George Papadopoulos' deleted tweets just came back to haunt him in court
George Papadopoulos just learned a lesson in thinking before you tweet.
The former Trump campaign adviser who last year pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI is set to begin a 14-day prison sentence on Nov. 26, but he's currently seeking a delay. His argument for a delay hinges on the outcome of a different case challenging the legality of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's appointment, Bloomberg reports. Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's actions during the 2016 election led to Papadopoulos' prosecution.
In response to this request, Mueller said in a filing Wednesday that it should be denied, reports Talking Points Memo. "The defendant received what he bargained for," Mueller's office wrote, "and holding him to it is not a hardship." Mueller's lawyers said there was no legal basis for a delay, and furthermore said Papadopoulos had backpedaled on his own acknowledgment of guilt.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Papadopoulos had gotten a lighter sentence after the judge said he demonstrated remorse for his crimes, but Mueller disputed this Wednesday by citing a series of tweets where Papadopoulos clearly said he regretted pleading guilty and called his sentencing a "case of entrapment." Mueller's office said the tweets "appear to be inconsistent with his stated acceptance of responsibility at sentencing." Papadopoulos has since deleted all of these tweets, which clearly did him no good, as they still show up in the filing with citations that read, "This tweet has since been removed from the defendant's public Twitter account."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Exploring Easter Island, one of the world's most remote inhabited islands
The Week Recommends It takes time and effort to travel to this mystical locale
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Linda McMahon, the former wrestling mogul tapped for Department of Education
In the Spotlight Longtime Trump ally set for nomination as secretary of the agency despite limited background in the field
By David Faris Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba have a rough day in defamation court
Speed Read Trump's audible grousing as E. Jean Carroll testified earned him a warning he could be thrown out of court, and Habba showed she 'doesn't know what the hell she's doing'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published