Category: Justice Department

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Donald Trump Justice Department

Jack Smith Has The Perfect Way To Put Trump In A Legal Bind On His Way Out As Special Counsel

As he prepares to resign before Donald Trump takes office on January 20 of next year, Special Counsel Jack Smith has a way to make sure that Trump has to make a painful choice as he attempts to get the federal criminal cases against him permanently dismissed.

That’s the word from former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, who explained what Smith is likely to do in his last days as special counsel.

Speaking with MSNBC’s Katie Phang, McQuade explained the two choices Smith has.

“I have heard from a number of people saying, why should Jack Smith pull the plug on his own case, why not just let Trump just fire him, make him go through that exercise so that people can see that it was Trump who ended this?” she noted. “And I think it is because Jack Smith can have a lot more control if he ends it on his own terms.”

“There are a couple of things he can do,” McQuade continued. “One, as you say, is to issue a full-throated report on both of the cases; the January 6th election interference case, as well as the documents case in Florida ––those two things. The other thing he could do, Katie, and I don’t know if this would withstand all of the machinations that Trump will certainly try to put up against it –– to dismiss the cases without prejudice, and make the argument later that the statute of limitations is tolled during the Trump presidency and revive the cases in 2029.”

“I think there is a 50-50 shot that succeeds, so if he ends it now with prejudice, that keeps those cases alive. It would put the Trump administration in the untenable spot of either accepting that or having to refile the cases just so they can dismiss them with prejudice.”

McQuade concluded, “So, we will see how that goes, but I think this keeps Jack Smith’s hands in control rather than leaving it in the hands of the next Department of Justice.”

In other words, the federal case against Donald Trump is far from finished, and it could well be restarted once he leaves the White House in 2029.

The bar of justice isn’t finished with the disgraced felon president-elect.

Here’s the video of McQuade’s conversation with Phang:

Categories
GOP Justice Department

Conservative Unloads On Nomination Of ‘Vile Sex Pest’ Matt Gaetz To Head DOJ: ‘He Is Abhorrent’

The nomination of former Florida GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz to be the next Attorney General of the United States has drawn plenty of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, leading to questions about whether or not Gaetz can ever be confirmed.

And now you can add to that skepticism the words of conservative journalist Ben Domenech, who expressed his disgust in a post on Substack, calling Gaetz a “piece of shit.”

The title of Domenech’s post, it should be noted is, “Matt Gaetz is a Vile Sex Pest and Any Senator Who Votes For Him Owns That.”

“Matt Gaetz is a sex trafficking drug addicted piece of shit,” the takedown begins.

“He is abhorrent,” Domenech adds. “His eyes are permanently rimmed with the red rings of chemical boosters. In person, he smells like overexposed Axe Body Spray and stale Astroglide.”

Damn! Tell us how you really feel, Ben!

There’s also this from Domenech: “Every Republican in Washington has an opinion about Matt Gaetz, and 99 percent of those opinions are ‘Keep Matt Gaetz away from my wife/daughter/friend and anyone I care about.'”

Senate Republicans have to reject Gaetz or face dire consequences, the post concludes.

″But if they have a degree of independence, any kind of free thought, mindful of the fact that a presidency is four years but your career is forever, they will reject this choice so emphatically that it sends a very simple, straightforward message: you can be an absolute dirtbag wannabe pimp pounding dick pills and caffeine while you film your ‘girlfriend’ twerking on the gram, or you can be a Republican.”

On Thursday, Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress, days before a report from the House Ethics Committee was to be released that allegedly details the Florida Republicans’ drug use and sexual encounters with underage girls, according to MSNBC.

The timing of his resignation could prove to be quite convenient for the scandal-plagued congressman. Punchbowl reported Wednesday, citing multiple sources familiar with the Ethics Committee’s Gaetz investigation, that the panel was set to vote this week on whether to release what Punchbowl sources described as a “highly damaging” report. The Washington Post confirmed Punchbowl’s reporting, citing four people familiar with the matter. 

Several Senate Republicans have already said publicly they will not vote to confirm Gaetz. And yet many of them have previously downplayed sexual abuse allegations and convictions against accused rapist/president-elect Donald Trump.

Why? Because the Republican Party is now composed of gutless sycophants who are only too happy to kiss whatever ass is presented to them for adoration.

At least most of the time.

Categories
Donald Trump Justice Department

Jack Smith Can Still Do Damage To Donald Trump – Here’s How

According to a report from NBC News, the Department of Justice and Special Counsel Jack Smith are seeking a way to “wind down” the two criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, meaning that he will likely face no consequences for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and improper handling of classified documents.

“Now that Trump will become president again, DOJ officials see no room to pursue either criminal case against him — and no point in continuing to litigate them in the weeks before he takes office, the people said.”

However, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance and national security reporter Marcy Wheeler say that doesn’t mean that Smith can’t do serious damage to Trump as he closes out those cases.

Vance explained her thoughts on Substack, writing:

At the conclusion of a special counsel’s investigation, section 600.9(a)(3) of the Special Counsel Regulations requires the Attorney General to provide Congressional leadership with “a description, and explanation of instances (if any)” where the Attorney General overruled an action the special counsel wanted to take. That requirement would be triggered if Smith proposed moving forward despite DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president (there were earlier reports he intended to continue his work through inauguration day), and the Attorney General countermanded him because of existing policy. It’s hard to assess what value a report like that might have, beyond information and evidence Smith’s court filings have already made public. It would at least guarantee there would be a permanent public record that would survive Trump’s certain demand that the Justice Department kill the cases against him.

In other words, the cases might not move forward, but the investigation would still see the light of day, which could be a proverbial albatross around Trump’s neck. And that might weaken him politically as he moves forward with his extreme right-wing agenda. It could also serve as the basis for a new criminal prosecution after Trump leaves office.

National Security reporter Marcy Wheeler also pointed to the report Smith must write and submit to his superiors at the DOJ.

“According to governing regulations, when a Special Counsel finishes his work, he must write a report to the Attorney General.”

She added:

“By telling the press that Smith is already working on shutting down the cases, Smith pre-empts any effort from Trump to offer another solution — and does so before Trump files his response to the immunity brief on November 21.”

“In other words, this may be no more than an effort to get one more bite at the apple, to describe what Smith found, which would be particularly important if there are still undisclosed aspects of the case, as I suggested there might be.”

We’re all familiar with the adage, “He laughs last laughs loudest.” And it appears Jack Smith is on the verge of having one hell of a last laugh right as Trump is raising his hand and taking the oath of office next January.

 

Categories
Congress GOP Justice Department The Biden Administration

WATCH A DOJ Official Give Jim Jordan A Brutal Fact-Check During House Hearing

A hearing of the House Judiciary Committee wound up proving just how little chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) knows about the law or U.S. history, with an official of the Justice Department having to give Jordan some embarrassing facts which completely undercut the point he was trying to make.

Jordan asked Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke about a civil rights investigation into Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, which the DOJ has accused of refusing to hire asylum recipients and refugees in direct violation of U.S. law.

“Did Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter have anything to do with the Justice Department’s decision to file that lawsuit against SpaceX?” Jordan asked Clarke.

Clarke told Jordan that the DOJ investigation of SpaceX began during the Trump administration.

“The investigation into SpaceX was open during the last administration, and we filed an administrative action under the Immigration and Nationality Act, an important law passed by this body with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Reagan,” she noted.

Jordan: “What are you alleging that SpaceX did wrong?”

Clarke: “In this case, we allege that the company is not compliant with the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Rather than accept that, Jordan asked, “They’re discriminating against refugees and asylum seekers, is that right?”

Once again, Clarke had to fact check Jordan.

“No, Chairman. Against people who have received refugee status and asylum status by our federal courts and who enjoy equal standing under federal law to U.S. citizens and naturalized citizens.

“The law requires equal treatment of these individuals.”

Jordan continued to press.

“I just want to cut to the chase. You’re suing SpaceX because they hired too many Americans, too many citizens.”

“And yet you bring the lawsuit after Mr. Musk purchases Twitter, now X, is that right?”

Clarke shut Jordan down by responding: “We apply the laws that this body gave us without fear or favor.”

Categories
Congress Crime Donald Trump GOP Justice Department

House Republicans Demand Jack Smith Give Them All Trump Indictment Documents – Or Else

Perhaps sensing that the federal criminal case progressing against former president Donald Trump on multiple fronts is closer to becoming a slam dunk for Special Counsel Jack Smith, three members of the House Republican caucus are now demanding that Smith and the Justice Department hand over all of the documents related to Trump’s indictment.

According to Eric Cortellessa of Time Magazine, House Oversight Committee members James Comer (R-KY), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) sent a letter in which they demand “all documents and and communications” between Smith and the DOJ that pertain to Trump or his federal indictments.

The three lawmakers also threatened to use a “compulsory process” if Smith doesn’t comply by Dec. 15.

Specifically, Jordan, Comer, and Luna say they want to know how Smith empaneled grand juries and how he decided what witnesses he would offer immunity in exchange for the testimony. In other words, they want to know everything Smith knows even though they aren’t entitled to such information until after the case has concluded.

What “compulsory process” would be used against Smith? That remains unclear, but it’s safe to say no federal court in the country is going to compel the Justice Department to hand over information related to an ongoing criminal prosecution.

Here’s more from Eric Cortellessa, which he shared on Twitter: