California judge recommends disbarment of pro-Trump attorney John Eastman

A California judge has formally recommended that attorney John Eastman lose his law license for his role in Donald Trump's legal effort to remain in power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

Eastman, a prominent figure in conservative legal circles and a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, played a key role in developing and backing a plan for states to send pro-Trump slates of electors to Congress and have then-Vice President Mike Pence unilaterally block or delay the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

"Eastman's wrongdoing constitutes exceptionally serious ethical violations warranting severe professional discipline," wrote California State Bar Court Judge Yvette Roland in her decision. "Eastman made multiple patently false and misleading statements in court filings, in public remarks heard by countless Americans and to others regarding the conduct of the 2020 presidential election and Vice President Pence's authority to refuse to count or delay counting properly certified slates of electoral votes on January 6, 2021."

Judge Roland also criticized Eastman's defiant response to the allegations against him.

"His lack of insight into the wrongfulness of his misconduct is deeply troubling," wrote Judge Roland. "While Eastman is entitled to defend himself, his conduct goes beyond this, revealing a complete failure to understand the wrongfulness of his actions."

In addition to disbarment, Judge Roland recommended that Eastman pay $10,000 in fines.

Judge Roland's recommendation will be reviewed by the California Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide whether he can retain his law license. Eastman has also suggested that he would appeal. In the meantime, Judge Roland's decision