If there is one thing that Mueller highlighted in today’s press conference, it is that he would have indicted the president BUT FOR the DOJ policy of not indicting a sitting president. Those were not his exact words, but that was the import. But is that a correct interpretation of the policy? Well, here is the full text: But on … Read More
Mueller Talks
Surprise press conference from Robert Mueller in which he took no questions: Trying not to break DOJ protocol, Mueller did his best to explain but not veer from the words of his report, and was successful. But in being faithful to his report, Mueller tacitly highlighted just how disingenuous AG Barr was when he first summarized the report. Mueller opened … Read More
Justin Amash Goes After AG Barr Inn Twitter Thread
Here it is, unrolled: Thread by @justinamash: “Attorney General Barr has deliberately misrepresented key aspects of Mueller’s report and decisions in the investigation, which has helped f […]”
One Day In Trumpworld
These things happened yesterday: (1) Trump gave William Barr total authority to declassify and release anything he wants regarding the Russia investigation, particularly anything from the intelligence community (who was told by executive order to cooperate). I don’t think there is a smoking gun showing that the “Deep State” was out to get Trump by starting what eventually became the Mueller investigation. … Read More
Call Me Crazy, But It Doesn’t Look Like Justin Amash, The First Congressional Republican To Call For Impeachment, Is Showing Signs Of Backing Down
As New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait points out, Amash has “an 88 percent score from the American Conservative Union, [and] a 100 percent score from FreedomWorks.” He’s anti-abortion, more anti-interventionist than the average Democrat, and when bills add to the federal government’s vast ocean of red ink, he votes no.
Breaking: Trump Now 0-2 In Getting Judges To Bock Subpoenas
Courthouse News: MANHATTAN (CN) – A federal judge refused President Donald Trump an injunction Wednesday in the subpoena fight over his personal and business bank records at Deutsche Bank and Capital One. A German lender in the swirl of a money laundering scandal, Deutsche has been identified as one of the few financial institutions willing to do business with Trump … Read More
Happening Now: Pelosi And Schumer At White House To Talk Infrastructure; Trump Cannot Focus
Trump is on the White House lawn complaining about the Mueller investigation, while Pelosi and Schumer are trying to do the work of the people: "I walked into the room and I told Sen Schumer and Speaker Pelosi that I want to do infrastructure…but I can't do it under these circumstances." Pres Trump of his meeting moments before with Democratic … Read More
Document Dump: Draft Internal IRS Legal Memo Contradicts IRS Legal Position On Trump Tax Returns
A draft memo, written last fall by an Internal Revenue Service attorney, contradicts the Treasury Department’s justification for denying House Democrats’ demands for access to President Trump’s tax returns. Trump has refused to turn over his tax returns but has not invoked executive privilege. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has instead denied the returns by arguing there is no legislative purpose … Read More
McGahn Is A No-Show. Now What?
Rep. Jerry Nadler: “We will not allow the President to prevent the American people from hearing from this witness. We will not allow the President to block congressional subpoenas, putting himself and his allies above the law.” https://t.co/iwEhpwoUah pic.twitter.com/Aw7imGg0GX — The Hill (@thehill) May 21, 2019 Nadler in the clip above (from The Post): “We will not allow the president to … Read More
Document Dump: Judicial Opinion Requiring Trump’s Accounting Firm To Hand Over Trump Financial Records
It’s a scathing opinion, right from the opening graf: Judge Mehta rules against Trump in financial record case. Mehta starts his 41-page opinion with a quote from President Buchanan. pic.twitter.com/ZDmOYw6Rra — Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) May 20, 2019 “It is simply not fathomable that a Constitution that grants Congress the power to remove a President for reasons including criminal behavior would … Read More
Then And Now
Then (March 2019) Great news from @Ford! They are investing nearly $1 BILLION in Flat Rock, Michigan for auto production on top of a $1 BILLION investment last month in a facility outside of Chicago. Companies are pouring back into the United States – they want to be where the action is! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2019 … Read More
Trump Expected To Order McGahn To Ignore Subpoena
NEWS: The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has drafted an opinion centering on McGahn’s planned testimony to House Judiciary tomorrow, per DOJ official. A Hill aide tells me they expect it to provide a legal basis for McGahn refusing to comply with the subpoena. — Andrew Desiderio (@desiderioDC) May 20, 2019 NY Times: President Trump is preparing to instruct … Read More
Meanwhile, A Fifth Migrant Child Dies In Custody Of Border Patrol
The U.S. government says a 16-year-old Guatemalan died Monday at a Border Patrol station in South Texas, the fifth death of a migrant child apprehended by border agents since December. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that Border Patrol apprehended the teenager in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley on May 13. The agency says the teenager was … Read More
Pardoning War Criminals: A Terrible Idea
Nowhere is Donald Trump’s imperial instinct more obvious than when it comes to the pardon power. This makes sense. The pardon power is a relic of the English monarchy, which most of the founders didn’t think was necessary and didn’t originally include in the Constitution. With some famous exceptions, pardons have mostly been used to show mercy. In recent years presidents … Read More