The bottom line is that no court is going to save us from Trump. We have to do that ourselves by delivering an unassailable majority to VP Harris, as well as control of the House and the Senate. If we do the work to make those things happen, all of Trump's delaying actions will not amount to a hill of a beans, and he will have to face the outcome of the multiple trials for the variety of felonies he is accused of, as well as the sentencing for the felonies he has already been found guilty of. It is up to us.
Not “no court”. It’s the Supreme Court. They are corrupt, making rulings in politics instead of their mandate… to uphold the law. We have some good judges, but it is moot if SCOUTS can over run le them. The Supreme Court should stay out of it and not even hear Trump cases. Recuse all the R justices.
Well, at least the ones he appointed. It’s a clear conflict of interest, but of course that issue has never been tested before. In ANY other context, there would be no question about the conflict.
W appointed Roberts after he helped lobby the then-Court to shut down the vote count in Florida. I see Roberts as the smarter but just as wicked destroyer of the American political system. See Citizens United.
Oh I bet we have had traitors on SCOTUS; only one justice has been impeached, Samuel Chase in about 1805ish and his crime sure looks like he was a traitor to me. Also John Roberts pushed for the Bush v Gore decision and was rewarded by W by being elevated to Chief Justice. I thought Roberts was a traitor then and I still do. If we examine history I’m thinking we’d find many examples of traitorous behavior by members of SCOTUS
Thomas’s wife helped organize J6 and the Alito’s flew a flag in support of the J6 “Stop the Steal” Insurrection. I don’t know how there could be any stronger conflicts of interest.
In order for us "to do the work" to "deliver an unassailable majority to VP Harris, as well as control of the House and the Senate," we must make a maximum effort to enable Community College students and HS seniors to register by making it as convenient as possible to do so only in those Congressional Districts and Senate election states which are "truly competitive." Do not waste time and money on other CDs and states where incumbancy prevails on both sides of the aisle. There is one group which is in the process of registering 100,000 students only in those "truly competetive" CDs and Senate election states: www.TurnUp.US. It is run by brilliant Harvard students and based exclusively on registering those voters who are intent on protecting full reproductive rights, enacting effective gun safety laws, and fighting Climate change. Please contribute generously and ask your friends and family to do so as it is also tax deductible because it is nonpartisan and based on registration of younger voters who care deeply about these critically important issues! Thank you. Please do so as soon as you read this words as time is not on our side.
Obviously you do not live in Texas....... Tarrant County does not want to place polling stations in the colleges - cause the voting board believes they do not need those kind of voters... Paxton's has begun (again) a reign of terror as he continues to go after voters with brown skin.... then there smirky abbott smiling as he says he purged millions of voters off of the role.
NO ONE would buy Texas even with the discount. Of course it's illegal to remove Texas from the union. Also, it's illegal to send Abbott, Cruz, and Paxton to Russia, China, or maybe North Korea!! I'll stop mow.
So campus Dem groups should organize bus trips to nearby polling places. Make it fun, and they will vote! Get on the bus, Gus. Make a new plan Stan. (apologies to Paul Simon)
First I’m not that guy Patricia- yes there are half of Texans who don’t want these people in power. So be mindful there people in Texas trying to enact change.
Wisconsin was under the thumb of Koch, a gerrymandered GOP legislature and Former Gov. Scott Walker. It took us more than a decade to start getting some relief. We worked our asses off. Texas, you're next! Good luck.
I’m not sure anymore. I’m just voting for a change I don’t know about anyone else but when I see the amount of money funneling through politics it Makes me ANGRY. Thank the courts for that
This afternoon I heard Liz Cheney say that she is endorsing Colin Allred, because of how good he is. Her opinion might move some people to vote for him.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is the only rose/shining star to bloom out of the stinking Texas quagmire of deplorables, cult followers and Megachurch fascists.
Writing postcards for them and will be getting more rolls of stamps today. Also Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org. It's my first grassroots experience at the age of 75 and I'm loving it.
Both field team 6 and Tony the democrat focus on democrat voters. FT6 has many channels to contact voters postacards are one. With both groups you have to apply, basically to make it less easy I imagine for bad actors to easily get addresses and never send postacards. You buy postcards (each group has different ones) and you request addresses and they will send you a list and the template of messages to write. Put a stamp on them and bam, into the mailbox. Its really fun to get friends to spend a couple hours together because you do get tired mentally and physically writing so much
Instead of clicking the link you provided, I relied on my memory to Google the organization and entered True the Vote. I guess it's good to know thy enemy but it really hurt to see that such an organization exists. The BS about non-citizens voting is so damaging to faith in our electoral system. I'm off to donate to Turn Up. Thank you.
Remember,too, that we must be ready for the bloodshed that he intends to bring through his cult of maniacs when he loses. This is not a human who accepts defeat.
AG Merrick Garland should have started working on these criminal proceedings against TRump much earlier than he did. It seems as if he was trying not to seem partisan when this isn't a partisan issue. It's a criminal issue. It's frustrating and infuriating to watch TRump not being held accountable for the egregious crimes he's committed against We the People. Trying to steal an election and inciting violence is not okay.
I go back and forth on whether Garland was too slow or timid. I think we need to realize his task was far bigger than simply making Trump accountable.
The fact is Garland had a massive task just making certain over 2,000 (so far) identified J6 insurrectionists got just and swift prosecution for attacking our Capitol. He made the decision, I guess, to build the case from bottom up--because if Trump's minions pay the price, Trump must pay the price.
And he assigned Jack Smith, which I think was a brilliant move. Given SCOTUS' absurd biases and corruption, and our rather loose and undefined guardrails around the Presidency, I believe Garland realized it would be a long and difficult fight to force Trump pay for his sins. He has been stopping up all the escape routes, as best he can, even as SCOTUS keeps throwing open new gates to help Trump go scot-free.
In addition, thanks to Congress throttling the funds of all our major Democratic institutions, resources at DOJ were strained to the limit getting through that first mountain of work--and it was very, very important work. The cases are *still* going through court, FBI is *still* finding and picking up perpetrators.
Jamie Dupree posts every day a little paragraph highlighting the latest J6 person to be indicted or sentenced. It is remarkable and sobering to read their individual stories. These were definitely not "tourists"; this was a highly organized assault. They are frequently remorseless, still stupid and cruel, or deeply confused and lost, usually feeling abandoned by Trump. But they are paying the price for attacking our country--as they should--after careful and proper trials.
For the life of me, I'll never understand why the Democrats in the House and Senate didn't hold hearings to get to the bottom of exactly who assisted the rioters. Why aren't the Congressional members who gave tours of the Capitol a couple of days before the riot not being investigated?! The Republicans have held multiple, ridiculous hearings investigating President Joe Biden, yet the Dems aren't doing their due diligence in investigating those in Congress who were complicit in TRump's plans to steal an election. It's befuddling, to say the least.
I agree that the pace of the Federal indictments might not have been due entirely to Garland dragging his feet. Allison Gill/ MuellerSheWrote in The Breakdown has written about logistical and procedural hurdles that were not entirely within Garland's/DoJ's control. https://substack.com/@muellershewrote/p-144340474
Most of them would not have been in D.C. on Jan.6 had it not been for Trump's encouragement. Many of them are being held accountable for their actions that day, as they should be. Why are they all not outraged that the coward who invited them and planned the entire hideous mess is not being held to account?
The rioters who are sitting in prison may be furious with TRump, especially now that he's admitted that he "lost the election by a whisker". TRump needs to be locked in a rubber room in a straight jacket. He's insane.
I don't go back and forth at all. You don't have to have every piece of evidence to file charges against a criminal. You have to show intent. TRump's actions on January 6th and beyond have thrown our nation into chaos. This was his intent. His refusal to call in law enforcement to quell the attempted coup, was despicable. Hundreds of Capitol police officers were injured. Lawmakers lives were being threatened. TRump's CuLt 45 members built a noose to hang VP Mike Pence with! This is not acceptable by any means. TRump is guilty of inciting a riot and election interference. We all saw it with our own eyes. AG Garland should have filed charges much sooner. We wouldn't be having to deal with the megalomaniac TRump running for president again. It's disgusting.
Yes! This is true about Garland. BUT it is where we are and have been. So, let’s keep trusting in the competency of Judge Chutkan and a few Sharp prosecutors. In the meantime, let’s bust our butt to get out a huge vote.
Looking at the revelations that we heard about the Russian spy election interference, it sounds like given the criminality of the MAGA party, the Justice Department has its hands full. I wish it would take on the Supreme Court first, and get rid of the criminal elements, and then take up Trump. That would be more efficient. As long as the Supreme Court can overturn all cases that are unfavorable to the majority on the court, we are wasting time and money on prosecuting them in some ways. I am not saying we should not, but going after SCOTUS is important. They have become the root of all evil. A coup court.
The Democrats need to take control of the House, the Senate, & the Presidency in this election so they can impeach those members of the Court who are corrupt, starting with Clarence Thomas.
The Democrats also need to go after the Congressional Republicans who were complicit in TRump's plans to steal the election in 2020. I want to know who was involved! They're getting away with this and they must be held accountable.
Linda, that's not how it works. Only Congress can impeach and (potentially) remove Supreme Court justices. That's why we have to win as many seats in both houses as we can.
Jack Smith was assigned special counsel in November of 2022! That’s 1yr 10 months ago. Substack reader “Systematic Curiosity” (comment below) says he/ she goes “back and forth on whether Garland was too slow or timid.”
The temperament in the country was very volatile after Trump lost the election and of course Jan. 6th. At that time I suspected Garland had concerns about inflaming more violence and possible civil war had he brought charges. Perhaps there is some truth to this, but Garland needed to act decisively and much sooner. By not doing so it emboldened the Mag-nuts (and Trump too).
Substack reader “Systematic Curiosity” adds that “we need to realize his task was far bigger than simply making Trump accountable”. Agreed his task WAS far bigger. His task was defending our Democracy! Unfortunately by not taking action sooner, by waiting until 20 months after Jan. 6 he has helped put our Democracy in greater peril. Had he acted decisively we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now. Our Democracy is in much much greater peril due to his delay.
Thank you. This is exactly what I'm trying to get across to people. Substack reader Systematic Curiosity doesn't seem to understand that you don't have to have all of the evidence in place to indict a criminal. TRump should already be on trial for all of the crimes he's committed surrounding January 6th and the egregious interference of our election in 2020. AG Garland was remiss in waiting so long to file charges.
Uh Oh… Well….. I have to admit after reading this (link below) I could be, and probably are terribly wrong about Garland. I stumbled across this 15 minutes ago (following a link I found in another article). It seems Garland started right away after being sworn in, but he had to fight, and overcome, numerous road blocks to get the ball rolling about Jan 6th (and Trump).
It’s well worth reading. It lists the many roadblocks he had to overcome as well many things he has accomplished regarding Jan 6th. We know each of the items (accomplishments) in the list. Seeing all of them tabulated in one place was humbling. But more importantly he didn’t delay anything. Here’s an excerpt, a summary at the end of the article:
“But as far as the coup investigation goes, he [Garland] did not wait two years, or 18 months, or even six months. He began investigating trump when he got there. It’s also untrue that he wanted a bottom up investigation. That was an incorrect assumption the media made. It’s also untrue that he didn’t do anything until Jack Smith was appointed - as evidenced by my non-exhaustive list above.….. It’s also incorrect that the January 6th committee “shamed” Garland into investigating - as evidenced by the timeline of events. In fact, the committee delayed the DoJ investigation by refusing to hand over their materials in a timely manner.”
It wasn't until after TRump announced in 2022 that he was running for president again, did Garland get in gear, and that was only because he was pressured by numerous people, including President Biden. He finally appointed Jack Smith to start working on it. I've read countless articles from reliable sources about this, including from the Justice Department itself.
Thank you, George. I am frustrated by the pontifications from people who seem to think their opinions represent insider knowledge. They clearly don't, and many of them are throwing out assumptions without digging into the actual events. They need to stop thinking quite so much about what they "believe" is true, and leave some room for facts. Republicans aren't the only ones capable of fictionalizing the facts.
Sound commentators have said early on that Jack Smith should have filed much earlier. Smith didn't need ALL the evidence before filing. That's what discovery is for. He could always have filed a superceding indictment, as he did in response to the immunity decision by SCOTUS.
It is up in the air about what counts as an "official act." But there are reams of state cases deciding whether a government official was acting in accordance with her/his bounds of authority.
Jack Smith is prudently cautious, but he waited too long in this instance.
Agreed. AG Garland has been abominable in my opinion. I so wish Biden had chosen Sally Yates. I am quite sure that Vice President Harris will choose proper AG when she moves into the White House as our 47th President.
“ANYONE CONVICTED OF A CRIME SHOULD SOEND TIME BEHIND BARS.”Reported by N Y Times in article on Trump clemency beneficiary being convicted of domestic violence: ‘When asked to comment about the latest incident, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, said only, “President Trump believes anyone convicted of a crime should spend time behind bars.” ‘
Yes, Judge Chutkan’s astuteness makes Aileen Cannon’s ineptitude and partisan leaning glow in broad daylight. I will be visiting my friend in Vero Beach who is Cannon’s next door neighbor. I really don’t know how I will be able to handle that….
Yikes! I just spent the last 2.5 weeks in Palm Beach County with an ill family member. In a way, it was good to be spending most of my time in the hospital because it just felt like being in a hospital and I could forget about what jurisdiction I was in.
Oh, go underground! What's your friend's take on her? Keep your eyes and ears open and report back. Cannon's going to ignore anything that isn't put under her nose on paper, so just watch who comes and goes. It could be interesting.
Can you tell I've been watching spy thrillers? My neighbor decided last week end would be a good time to illegally burn wet wood and trash. The acrid smoke sent my asthma on overdrive and my eyes are swollen and irritated- even after a week. Today is first day I can read for short periods online, but I do ok with videos. (And I needed the break.)
Please go to www.VoteRiders.org. They need volunteers to help voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania that have confusing voter ID laws. Many of the newly registered voters who registered after the Democratic National Convention won’t be able to vote if they don’t have the proper ID — VoteRiders volunteers reach out via letters and texting and also work one-on-one to arrange for rides to the DMV or other agencies to obtain the proper IDs.
Yes there will be delays with don-old’s appeals. I believe Special Counsel Jack Smith will have his final response quickly after October 17th and not wait until October 31.
I so happy Judge Chutkan is moving things along. She is so not like “loose” cannon who seemed to take orders from don-old and Justice Thomas.
All the more reason we need to keep moving forward and helping out the Harris-Walz campaign. Now is not the time to back down. So grateful we are in this together.
I speak from 40 years of trial practice, State and Federal, civil and criminal. Judge Chutkan is the type of judge that should sit in all courts. Any attorney seeking justice for a client would greatly appreciate having her as their judge!
Since what gets sealed or not is ultimately up to Judge Chutkan, I suggest while we won't see all, or very much of the supporting evidence, we may well see some, if only because of pressure from the media, which is almost certain to come. An altogether proper way for her to stick it to the arrogant defense --- in the nicest and most legal possible way, of course. Whatever it is, even if it's just a listing of some kind, it will do in keeping the defendant's infamy in front of the electorate. Hopefully it will also be additive with the NY records falsification/election interference case final judgment and sentencing scheduled eight days before.
She may decide it's in the public interest. By "pressure" I mean formal request(s) because of course she would not be swayed by any ranting and raving by the media about her being unfair about the release of information.
It's so scary to think that this info that could help people understand who that man really is might get buried and it'll be too late for those under his spell to fix their horrible choice. Harris has to win.
Joyce, I love how you cut through the complexities of cases like this and present them in easily digestible portions. You present hope when there is some, but sugarcoat nothing. Your intent is not to make us feel good, but to understand what we're facing in terms of reality and possibility.
One thing you said really stands out and gave me pause: " It [if Trump wins and hid AG dismisses the case] would be grounds for impeachment if the Republican Party retained any remnants of its former self." We should let that sink in: If the Republican Party retained any remnants of its former self. In 2024 it clearly has not, and I believe it never will again, even if Trump loses the election.
The party of Lincoln has gone through major ideological shifts, from liberal to conservative. Until Trump, the most significant one was the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, and I remember that well. But 2016 was a sea change, and there's no going back. Even if Trump loses the election, the Republican party will continue to pose an existential threat to our democratic republic. That is our bigger problem.
In spite of many good people working to prove otherwise, it has been shown that the legal system is a paper tiger against this defendant. Maga's billionaires have a lot riding on the election and are not about to risk it to the slim margins of voter suppression or the courts. Beware an October surprise. False flag black op would be my guess. Consider the scenario and game it out.
The bottom line is that no court is going to save us from Trump. We have to do that ourselves by delivering an unassailable majority to VP Harris, as well as control of the House and the Senate. If we do the work to make those things happen, all of Trump's delaying actions will not amount to a hill of a beans, and he will have to face the outcome of the multiple trials for the variety of felonies he is accused of, as well as the sentencing for the felonies he has already been found guilty of. It is up to us.
Not “no court”. It’s the Supreme Court. They are corrupt, making rulings in politics instead of their mandate… to uphold the law. We have some good judges, but it is moot if SCOUTS can over run le them. The Supreme Court should stay out of it and not even hear Trump cases. Recuse all the R justices.
Well, at least the ones he appointed. It’s a clear conflict of interest, but of course that issue has never been tested before. In ANY other context, there would be no question about the conflict.
W appointed Roberts after he helped lobby the then-Court to shut down the vote count in Florida. I see Roberts as the smarter but just as wicked destroyer of the American political system. See Citizens United.
Add the dumbing down of the VRA with Shelby County Vs Holder and the invented immunity given to trump.
The reactionaries on the Supreme Court have an interest in protecting Trump, because Trump will protect them if he wins.
A Democratic president will at least try to institute reforms that the reactionaries will not like.
This whole situation reeks.
Never had traitors on the sup crt before.....
Let’s not forget their “supportive” spouses! 😡
Oh I bet we have had traitors on SCOTUS; only one justice has been impeached, Samuel Chase in about 1805ish and his crime sure looks like he was a traitor to me. Also John Roberts pushed for the Bush v Gore decision and was rewarded by W by being elevated to Chief Justice. I thought Roberts was a traitor then and I still do. If we examine history I’m thinking we’d find many examples of traitorous behavior by members of SCOTUS
Thomas’s wife helped organize J6 and the Alito’s flew a flag in support of the J6 “Stop the Steal” Insurrection. I don’t know how there could be any stronger conflicts of interest.
Their mandate includes upholding the Constitution as written, not as how they "wish" it was written.
INDEED!!
In order for us "to do the work" to "deliver an unassailable majority to VP Harris, as well as control of the House and the Senate," we must make a maximum effort to enable Community College students and HS seniors to register by making it as convenient as possible to do so only in those Congressional Districts and Senate election states which are "truly competitive." Do not waste time and money on other CDs and states where incumbancy prevails on both sides of the aisle. There is one group which is in the process of registering 100,000 students only in those "truly competetive" CDs and Senate election states: www.TurnUp.US. It is run by brilliant Harvard students and based exclusively on registering those voters who are intent on protecting full reproductive rights, enacting effective gun safety laws, and fighting Climate change. Please contribute generously and ask your friends and family to do so as it is also tax deductible because it is nonpartisan and based on registration of younger voters who care deeply about these critically important issues! Thank you. Please do so as soon as you read this words as time is not on our side.
Obviously you do not live in Texas....... Tarrant County does not want to place polling stations in the colleges - cause the voting board believes they do not need those kind of voters... Paxton's has begun (again) a reign of terror as he continues to go after voters with brown skin.... then there smirky abbott smiling as he says he purged millions of voters off of the role.
We really ought to sell Texas to the highest bidder. Discount for taking Ken Paxton and Ted Cruz, too.
I’m a native Texan. My wife and I left that hell-hole of a state a few months ago for “bluer pastures” in California.
Bless you and your family!!
I'd say give it back to Mexico but they're much too smart to take that deal.
ROFLMAO!!
NO ONE would buy Texas even with the discount. Of course it's illegal to remove Texas from the union. Also, it's illegal to send Abbott, Cruz, and Paxton to Russia, China, or maybe North Korea!! I'll stop mow.
So campus Dem groups should organize bus trips to nearby polling places. Make it fun, and they will vote! Get on the bus, Gus. Make a new plan Stan. (apologies to Paul Simon)
The Party should pay for it!
GOOD ONE!!
texas elected those guys......hey, weren't you guys gonna secede ?
First I’m not that guy Patricia- yes there are half of Texans who don’t want these people in power. So be mindful there people in Texas trying to enact change.
Wisconsin was under the thumb of Koch, a gerrymandered GOP legislature and Former Gov. Scott Walker. It took us more than a decade to start getting some relief. We worked our asses off. Texas, you're next! Good luck.
Thank you, Rhonda. As a Texan myself, I hate both Abbott and Paxton, and am all for the people who are trying to enact change.
Rhonda, I understand...wishing you luck w/that...sincerely.
Is the race for Senate really close or is it a waste of money?
I’m not sure anymore. I’m just voting for a change I don’t know about anyone else but when I see the amount of money funneling through politics it Makes me ANGRY. Thank the courts for that
This afternoon I heard Liz Cheney say that she is endorsing Colin Allred, because of how good he is. Her opinion might move some people to vote for him.
No such luck…
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is the only rose/shining star to bloom out of the stinking Texas quagmire of deplorables, cult followers and Megachurch fascists.
Send him to prison for corrupting the rule of law! Are we nuts?
Partner with FT 6.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/fund-the-mission
Writing postcards for them and will be getting more rolls of stamps today. Also Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org. It's my first grassroots experience at the age of 75 and I'm loving it.
How does writing postcards work?
Both field team 6 and Tony the democrat focus on democrat voters. FT6 has many channels to contact voters postacards are one. With both groups you have to apply, basically to make it less easy I imagine for bad actors to easily get addresses and never send postacards. You buy postcards (each group has different ones) and you request addresses and they will send you a list and the template of messages to write. Put a stamp on them and bam, into the mailbox. Its really fun to get friends to spend a couple hours together because you do get tired mentally and physically writing so much
Just donated.
Me too!
Instead of clicking the link you provided, I relied on my memory to Google the organization and entered True the Vote. I guess it's good to know thy enemy but it really hurt to see that such an organization exists. The BS about non-citizens voting is so damaging to faith in our electoral system. I'm off to donate to Turn Up. Thank you.
INDEED!! WE the PEOPLE must VOTE AGAINST EVERY REPUBLICAN EVERYWHERE!! We need a "BLUE TSUNAMI" win in Nov.!!
Remember,too, that we must be ready for the bloodshed that he intends to bring through his cult of maniacs when he loses. This is not a human who accepts defeat.
AG Merrick Garland should have started working on these criminal proceedings against TRump much earlier than he did. It seems as if he was trying not to seem partisan when this isn't a partisan issue. It's a criminal issue. It's frustrating and infuriating to watch TRump not being held accountable for the egregious crimes he's committed against We the People. Trying to steal an election and inciting violence is not okay.
I go back and forth on whether Garland was too slow or timid. I think we need to realize his task was far bigger than simply making Trump accountable.
The fact is Garland had a massive task just making certain over 2,000 (so far) identified J6 insurrectionists got just and swift prosecution for attacking our Capitol. He made the decision, I guess, to build the case from bottom up--because if Trump's minions pay the price, Trump must pay the price.
And he assigned Jack Smith, which I think was a brilliant move. Given SCOTUS' absurd biases and corruption, and our rather loose and undefined guardrails around the Presidency, I believe Garland realized it would be a long and difficult fight to force Trump pay for his sins. He has been stopping up all the escape routes, as best he can, even as SCOTUS keeps throwing open new gates to help Trump go scot-free.
In addition, thanks to Congress throttling the funds of all our major Democratic institutions, resources at DOJ were strained to the limit getting through that first mountain of work--and it was very, very important work. The cases are *still* going through court, FBI is *still* finding and picking up perpetrators.
Jamie Dupree posts every day a little paragraph highlighting the latest J6 person to be indicted or sentenced. It is remarkable and sobering to read their individual stories. These were definitely not "tourists"; this was a highly organized assault. They are frequently remorseless, still stupid and cruel, or deeply confused and lost, usually feeling abandoned by Trump. But they are paying the price for attacking our country--as they should--after careful and proper trials.
So far, the congressional insurrectionists have skated. That is a massive problem for the rule of law.
For the life of me, I'll never understand why the Democrats in the House and Senate didn't hold hearings to get to the bottom of exactly who assisted the rioters. Why aren't the Congressional members who gave tours of the Capitol a couple of days before the riot not being investigated?! The Republicans have held multiple, ridiculous hearings investigating President Joe Biden, yet the Dems aren't doing their due diligence in investigating those in Congress who were complicit in TRump's plans to steal an election. It's befuddling, to say the least.
Could House Democrats hold hearings outside the committee structure?
I agree that the pace of the Federal indictments might not have been due entirely to Garland dragging his feet. Allison Gill/ MuellerSheWrote in The Breakdown has written about logistical and procedural hurdles that were not entirely within Garland's/DoJ's control. https://substack.com/@muellershewrote/p-144340474
Most of them would not have been in D.C. on Jan.6 had it not been for Trump's encouragement. Many of them are being held accountable for their actions that day, as they should be. Why are they all not outraged that the coward who invited them and planned the entire hideous mess is not being held to account?
So happy the "gala" is not going to happen. The whole idea made me sick 😷
The rioters who are sitting in prison may be furious with TRump, especially now that he's admitted that he "lost the election by a whisker". TRump needs to be locked in a rubber room in a straight jacket. He's insane.
I don't go back and forth at all. You don't have to have every piece of evidence to file charges against a criminal. You have to show intent. TRump's actions on January 6th and beyond have thrown our nation into chaos. This was his intent. His refusal to call in law enforcement to quell the attempted coup, was despicable. Hundreds of Capitol police officers were injured. Lawmakers lives were being threatened. TRump's CuLt 45 members built a noose to hang VP Mike Pence with! This is not acceptable by any means. TRump is guilty of inciting a riot and election interference. We all saw it with our own eyes. AG Garland should have filed charges much sooner. We wouldn't be having to deal with the megalomaniac TRump running for president again. It's disgusting.
100%
Yes! This is true about Garland. BUT it is where we are and have been. So, let’s keep trusting in the competency of Judge Chutkan and a few Sharp prosecutors. In the meantime, let’s bust our butt to get out a huge vote.
Looking at the revelations that we heard about the Russian spy election interference, it sounds like given the criminality of the MAGA party, the Justice Department has its hands full. I wish it would take on the Supreme Court first, and get rid of the criminal elements, and then take up Trump. That would be more efficient. As long as the Supreme Court can overturn all cases that are unfavorable to the majority on the court, we are wasting time and money on prosecuting them in some ways. I am not saying we should not, but going after SCOTUS is important. They have become the root of all evil. A coup court.
The Democrats need to take control of the House, the Senate, & the Presidency in this election so they can impeach those members of the Court who are corrupt, starting with Clarence Thomas.
I 100% Agree!
The Democrats also need to go after the Congressional Republicans who were complicit in TRump's plans to steal the election in 2020. I want to know who was involved! They're getting away with this and they must be held accountable.
Linda, that's not how it works. Only Congress can impeach and (potentially) remove Supreme Court justices. That's why we have to win as many seats in both houses as we can.
Are you saying that they cannot be investigated by the justice department for anything?
Nope.
Agreed!!
Jack Smith was assigned special counsel in November of 2022! That’s 1yr 10 months ago. Substack reader “Systematic Curiosity” (comment below) says he/ she goes “back and forth on whether Garland was too slow or timid.”
The temperament in the country was very volatile after Trump lost the election and of course Jan. 6th. At that time I suspected Garland had concerns about inflaming more violence and possible civil war had he brought charges. Perhaps there is some truth to this, but Garland needed to act decisively and much sooner. By not doing so it emboldened the Mag-nuts (and Trump too).
Substack reader “Systematic Curiosity” adds that “we need to realize his task was far bigger than simply making Trump accountable”. Agreed his task WAS far bigger. His task was defending our Democracy! Unfortunately by not taking action sooner, by waiting until 20 months after Jan. 6 he has helped put our Democracy in greater peril. Had he acted decisively we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now. Our Democracy is in much much greater peril due to his delay.
Thank you. This is exactly what I'm trying to get across to people. Substack reader Systematic Curiosity doesn't seem to understand that you don't have to have all of the evidence in place to indict a criminal. TRump should already be on trial for all of the crimes he's committed surrounding January 6th and the egregious interference of our election in 2020. AG Garland was remiss in waiting so long to file charges.
Uh Oh… Well….. I have to admit after reading this (link below) I could be, and probably are terribly wrong about Garland. I stumbled across this 15 minutes ago (following a link I found in another article). It seems Garland started right away after being sworn in, but he had to fight, and overcome, numerous road blocks to get the ball rolling about Jan 6th (and Trump).
https://substack.com/@muellershewrote/p-144340474
It’s well worth reading. It lists the many roadblocks he had to overcome as well many things he has accomplished regarding Jan 6th. We know each of the items (accomplishments) in the list. Seeing all of them tabulated in one place was humbling. But more importantly he didn’t delay anything. Here’s an excerpt, a summary at the end of the article:
“But as far as the coup investigation goes, he [Garland] did not wait two years, or 18 months, or even six months. He began investigating trump when he got there. It’s also untrue that he wanted a bottom up investigation. That was an incorrect assumption the media made. It’s also untrue that he didn’t do anything until Jack Smith was appointed - as evidenced by my non-exhaustive list above.….. It’s also incorrect that the January 6th committee “shamed” Garland into investigating - as evidenced by the timeline of events. In fact, the committee delayed the DoJ investigation by refusing to hand over their materials in a timely manner.”
It wasn't until after TRump announced in 2022 that he was running for president again, did Garland get in gear, and that was only because he was pressured by numerous people, including President Biden. He finally appointed Jack Smith to start working on it. I've read countless articles from reliable sources about this, including from the Justice Department itself.
Whatever the truth may be about Garland, Jack Smith, etc., we have but one truth we must pursue.
It arrives Nov 5th: Vote!! Let’s elect Harris/ Walz and make sure trump never sees the inside of the Whitehouse ever again!
Thank you, George. I am frustrated by the pontifications from people who seem to think their opinions represent insider knowledge. They clearly don't, and many of them are throwing out assumptions without digging into the actual events. They need to stop thinking quite so much about what they "believe" is true, and leave some room for facts. Republicans aren't the only ones capable of fictionalizing the facts.
You are absolutely right.
Sound commentators have said early on that Jack Smith should have filed much earlier. Smith didn't need ALL the evidence before filing. That's what discovery is for. He could always have filed a superceding indictment, as he did in response to the immunity decision by SCOTUS.
It is up in the air about what counts as an "official act." But there are reams of state cases deciding whether a government official was acting in accordance with her/his bounds of authority.
Jack Smith is prudently cautious, but he waited too long in this instance.
Agreed. AG Garland has been abominable in my opinion. I so wish Biden had chosen Sally Yates. I am quite sure that Vice President Harris will choose proper AG when she moves into the White House as our 47th President.
“ANYONE CONVICTED OF A CRIME SHOULD SOEND TIME BEHIND BARS.”Reported by N Y Times in article on Trump clemency beneficiary being convicted of domestic violence: ‘When asked to comment about the latest incident, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, said only, “President Trump believes anyone convicted of a crime should spend time behind bars.” ‘
How true! Especially if convicted on 34 counts!
The NYT must’ve written that when they were normal.
I've read several reports on today's hearing, but Joyce has been able to step back and see the forest as well as the
...trees.
Glenn Kirschner gave his breakdown on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=036LQZMCd0k
"Vote for the VEEP; Not the CREEP," says George Conway's ball cap!
Heh.
Callback to Nixon and CREEP—Committee to Re-Elect the President.
Or maybe some here are too young to remember that.
I'm not too young to remember it, Marla!
Hard not to love George’s trolling! :)
Judge Chutkan put the robes on. And the law down.
Yes, Judge Chutkan’s astuteness makes Aileen Cannon’s ineptitude and partisan leaning glow in broad daylight. I will be visiting my friend in Vero Beach who is Cannon’s next door neighbor. I really don’t know how I will be able to handle that….
Yikes! I just spent the last 2.5 weeks in Palm Beach County with an ill family member. In a way, it was good to be spending most of my time in the hospital because it just felt like being in a hospital and I could forget about what jurisdiction I was in.
Tread lightly, Sophia. Who knows, maybe you will meet like-minded people.
Oh, go underground! What's your friend's take on her? Keep your eyes and ears open and report back. Cannon's going to ignore anything that isn't put under her nose on paper, so just watch who comes and goes. It could be interesting.
Can you tell I've been watching spy thrillers? My neighbor decided last week end would be a good time to illegally burn wet wood and trash. The acrid smoke sent my asthma on overdrive and my eyes are swollen and irritated- even after a week. Today is first day I can read for short periods online, but I do ok with videos. (And I needed the break.)
Please go to www.VoteRiders.org. They need volunteers to help voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania that have confusing voter ID laws. Many of the newly registered voters who registered after the Democratic National Convention won’t be able to vote if they don’t have the proper ID — VoteRiders volunteers reach out via letters and texting and also work one-on-one to arrange for rides to the DMV or other agencies to obtain the proper IDs.
Joyce, thank you for your concise information.
Yes there will be delays with don-old’s appeals. I believe Special Counsel Jack Smith will have his final response quickly after October 17th and not wait until October 31.
I so happy Judge Chutkan is moving things along. She is so not like “loose” cannon who seemed to take orders from don-old and Justice Thomas.
All the more reason we need to keep moving forward and helping out the Harris-Walz campaign. Now is not the time to back down. So grateful we are in this together.
Lordy mama it is refreshing to read the words of a judge who takes no crap.
I speak from 40 years of trial practice, State and Federal, civil and criminal. Judge Chutkan is the type of judge that should sit in all courts. Any attorney seeking justice for a client would greatly appreciate having her as their judge!
Since what gets sealed or not is ultimately up to Judge Chutkan, I suggest while we won't see all, or very much of the supporting evidence, we may well see some, if only because of pressure from the media, which is almost certain to come. An altogether proper way for her to stick it to the arrogant defense --- in the nicest and most legal possible way, of course. Whatever it is, even if it's just a listing of some kind, it will do in keeping the defendant's infamy in front of the electorate. Hopefully it will also be additive with the NY records falsification/election interference case final judgment and sentencing scheduled eight days before.
Should a judge be influenced in a decision by pressure from the media?
She may decide it's in the public interest. By "pressure" I mean formal request(s) because of course she would not be swayed by any ranting and raving by the media about her being unfair about the release of information.
It's so scary to think that this info that could help people understand who that man really is might get buried and it'll be too late for those under his spell to fix their horrible choice. Harris has to win.
Good evening Joyce. Judge Chutkan seems to be in charge on this one. Surely hope so.
Joyce, I love how you cut through the complexities of cases like this and present them in easily digestible portions. You present hope when there is some, but sugarcoat nothing. Your intent is not to make us feel good, but to understand what we're facing in terms of reality and possibility.
One thing you said really stands out and gave me pause: " It [if Trump wins and hid AG dismisses the case] would be grounds for impeachment if the Republican Party retained any remnants of its former self." We should let that sink in: If the Republican Party retained any remnants of its former self. In 2024 it clearly has not, and I believe it never will again, even if Trump loses the election.
The party of Lincoln has gone through major ideological shifts, from liberal to conservative. Until Trump, the most significant one was the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, and I remember that well. But 2016 was a sea change, and there's no going back. Even if Trump loses the election, the Republican party will continue to pose an existential threat to our democratic republic. That is our bigger problem.
WE MUST ELECT KAMALA HARRIS!
AND, Democrats in the House and Senate. If that doesn't happen, all the promises made will be for naught.
Bad news for the Felonious Fatass = Good news for America.
You have a way with words, TC.
In spite of many good people working to prove otherwise, it has been shown that the legal system is a paper tiger against this defendant. Maga's billionaires have a lot riding on the election and are not about to risk it to the slim margins of voter suppression or the courts. Beware an October surprise. False flag black op would be my guess. Consider the scenario and game it out.