Anna Bower
@annabower.bsky.social
Just asking questions.
Senior Editor, Lawfaremedia.org.
Send story ideas and tips to anna.bower@lawfaremedia.org
Signal username: annabower.24
Senior Editor, Lawfaremedia.org.
Send story ideas and tips to anna.bower@lawfaremedia.org
Signal username: annabower.24
Pinned
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Quick story: I’m a middle aged man who last year finally couldn’t ignore the lump of tissue I could feel in my right breast. I decided to get a mammogram done.
Thankfully, it was a benign cyst that I can safely ignore.
But men, if you are in a similar situation, don’t hesitate—get checked out.
Thankfully, it was a benign cyst that I can safely ignore.
But men, if you are in a similar situation, don’t hesitate—get checked out.
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Quick story: I’m a middle aged man who last year finally couldn’t ignore the lump of tissue I could feel in my right breast. I decided to get a mammogram done.
Thankfully, it was a benign cyst that I can safely ignore.
But men, if you are in a similar situation, don’t hesitate—get checked out.
Thankfully, it was a benign cyst that I can safely ignore.
But men, if you are in a similar situation, don’t hesitate—get checked out.
At 4pm Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick will hold a telephonic hearing on whether govt must turn over grand jury minutes to Comey’s team. Tech permitting, I’ll live-blog for @lawfaremedia.org .
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
Trial Dispatch: The Comey Hearing of Nov. 5, 2025
A judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to James Comey, as well as information from five-year-old searches of Professor Dan Richman.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Anna Bower
At 4pm Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick will hold a telephonic hearing on whether govt must turn over grand jury minutes to Comey’s team. Tech permitting, I’ll live-blog for @lawfaremedia.org .
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
Trial Dispatch: The Comey Hearing of Nov. 5, 2025
A judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to James Comey, as well as information from five-year-old searches of Professor Dan Richman.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
At 4pm Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick will hold a telephonic hearing on whether govt must turn over grand jury minutes to Comey’s team. Tech permitting, I’ll live-blog for @lawfaremedia.org .
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
COMING UP: At 4 p.m. ET, magistrate judge William Fitzpatrick will hold a remote hearing on whether grand jury materials should be disclosed to James Comey's defense team.
Catch up on what happened at the last hearing w/ this piece from @rparloff.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Catch up on what happened at the last hearing w/ this piece from @rparloff.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Trial Dispatch: The Comey Hearing of Nov. 5, 2025
A judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to James Comey, as well as information from five-year-old searches of Professor Dan Richman.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
COMING UP: At 4 p.m. ET, magistrate judge William Fitzpatrick will hold a remote hearing on whether grand jury materials should be disclosed to James Comey's defense team.
Catch up on what happened at the last hearing w/ this piece from @rparloff.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Catch up on what happened at the last hearing w/ this piece from @rparloff.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
NEW: What’s up with the terror indictment against alleged Antifa members?
My colleague @ericcolumbus.bsky.social explains:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
My colleague @ericcolumbus.bsky.social explains:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
What’s Up With the Terror Indictment Against Alleged Antifa Members?
The Justice Department’s tacked-on charges are just for show. The larger plan is not.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
NEW: What’s up with the terror indictment against alleged Antifa members?
My colleague @ericcolumbus.bsky.social explains:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
My colleague @ericcolumbus.bsky.social explains:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Though Trump’s pardons can’t extend to state crimes, I think it’s worth pointing out the message being conveyed:
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
News coverage of this has focused on the pardon of those involved in the fake electors plot.
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Though Trump’s pardons can’t extend to state crimes, I think it’s worth pointing out the message being conveyed:
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Reposted by Anna Bower
As I’ve noted, Trump doesn’t have the power to pardon state crimes.
But we’re awaiting a decision this week from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, which must decide whether to appoint a new prosecutor to pursue charges related to the Coffee County breach.
But we’re awaiting a decision this week from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, which must decide whether to appoint a new prosecutor to pursue charges related to the Coffee County breach.
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
As I’ve noted, Trump doesn’t have the power to pardon state crimes.
But we’re awaiting a decision this week from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, which must decide whether to appoint a new prosecutor to pursue charges related to the Coffee County breach.
But we’re awaiting a decision this week from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, which must decide whether to appoint a new prosecutor to pursue charges related to the Coffee County breach.
Reposted by Anna Bower
My reporting later confirmed that Rudy Giuliani met w/ Cathy Latham—a GOP official later indicted in the breach—just one day before he proposed accessing Georgia voting machines during a 2020 White House meeting.
Giuliani & Latham are both on the pardon list
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
Giuliani & Latham are both on the pardon list
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
November 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
My reporting later confirmed that Rudy Giuliani met w/ Cathy Latham—a GOP official later indicted in the breach—just one day before he proposed accessing Georgia voting machines during a 2020 White House meeting.
Giuliani & Latham are both on the pardon list
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
Giuliani & Latham are both on the pardon list
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
News coverage of this has focused on the pardon of those involved in the fake electors plot.
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
News coverage of this has focused on the pardon of those involved in the fake electors plot.
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Relatedly, in case you missed it: My colleague @rparloff.bsky.social wrote an excellent play-by-play of last Wednesday’s hearing in the Comey case.
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Relatedly, in case you missed it: My colleague @rparloff.bsky.social wrote an excellent play-by-play of last Wednesday’s hearing in the Comey case.
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Reposted by Anna Bower
Trump has no formal power to affect this decision, and of course a presidential pardon has no bearing on state prosecutions, but now he can claim credit if the decision goes his way.
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Trump has no formal power to affect this decision, and of course a presidential pardon has no bearing on state prosecutions, but now he can claim credit if the decision goes his way.
Reposted by Anna Bower
This question is being asked because Trump cannot pardon state crimes. What he issued tonight was messaging, not a true pardon.
Everyone’s like “so what do these pardons DO??” and honestly I’d say it probably has more to do with this than anything substantive, at least for now
It’s a communicative pardon
It’s a communicative pardon
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 AM
This question is being asked because Trump cannot pardon state crimes. What he issued tonight was messaging, not a true pardon.
Reposted by Anna Bower
At the same time the Trump administration is firing FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors who investigated the J6 insurrection, they are pardoning those directly involved in trying to overturn the election and organizing January 6th, and prosecuting the President's perceived political enemies.
Ed Martin seemed to explicitly link the pardons to his “No MAGA left behind” mantra—tweeting the news in reply to a post that said exactly that.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 AM
At the same time the Trump administration is firing FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors who investigated the J6 insurrection, they are pardoning those directly involved in trying to overturn the election and organizing January 6th, and prosecuting the President's perceived political enemies.
Everyone’s like “so what do these pardons DO??” and honestly I’d say it probably has more to do with this than anything substantive, at least for now
It’s a communicative pardon
It’s a communicative pardon
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Everyone’s like “so what do these pardons DO??” and honestly I’d say it probably has more to do with this than anything substantive, at least for now
It’s a communicative pardon
It’s a communicative pardon
Ed Martin seemed to explicitly link the pardons to his “No MAGA left behind” mantra—tweeting the news in reply to a post that said exactly that.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
November 10, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Ed Martin seemed to explicitly link the pardons to his “No MAGA left behind” mantra—tweeting the news in reply to a post that said exactly that.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
Reposted by Anna Bower
Remarkable that these pardons were announced the same day that a federal judge published this piece.
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Remarkable that these pardons were announced the same day that a federal judge published this piece.
Trump doesn’t, however, include himself in the pardon.
The language specifically says that the pardon does not apply to the president.
The language specifically says that the pardon does not apply to the president.
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Trump doesn’t, however, include himself in the pardon.
The language specifically says that the pardon does not apply to the president.
The language specifically says that the pardon does not apply to the president.
Reposted by Anna Bower
Uh I hate to break it to Slow House but you can't pardon state crimes, and all of the fake elector prosecutions involve state offenses.
The language of this pardon is extremely broad.
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Uh I hate to break it to Slow House but you can't pardon state crimes, and all of the fake elector prosecutions involve state offenses.
Reposted by Anna Bower
This is most directly about the fake electors (none of whom face any federal charges anyway) but the actual wording of it is much broader: it's effectively a full and complete blanket pardon for anybody who had anything to do with trying to steal the 2020 election, not just the Jan 6-ers.
The language of this pardon is extremely broad.
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
This is most directly about the fake electors (none of whom face any federal charges anyway) but the actual wording of it is much broader: it's effectively a full and complete blanket pardon for anybody who had anything to do with trying to steal the 2020 election, not just the Jan 6-ers.
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
Reposted by Anna Bower
It also includes “any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 Presidential Election…”
bsky.app/profile/anna...
bsky.app/profile/anna...
The language of this pardon is extremely broad.
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 AM
It also includes “any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 Presidential Election…”
bsky.app/profile/anna...
bsky.app/profile/anna...
The language of this pardon is extremely broad.
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
November 10, 2025 at 4:51 AM
The language of this pardon is extremely broad.
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
It includes “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential
electors…”
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Reposted by Anna Bower
If you're trying to understand what happened at the 11/5 James Comey hearing, like
* why the mag. judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to Comey &
* how 4 old searches of dan richman's devices relate to the case (if at all)
here are details:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
* why the mag. judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to Comey &
* how 4 old searches of dan richman's devices relate to the case (if at all)
here are details:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Trial Dispatch: The Comey Hearing of Nov. 5, 2025
A judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to James Comey, as well as information from five-year-old searches of Professor Dan Richman.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If you're trying to understand what happened at the 11/5 James Comey hearing, like
* why the mag. judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to Comey &
* how 4 old searches of dan richman's devices relate to the case (if at all)
here are details:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
* why the mag. judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to Comey &
* how 4 old searches of dan richman's devices relate to the case (if at all)
here are details:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
Relatedly, in case you missed it: My colleague @rparloff.bsky.social wrote an excellent play-by-play of last Wednesday’s hearing in the Comey case.
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Relatedly, in case you missed it: My colleague @rparloff.bsky.social wrote an excellent play-by-play of last Wednesday’s hearing in the Comey case.
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
You won’t find coverage this detailed in any other media outlet.
Read here: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...