Weekend comments.
August 12, 2023
The purpose of this short note is to open the Comments section for subscribers. I will add my two cents before turning the pen over to readers: From the vantage of a five-minute snippet of the news on my car radio, while driving to take the picture included below, it appears to me that the media is doing its best to increase the drama around Friday morning’s hearing in the J6 case and the appointment of a special prosecutor for Hunter Biden.
As to the J6 case, the prosecutors got most of what they wanted but not everything. That result describes 99% of contested hearings in federal court. If the outcome were otherwise, something would be wrong. Federal judges are paid to bring independent judgment to bear and that is exactly what Judge Chutkan did. Most importantly, Judge Chutkan gave a clear warning to Trump about the potential consequences of threatening witnesses and tampering with the jury pool or the criminal process. That step may have been small, but it is significant. Trump has been warned.
As to Hunter Biden, I heard only that Garland elevated David Weiss to status as special counsel. Based on previous reporting, I assume Garland took that step to give Weiss the ability to file charges in a different district—a necessity because of the unsuccessful plea deal. I don’t think the appointment is a big deal, but my wife was distressed to hear the news and asked me to turn off the radio. Since she is a bellwether in all things, I assume many readers are feeling the same way. I don’t think we should over-interpret the appointment or worry unnecessarily about the outcome. David Weiss spent three years pursuing Hunter Biden and came up with charges for late payment of income taxes and a gun application violation. It seems unlikely that he will now find that Hunter and Joe Biden are the dons of an international crime family.
There is obviously much more to discuss but I continue to have very limited access to the internet. If all goes right, I have included a photo in this post to show Mineral King Valley in Sequoia National Park after a summer thunderstorm.
Our hearts continue to be saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Hawaii.
Stay safe, everyone. We will be in touch on Monday!
And yet Trump's children and son-in-law get away with grift on a scale that makes Justice Thomas look like a cheap date.
Judge Chutkan delighted me when she said the consequences for DT not heeding her warning on intimidating witnesses and jurors would be to speed up the process. That's the one thing that might shut him up -- a bit. I'm enjoying watching such a competent, fine judge so focused on fairness and the rule of law. Justice will be served in her court room!