat' (Dan Mangan/CNBC)
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
Break doors and windows at the Capitol, assault police officers, and you’re a patriot who deserves a pardon. But pick up some peeling paint from the reflecting pool and you’ll be prosecuted. That’s the DOJ under Trump and Todd Blanche.
He’s unfit for the job.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
He’s unfit for the job.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
Todd Blanche Should Not Be Attorney General
His record is disqualifying
open.substack.com
July 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Break doors and windows at the Capitol, assault police officers, and you’re a patriot who deserves a pardon. But pick up some peeling paint from the reflecting pool and you’ll be prosecuted. That’s the DOJ under Trump and Todd Blanche.
He’s unfit for the job.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
He’s unfit for the job.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
My latest on Sidebars: Todd Blanche’s record at DOJ over the past 18 months shows he is unfit to serve as Attorney General.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
Todd Blanche Should Not Be Attorney General
His record is disqualifying
open.substack.com
July 15, 2026 at 12:55 PM
My latest on Sidebars: Todd Blanche’s record at DOJ over the past 18 months shows he is unfit to serve as Attorney General.
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
open.substack.com/pub/sidebars...
Reposted by Randall Eliason
this is knicks game 3 all over again isn’t it
the trump curse lives!
the trump curse lives!
July 7, 2026 at 12:38 AM
this is knicks game 3 all over again isn’t it
the trump curse lives!
the trump curse lives!
Well, this tracks. FIFA may be one of the few institutions in the world that is as corrupt as the Trump administration. They understand each other.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/u...
Trump Asked FIFA to Review U.S. Player’s Suspension. Now He’s Eligible to Play.
www.nytimes.com
July 5, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Well, this tracks. FIFA may be one of the few institutions in the world that is as corrupt as the Trump administration. They understand each other.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/u...
Reposted by Randall Eliason
Honored that the great @rdeliason.bsky.social mentioned my @lawfaremedia.org piece on the Broadview Six in his excellent roundup of Trump administration malfeasance before the district courts. Here's a link to my piece:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/r.i....
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/r.i....
June 30, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Honored that the great @rdeliason.bsky.social mentioned my @lawfaremedia.org piece on the Broadview Six in his excellent roundup of Trump administration malfeasance before the district courts. Here's a link to my piece:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/r.i....
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/r.i....
My latest on Sidebars: in a little more than a year, the Trump administration has destroyed the judicial trust that took decades to build.
Judges are now rejecting the traditional presumption of regularity they used to apply to acts of government officials.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
Judges are now rejecting the traditional presumption of regularity they used to apply to acts of government officials.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
The Presumption of Irregularity
Under Trump, an old legal doctrine is flipped on its head
www.sidebarsblog.com
June 30, 2026 at 8:54 PM
My latest on Sidebars: in a little more than a year, the Trump administration has destroyed the judicial trust that took decades to build.
Judges are now rejecting the traditional presumption of regularity they used to apply to acts of government officials.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
Judges are now rejecting the traditional presumption of regularity they used to apply to acts of government officials.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
My latest on Sidebars: under Trump, the presumption of regularity that courts apply to government actions has been flipped.
Now, if the government is accused of misconduct, it's reasonable for a court to assume there is probably something to the accusation.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
Now, if the government is accused of misconduct, it's reasonable for a court to assume there is probably something to the accusation.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
The Presumption of Irregularity
Under Trump, an old legal doctrine is flipped on its head
www.sidebarsblog.com
June 30, 2026 at 1:32 PM
My latest on Sidebars: under Trump, the presumption of regularity that courts apply to government actions has been flipped.
Now, if the government is accused of misconduct, it's reasonable for a court to assume there is probably something to the accusation.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
Now, if the government is accused of misconduct, it's reasonable for a court to assume there is probably something to the accusation.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/the-presum...
The damage to DOJ's credibility is a huge problem. Assuming we someday once again have a Justice Department interested in pursuing true corruption cases, who could blame judges or juries from believing a legitimate defendant was politically targeted?
www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
Trump’s DOJ has a credibility problem. Newsom is testing how far it goes.
The California governor says a possible probe is political payback.
www.politico.com
June 19, 2026 at 12:50 AM
The damage to DOJ's credibility is a huge problem. Assuming we someday once again have a Justice Department interested in pursuing true corruption cases, who could blame judges or juries from believing a legitimate defendant was politically targeted?
www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
Some criticized Jack Smith for bringing the Trump classified docs case in FL rather than DC. But today's SCOTUS decision in Abouammo shows he was right. The investigation was in DC but the obstructive acts and retention of docs were in FL. Venue is a constitutional requirement, not an option.
The Supreme Court's third AND FINAL decision is Abouammo v. U.S., holding that a defendant charged with falsifying records must be tried where the falsification occurred under the Sixth Amendment. Unanimous, per Kagan. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
June 11, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Some criticized Jack Smith for bringing the Trump classified docs case in FL rather than DC. But today's SCOTUS decision in Abouammo shows he was right. The investigation was in DC but the obstructive acts and retention of docs were in FL. Venue is a constitutional requirement, not an option.
The NBA games are clearly rigged. The Knicks were leading at halftime last night but then as the evening went on there were wide changes in the results. This is undermining fan integrity and confidence in the result.
RAJU: The president keep saying the California election was rigged. What evidence have you seen?
SCALISE: You had wide changes after election night in the results
R: They're just counting the ballots
SCALISE: Look, whether you can prove fraud or not, it does undermine voter integrity in the vote
SCALISE: You had wide changes after election night in the results
R: They're just counting the ballots
SCALISE: Look, whether you can prove fraud or not, it does undermine voter integrity in the vote
June 9, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The NBA games are clearly rigged. The Knicks were leading at halftime last night but then as the evening went on there were wide changes in the results. This is undermining fan integrity and confidence in the result.
That's a key characteristic of a good conspiracy theory: if there is no evidence of the conspiracy, that merely proves how good the conspirators have been at covering it up.
RAJU: But what evidence is there to prove the California election is rigged?
MIKE JOHNSON: Look, some of these efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream it's impossible to prove. But I think everybody knows instinctively that something is wrong here.
MIKE JOHNSON: Look, some of these efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream it's impossible to prove. But I think everybody knows instinctively that something is wrong here.
June 8, 2026 at 9:33 PM
That's a key characteristic of a good conspiracy theory: if there is no evidence of the conspiracy, that merely proves how good the conspirators have been at covering it up.
Your periodic reminder that even if a witness is not under oath, lying during a Congressional interview is still a felony - 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Taking an oath may make the proceeding seem more serious and formal, but it's not necessary for criminal liability.
www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
Taking an oath may make the proceeding seem more serious and formal, but it's not necessary for criminal liability.
www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
Pam Bondi is set for another Hill grilling — but not the one some lawmakers hoped for
The ousted former attorney general is scheduled to answer questions Friday from the House Oversight Committee on how she handled the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
www.politico.com
May 29, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Your periodic reminder that even if a witness is not under oath, lying during a Congressional interview is still a felony - 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Taking an oath may make the proceeding seem more serious and formal, but it's not necessary for criminal liability.
www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
Taking an oath may make the proceeding seem more serious and formal, but it's not necessary for criminal liability.
www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
The obligation of a prosecutor to act ethically is especially important in the grand jury, where there is no judge or defense counsel to intervene.
Prosecutors in Trump's DOJ are ignoring those obligations and eroding the judicial trust built up over decades.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/u...
Prosecutors in Trump's DOJ are ignoring those obligations and eroding the judicial trust built up over decades.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/u...
As Trump Politicizes Justice Dept., Prosecutors Struggle With Grand Juries
www.nytimes.com
May 26, 2026 at 2:31 PM
The obligation of a prosecutor to act ethically is especially important in the grand jury, where there is no judge or defense counsel to intervene.
Prosecutors in Trump's DOJ are ignoring those obligations and eroding the judicial trust built up over decades.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/u...
Prosecutors in Trump's DOJ are ignoring those obligations and eroding the judicial trust built up over decades.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/u...
Blanche said yesterday other expressions of "86 47" won't be prosecuted but the Comey case is based on additional evidence of intent - although he couldn't say what that was.
If they really had such evidence it would be in the indictment. #selectiveprosecution
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
If they really had such evidence it would be in the indictment. #selectiveprosecution
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Todd Blanche Escalates the Abuses at the Justice Department
The acting AG auditions for the permanent job
www.sidebarsblog.com
May 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Blanche said yesterday other expressions of "86 47" won't be prosecuted but the Comey case is based on additional evidence of intent - although he couldn't say what that was.
If they really had such evidence it would be in the indictment. #selectiveprosecution
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
If they really had such evidence it would be in the indictment. #selectiveprosecution
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
My latest on Sidebars: when Todd Blanche was first appointed to DOJ, some were hopeful that the former AUSA from the Southern District of NY would be a moderating influence, someone who respected DOJ's norms and the rule of law.
Those hopes have been dashed.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Those hopes have been dashed.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Todd Blanche Escalates the Abuses at the Justice Department
The acting AG auditions for the permanent job
www.sidebarsblog.com
May 1, 2026 at 7:27 PM
My latest on Sidebars: when Todd Blanche was first appointed to DOJ, some were hopeful that the former AUSA from the Southern District of NY would be a moderating influence, someone who respected DOJ's norms and the rule of law.
Those hopes have been dashed.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...
Those hopes have been dashed.
www.sidebarsblog.com/p/todd-blanc...