Trump Obstructs Justice Again, this Time for Roger Stone
In the “I told you so” department, Trump tweeted out his displeasure yesterday that US attorneys in charge of Roger Stone’s felony convictions recommended a 7 to 9 year sentence. As a reminder, Stone was convicted of lying to Congress about his involvement with the hacking by Russians of the DNC server and coordinating with WikiLeaks, lying to the FBI, and federal witness tampering, not trivial convictions. Not long after his tweet, Bouncing Bill Barr’s DOJ backpedaled the sentence saying it was reconsidering. In response and protest, two federal prosecutors resigned.
It’s not like we didn’t know that this was going to happen. Now the we have Trump Unchained, I’m shocked he hasn’t just given Stone an outright pardon, the Medal of Freedom, and an appointment as head of, say, the Bureau of Land Management.
The corruption of this administration is wide, deep, and getting wider by the moment.
Time for the House to impeach Barr before all Trump’s gangsters are out on the street. He’s complicit in so many of Trump’s misdeeds, it would be good to air out all his dirt and watch the Repugs do their cover up routine again. Lovely fodder for the elections.
1God help us all, if by “all” you mean the law-abiding non-corrupt citizens everywhere except neo-nazi states that went for tRump.
Okay, some of them, too.
But NOT Lousy-anna!
2Now these DoJ lawyers are showing the sort of spine and principles that are conspicuously lacking in the other parts of the government, specifically the military.
3These multiple resignations by DoJ prosecutors stood on their oaths and principles and by resigning in such a public way.
Compare to military where the claim that “duty” requires blind obedience to authority, no matter the legality of orders, that just shames the chiefs of staff.
Duty interpreted as blind obedience untempered by conscience, decency or principles is what leads to situations such as Tiananmen square and other examples of military and police putting obedience to authority above any and all other principles.
Be those principles being following the law, living up to oath to country and constitution, rather then to an individual, or any sense of decency or humanity.
The argument now is that with their resignation boot licking lackeys will just fill those positions. But that is a better outcome then compromising those lawyers and making them perform as boot licking lackeys.
So three cheers for these prosecutors (never thought I would say that) who stood up and have been counted and have done it in a loud and public manner that can only bring humiliation down upon the AG and demented donnie.
They have shown true devotion to duty unlike those who use a perverted claim of duty as a shield to justify their bad actions and spineless behavior.
Wait! I thought Susan Collins said he learned his lesson!
4And the lesson was “I’m the king of the world! I can do whatever I want!”
5El Jefe, unless Moscow Mitch and the quislings give a dog’s after meal output about justice, the rule of law and the Constitution, we’re stuck with the impeached Individual 1* until January 2021. SMDH and shuddering to think to what lengths IQ4.5* will go to between Nov 2020 and January 2021 to express his displeasure at being dumped by the imaginary “all” who love him.
El Jefe? Anyone? Can you think of one thing that would move Moscow Mitch? Let’s try this scenario/hypothetical: if it becomes apparent the Republicons will lose the Senate in severe enough numbers, would it shake Moscow Mitch from his end game which appears the total destruction of government at the hands of IQ4.5?
6Can a cabinet secretary be impeached? I know federal judges, also senate confirmed, can be impeached. Not for bad decisions but bribery etc.
7Old Quaker, yes Barr could be impeached. Obstacle being Moscow Mitch and Republicon control of the Senate.
8The Judge ( an Obama appointee) can ignore anything the DoJ says/recommends.
9Considering her record in this case, and others, she may well hold the DoJ’s feet to the fire on why they did a 180 on their recommendations in light of the 4 lawyers who were involved in case resigning form the case.
Hope springs eternal.
Though I am sure that demented donnies puppets on the dishonorable scotus would condemn her for it when it is placed before them.
And now all 4 prosecutors have resigned.
10k@#3
11Way back in 69-73 I refused to obey some illegal orders given to me. It caused me some hassle but I was vindicated afterwards.
I still take my oath to defend The Constitution and The United States(in that order) seriously.
I pray for the president daily. Dear Lord, please fix his brain and give him a heart. Amen
12I wish they had publicly stood by the original sentencing recommendation and stated that it was consistent with the law. Make that corrupt toad fire them outright.
1369-73 was when we still had a citizen military not a group of baby merc’s more afraid of blotting their copy book then following their oath.
14Unfortunately todays chief’s of staff do not have the respect for their oath that you had/have.
Be interesting if they try to punish the Vindman twins as per their tin gods wishes.
We know that Pompeo won’t stand up for Sate department members and that barr doesn’t care about Justice staff and EPA/Commerce/Dept. of Agriculture heads have no interest in defending their staff’s or department missions so now lets see if after the gallagher, and others, free walk for war crimes if any of the military senior ranks have a spine or if they will just try to bury Vindman’s at Thule or some other unpleasent and undesirable station normally reserved for the inept and incompetent.
It wasn’t Trump who went to the DOJ it was McConnell; he hoped that by reducing Stones sentence to nothing Trump wouldn’t pardon him. Of course, he will he is not helping Stone he is shoving it in the Democrats face.
15Robert McClellan:
16I did a brief Google search, and couldn’t find that one. Am I missing something? Or was @15 conjecture?
Sorry, sorry everyone. Apparently 1 resigned, and the other 3 recused themselves? Apparently lawyers have different layers of quitting. (Which is good) In my line of work, you either do what your told or drag up.(quit) Of course that wasn’t the case when unions were strong in my area.
17P.P. would go with “conventional wisdom.” Moscow Mitch didn’t want IQ4.5* snarling and growling during the impeachment process. With the Senate majority in play this election it’s not unreasonable to think Mitch would prefer that Donnie* not do a lot of the st00pid things he does. Will Mitch get that wish? Probably not.
18Jane & PKM:
19With all due respect friends, conventional wisdom hasn’t applied for about 4 years. The argument that turtle is the one obstructing Congress makes total sense.
No argument there. He’s done it hellishly efficiently for years. My point is that the Justice Dept is executive branch.
And tagging turtle with this is counterproductive. The point we need to keep hammering is the unbridled executive.
The biggest thing the founders feared. And wrote a constitution to prevent.
Turtle’s actions can’t be forgotten or forgiven ferdamnsure. Especially in Kentucky.
But IMHO the biggest threat to our democracy right now is the demagogue in the white house. And he’ll happily let turtle and everyone else take the fall for our loss of preeminence on the world stage. Including the turtle. And every single sycophant in Congress or the media.
If we let him.
If you are represented in the House by a Democrat, it’s time to call and write them demanding that impeachment of William Barr be the next order of business.
The House has that power.
And there should be at least one state bar association looking to disbar him.
20Northern neighbour chirping here. Y’all are talking about writing letters when you should be taking to the streets.
21Hope that judge throws the book at stone and immediately imprisons him.
22No bail while case is on appeal.