When a well known and highly respected Federal Court judge like Judge Howell has to question whether the prosecutor (DOJ) understands the gravity of the crime committed, you have to wonder what in the world is the motivation of the prosecutor? So, let’s ask, what is the DOJ’s motivation behind charging the insurrectionists with shoplifting candy when the attackers actually held up the store and tried to take the store owner hostage or worse, kill him/her?
The foregoing leads me to conclude that Merrick Garland’s DOJ is, at this point, doing nothing to investigate Trump, his minions or those in the DOJ who supported the coup. We can only hope the the Select Committee can uncover more evidence of the crime committed. But sadly, I have little faith in this process as the insurrectionists will use the legal system meant to protect our Democracy to undermine the Congressional investigation and further erode our Democracy.
Thank you for continuing to provide such great insights into the exhausting turmoil in the aftermath of the all-too-recent Trump era. I'm wondering if there might be a way to, as individual citizens, put some pressure on Merrick Garland to take action against those involved in committing the offenses leading up to the January 6th insurrection. As you and all other sensible people are saying, Trump and all those involved must be held accountable; otherwise, our democracy has evaporated.
I loved your suggestion earlier this week to write thank you notes to the police officers who testified. I have written the notes, but now I cannot find the newsletter where you posted their addresses. Can you, or someone on this thread, help direct me? Thank you!!
Does the government have any concern [about] the defendant joining a mob, breaking into the Capitol building [and] terrorizing members of Congress, the vice president, who had to be evacuated?]
A few months ago I learned that we in The Great State of Ohio have a state law crafted to punish "gang behavior." Meet three criteria, and you win: a party of three or more, shared "symbols," and a gun. The law doesn't specifically say that you must be black, of course, but the defendants I saw as a prospective juror happened to be. I say "happened," because to my mind they were clearly the intended targets of this legal fishing net. White men and women meeting the same criteria routinely surround the state capital, our former health director's home, and in the not-so-distant past, abortion clinics. In contrast, the patriotic tourists at The Capitol essentially meet the same criteria, that is numbers, symbols, and lethal weapons, plus behavior. Add a conspiracy as well, and I'd say there is more than the scent of racial bias in our society.
The bottom line is Congress needs to preemptively strengthen the guard rails of Democracy so that a future president and his party can NEVER bypass Congressional review and oversight.
When a well known and highly respected Federal Court judge like Judge Howell has to question whether the prosecutor (DOJ) understands the gravity of the crime committed, you have to wonder what in the world is the motivation of the prosecutor? So, let’s ask, what is the DOJ’s motivation behind charging the insurrectionists with shoplifting candy when the attackers actually held up the store and tried to take the store owner hostage or worse, kill him/her?
The foregoing leads me to conclude that Merrick Garland’s DOJ is, at this point, doing nothing to investigate Trump, his minions or those in the DOJ who supported the coup. We can only hope the the Select Committee can uncover more evidence of the crime committed. But sadly, I have little faith in this process as the insurrectionists will use the legal system meant to protect our Democracy to undermine the Congressional investigation and further erode our Democracy.
I
Thank you for continuing to provide such great insights into the exhausting turmoil in the aftermath of the all-too-recent Trump era. I'm wondering if there might be a way to, as individual citizens, put some pressure on Merrick Garland to take action against those involved in committing the offenses leading up to the January 6th insurrection. As you and all other sensible people are saying, Trump and all those involved must be held accountable; otherwise, our democracy has evaporated.
Here are the addresses:
For Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonnell:
United States Capitol Police
119 D St NE
Washington, DC 20510
For Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges:
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
300 Indiana Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
I loved your suggestion earlier this week to write thank you notes to the police officers who testified. I have written the notes, but now I cannot find the newsletter where you posted their addresses. Can you, or someone on this thread, help direct me? Thank you!!
Yes, as Meg said first this morning, thank you!
[Judge Howell went on to ask,
Does the government have any concern [about] the defendant joining a mob, breaking into the Capitol building [and] terrorizing members of Congress, the vice president, who had to be evacuated?]
A few months ago I learned that we in The Great State of Ohio have a state law crafted to punish "gang behavior." Meet three criteria, and you win: a party of three or more, shared "symbols," and a gun. The law doesn't specifically say that you must be black, of course, but the defendants I saw as a prospective juror happened to be. I say "happened," because to my mind they were clearly the intended targets of this legal fishing net. White men and women meeting the same criteria routinely surround the state capital, our former health director's home, and in the not-so-distant past, abortion clinics. In contrast, the patriotic tourists at The Capitol essentially meet the same criteria, that is numbers, symbols, and lethal weapons, plus behavior. Add a conspiracy as well, and I'd say there is more than the scent of racial bias in our society.
Today Politico reported another example of how the Trump Administration undermined the norms of democratic governance and rule of law:
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/06/trump-congress-wall-pentagon-502652
The bottom line is Congress needs to preemptively strengthen the guard rails of Democracy so that a future president and his party can NEVER bypass Congressional review and oversight.