Seems like half the world is demanding the reports be released, and Trump’s lawyers are trying to bury them. Jack is required by law to send the reports to Attorney General Merrick Garland, before he leaves office. The two volume report covers the findings of his investigations regarding tRumps part on the January 6 insurrection as well as the alleged unlawful removal and retention of highly classified documents from the White House.
In a letter sent to AG Garland on Monday, tRump’s lawyers threatened legal action if they are released due to strongly worded allegations that tRump ‘engaged in an unprecedented criminal effort’ and describe him as ‘the head of the criminal conspiracies’. His lawyers referred to the Special Counsel as an “out of control citizen unconstitutionally posing as a prosecutor’. I’m seeing a lot of fear and a lack of respect just in those words. But wait, there’s more! They also stated that the decision about releasing the report should be left to the incoming tRump DOJ and that releasing the public narrative would, in brief, illegally interfere with the incoming presidential transition and be little more than a political attack. Apparently, they are also asking to remove Smith and stop the release of his Final Report, per court filings. *yawn*
Now we have a little side note here. January 10 is the day Judge Merchan will be sentencing tRump in the business fraud case, aka the hush money case, which prosecutors called election fraud, pure and simple. Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts, BY A JURY, making him the first former US President to be convicted of felonies. And now he’s the President-elect. Does that amuse anyone as much as it amuses me?
One of the people urging Garland to release the report is DC Metropolitan Police Office Daniel Hodges, who was crushed by J6 rioters as he defended the Capitol and the lawmakers inside it. I don’t know about you, the reader, but I figure he has *every* right to ask that and every right to read it. In a letter to AG Garland, portions of which Cheney posted, Hodges wrote, “I was beaten, crushed, and had one of my eyes gouged – and I would do it all again if it meant preserving the Republic.”
“Donald Trump is once again going to get away with his crimes. I don’t know if there is anything you could have done differently to have guarenteed [sic] the opportunity for justice, and that’s not why I’m writing today,” Hodges noted. “I’m writing because, while he may have evaded justice, it is imperative that history know the extent of his crimes. Please: release Jack Smith’s final report of his investigation to the public.”
Former US Rep Liz Cheney issued a lengthy statement, concluding” AG Garland now has a duty to release the Justice Department Report and prevent its evidence from being destroyed. The truth must prevail. The framers of our Constitution knew the lessons of history — that people led by men without character can quickly lose their freedom.”
Former Obama senior advisor David Axelrod noted, “Trump had no objection when the Justice Department released the special counsel report at the close of its investigation of Biden’s handling of classified documents. This was WHILE BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT. Now Trump argues the same should *not* apply to him.”
And one last person: Award-winning and well-known attorney Ted Boutrous on Monday evening said simply, “Attorney General Garland should release the report(s) tomorrow.”
So what do you folks think? Personally, it may be long but I would *love* to read that (or those) report(s). And if you want something a little more frightening, read Project 2025. It’s available on the web. I have no words to describe it. Have a good evening!
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“Loose” Cannon has NO legal authority in the DC case. Even in FL, since she dismissed the charges against Trump her legal authority is at best dubious. There’s also the matter that two of Trump’s FL co-defendant’s are awaiting the 11th Circuit’s ruling on the appeal of the whole dismissal. That places jurisdiction out of Cannon’s hands unless/until the case(s) are remanded back to her. The question is whether they will try to run out the clock by delaying their decision to allows a new Trump AG to have DOJ move to dismiss the charges. Even that might not be enough to keep the 11th Circuit from ruling to the Constitutional question about Special Counsels and the law enabling their appointments.
BUT, if by then it’s a Trump AG with the report I have a feeling Bilirubin Barr will get called out of retirement for a “special” project – to do what he did for Bush 43 with the Iran-Contra case, then again with the Mueller Report. As in write his own HIGHLY misleading summary and let it all sink into the public’s minds before releasing anything. That’s assuming anything at all gets released. If Garland doesn’t get it out into the public domain it’s not coming out at all. The 11th Circuit wasted no time slapping Cannon down (HARD!) twice but that was then. They’ve had more than enough time to rule on HER ridiculous dismissal of the FL charges and since a Constitutional question, a serious one was at the heart of her MIS-interpretation of the law they should have ruled well before now. For that reason I’m not hopeful.
I don’t know if because of the importance of the Special Counsel law Garland can appeal directly to SCOTUS to lift Cannon’s stay but if he can he damned well should! If he’d done his fucking job properly in the first place Trump would already have been tried in DC. In 2023! Back then there seemed little chance Trump would do any better against Biden than he did in 2020 and SCOTUS might well have not given Trump that ridiculous MADE UP “Presidential Immunity” he will have.
We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out. I can understand why portions of the report on the FL case would need to be redacted but since the DC case is dismissed there’s NO reason to protect grand jury testimony and other evidence. There will be no trial to “taint” so we by grab deserve to see that report. NOW.
Garland is a self serving coward, and if he had done his job, Trump wouldn’t be occupying the White House. Even if he does…so what? Trump WALKS on the most treasonous crime ever committed by a president. So what if the truth comes out? The American people saw him in action for NINE FREAKING YEARS!!! Then, showing what this country is really all about…gave him back the office. Maybe if we’d told the truth about our history with the American Indians, the slaves, the exploitation of Central America, etc., maybe we’d be closer to the hypocritical bull crap we spit out daily. Land of the free. Home of the brave. Equal Justice Under Law. The tooth fairy is real. Fairies live in the forest. Leprechauns, if caught, will lead you to gold. Yada yada yada. I, like Rachel, watch what you DO, instead of going with the smoke you’re trying to blow up my arse. So release it and wait…wait…wait…here it comes…potooweet! The birds chirp in the bushes.
here’s the thing tho, Trump actually called Justice Alito yesterday & spoke to him. Glen Kirchner says the report on documents case will be handed over to Congress for safe keeping from Trump and his DOJ indefinitely regardless of how 11th circuit court rules. heck Biden can use his presidential powers and order it to b released. DOJ can still dismiss case and release reports.
Absolutely spot on. Biden, with new found Presidential immunity, can have it released. If thsat is presented as being petty and vindictive (and he is no Trump), then ensure it is placed securely for guaranteed future release e.g. with Congress
And the real consequences to Trump himself are?????? Crickets.
I am.currently struggling with the norovirus. I can’t read Project 2025 because I am.already dealing with nausea. If they do release Smith’s reports,,I will read them, but I’ll take a,Dramamine first