Not to pick-nits, appellate courts don’t “clear” people. Appellate courts her appeals from litigants (defendants, in this case) that argue the trial judge erred in his application of law. They don’t find fact, therefor they can’t “clear” anyone.
*************************
Small exception in Louisiana, where a court of appeal ( not court of appeals in La) can, if they wish, review the facts. Typically they do not.
Agree that this is bad. It is a BS political trial.
I haven't been following it very closely. From what little I know, it seems pretty politically motivated, on its face.
The point I was trying to convey to the original poster, was that if your trial strategy is, "We'll get 'em on appeal", you're generally screwed.