10 Comments

Thank you so much, Joyce—I really hope we can all find ways to combat this very dangerous, politicized Supreme Court (totally bought and paid for by Trump and his enablers). Also, I don't know how you're managing to keep up—my head is spinning just reading this!

And thanks for the chicken update—they're so sweet!

Expand full comment

Thank you, as always, for your insight on the issues.

I just read an article in The New York Times: “Proud Boys Did Not Follow Orders Given at Pre-Jan. 6 Meeting”. In this article by Alan Feuer, it discusses a video conference meeting held 12/20/20 where Mr. Tarrio (in about a two hour period) told his men to obey the police lines on 01/06/21. This was not followed in practice, in fact, quite the opposite occurred. The FBI has a copy of this videoconference as does the NYT. The Proud Boys’ attorneys say that this is proof that the 01/06 assault was not pre-planned. What are your thoughts on this? I find it hard to believe that this was a serious meeting, but I don’t want to fall into “conspiracy theory” territory either. There is over two weeks between this video conference and 01/06, so circumstances could-have/did change. How would this look to a grand jury?

Loved seeing Mavis & Barney, a good timeline cleanse. Please include pictures in every post!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Jean. Sometimes, defendants surface (or even plant in advice) exculpatory material. (exculpatory is prosecutor talk for evidence that can help establish a defendant's innocence). And viewing a single piece of evidence out of context can give a false impression. We'll have to wait and see how DOJ's evidence comes together, perhaps we'll get a preview from the committee. I doubt DOJ would have indicted the case if this piece of evidence was compelling.

Expand full comment

Thanks! So it’s not unheard of to lay a false trail.

Expand full comment

The title for that same article today in the NYT is “Proud Boys Ignored Orders Given at Pre Jan. 6 Meeting.” Unfortunately, there was no way to post a comment online.

As Tom Johnson has pointed out here, there have been subsequent meetings between this one & the January 6th insurrection. Hopefully somewhere there is testimony as to what was discussed, which could document a subsequent change in orders. Articles like this one imply that the leaders of Proud Boys just wanted a peaceful demonstration. Right. We saw how that turned out.

Expand full comment

Wasn’t there a meeting between leaders of a couple of these extremist groups in a parking garage in D.C. on Jan 5? I believe the first documentary filmmaker captured video of this meeting.

Expand full comment

Yes there was a meeting which he captured on film, but unfortunately he wasn’t close enough to capture any of the conversation.

Expand full comment

Can't thank you enough for having this forum and keeping us updated. I don't know how you do it all.

I did have a question about the last J6 hearing:

During the hearing, I believe it was testimony from Mr. Herschmann at about the 55:14 mark in the video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eNhqobJl_E ), Mr. Herschmann states his response to Jeffery Clark's plan to overturn the election.

In that statement Mr. Herschmann says in part, "...you take as attorney general would be committing a felony and violating rule 6E." The subtitles are not the best in the videos, but I heard him say Rule 6E. Is that the same Rule 6E dealing with grand jury information? How would that be connected to Clark's plan to overturn the election?

Another kinda off topic question that has been lingering in the back of my mind -- Given this disastrous Supreme Court (dang I hate to even capitalize it now), do you think there will be a way to reverse the Citizen's United case? In my feeble mind and opinion, that is the case that started all this way back when and started the flow of unchecked money into election campaigns. I'm even losing hope that Congress could/would do anything.

Thank you again -- I truly do not know when you have time to sleep or take chicken/cat/dog videos (which I love)!

Expand full comment

i’ll just say Mavis and Barney are adorable! i can’t keep up! the EPA case is frightening

Expand full comment

Thanks for starting my Monday morning with a smile and supportive information. Your comments and positions outlook are so refreshing!

Expand full comment