April 16 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court has disbarred John Eastman, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, over his involvement in the so-called fake electors scheme to overturn the 2020 election.
The state's high court ruled Wednesday that Eastman, 65, is disbarred from practicing law in California and must pay a $5,000 sanction to the State Bar of California Client Security Fund, a discretionary fund that reimburses clients for financial losses caused by dishonest conduct or theft by their lawyers.
Eastman is considered one of the main architects of the plan to replace legitimate electors of President Joe Biden with fakes supporting Trump in several battleground states, including Georgia where he was charged in the scheme.
He was also accused of amplifying the unfounded claim that Mike Pence, Trump's vice president in 2020, had the authority to delay or adjourn Biden's certification as the 46th U.S. president.
"Today's California Supreme Court order disbarring John Charles Eastman from the practice of law in California affirms the fundamental principle that attorneys must act with honesty and uphold the rule of law, regardless of the client they represent or the context in which that representation occurs," State Bar Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said in a statement.
