..but it actually could be Mueller who indicts Trump’s entire regime (including Pence), if he headed an independent counsel.
Three video segments, one by Rachel Maddow and two by Joy-Ann Reid covering the Last Word have several prosecutors, lawyers, and experts, offering their analysis of the latest attempt by the Trump regime/GOP to Obstruct Justice, all of it better said by people who know what they’re talking about.
This first segment covered, shows how this political gambit led by Paul Ryan, yes republican speaker of the House of representatives Paul Ryan, with Nunes as acting henchman and midnight delivery boy, weakens the GOP leadership’s attempts to justify their ongoing Obstruction of Justice.
Published on Feb 2, 2018
Rachel Maddow points out that despite two weeks of Fox News hype, the Nunes memo is not only underwhelming as a political stunt, it actually undermines the argument it was meant to make for Donald Trump.
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The founders did anticipate a Trump:
Yet: Both chambers of the GOP congress abnegate their sworn duty to defend the United States Constitution, protect our democratic electoral process, uphold the Separation of Powers, abide the Rule of Law, and defend our sovereignty as a nation
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This next video segment with Prosecutor Paul Butler, and other legal experts, gets into the damage being done to the governmental institutions as the GOP/Trump continue to flout laws, abuse the legal system, and operate far outside the ethical standards that were/are necessary and established as safeguards long ago.
Published on Feb 2, 2018
Joy Reid talks with former DOJ lawyers Paul Butler and Harry Litman, who says that the Republican memo is a "disgraceful episode" that will damage institutional relations with the DOJ and FBI
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This last video segment is what caught my eye more than the others, as it covers the legal wrangling that went on that never really got around to answering the question; can a president be indicted (?)
Published on Feb 2, 2018
A new report from Politico says two lawyers who have interacted with Mueller's team think Special Counsel Robert Mueller could indict President Trump. Politico reporter Darren Samuelsohn and Paul Butler discuss with Joy Reid.
(@ minute 5:55 is especially relevant on the question of presidential immunity)
There are many aspects to the corruption and the analysis from experts. Some of it wasn’t new, but this time, finally, talk of indicting a sitting president and the laws or rather, the lack of an actual court ruling on the question may soon become one that does head to court. Perhaps the supreme court.
What the main hurdle I’ve taken from the various legal opinions seems to be; is the fact that members/officials of the DoJ had themselves decided (not a court) that a sitting president can’t (more accurately — shouldn't) be indicted and Robert Mueller operates under the jurisdiction of the DoJ.
The president CAN be indicted — just not by Mueller according to one of the arguments — because the DoJ has made that choice - not the Constitution or a court of law)
Former Watergate prosecutor Jill wine-Banks has stated that her team wanted to indict Nixon, but it was decided against. Leon Jaworski, who had become the Watergate Special Prosecutor after Cox was fired, instead, chose impeachment proceedings and to name Nixon as an unindicted co-conspirator
This is why it may/will require, not a special counsel as is Robert Mueller’s position, but a fully independent counsel. An independent counsel that is not under DoJ jurisdiction — in order to indict a sitting president. This is what needs doing perhaps with Mueller taking charge in that position — an independent counsel
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So, admittedly this is not much of a diary. It’s more a gathering of links and opinions from experts — iow’s not me
I’d said my piece on indictments, and why, in the end, that is what it will take to re-establish some semblance of democracy, as just a start. Rule of Law. Code of ethics. Separation of Powers. Upholding the U.S. Constitution. Those institutions will also need all lot of work in re-establishing them as a national priority
That will not happen with the GOP in power, making up the rules as they go — they’ve gone full tilt into the cover-up mode according to John Dean
The GOP as a party in both chambers of congress, and in every state at most any level, is too corrupt. Our democratic elections were hacked and attacked and the republicans are doing nothing to prevent future election interference. In fact it seems to be welcomed
So far all evidence points to this awful reality:
The House led by Paul Ryan (R) will never impeach Trump, even if Trump did as he bragged, and shot someone on 5th Ave.
The Senate; just as bad under republican control. McConnell (R) will never convict what the house will never impeach — Trump, the puppet; “with enough working digits to hold a pen..". They're all bought and paid for.
When Mitch McConnell spearheaded a racist, birtherism based eight year long campaign of Obstruction, including the stealing of a supreme court seat from a sitting President, President Obama, McConnell and his cohorts proved they were not up to the task (putting it very gently) of abiding the oath they all placed their hands on the Bible and swore.
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Two things that former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, and many other legal experts have been careful to point out when considering indictments, for not just an Obstruction of Justice charge:
1) consciousness of Guilt, and
2) criminal intent
The sheer volume of lies and evidence of both is abundant is every news headline, tweet, and all over social media
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— It may be too early calling for an independent counsel with Mueller taking the reins and issuing multiple indictments of the entire Trump regime, including Mike Pence, republican “leaders"; Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and others like Devin Nunes, plus various republican political operatives spreading materials hacked from the DNC and private citizens and colluding with the Kremlin, but what happens if we’re too late?
Democracy isn’t the only thing on the line here. That, we have the tools to repair, if we choose to. The damage that a Pay-to-Play Trump regime will cause to our environment is on a whole different level. That, we may not have time enough nor the means to repair
so,.. still hope these discussions by the experts posted above are as interesting for others as I found them to be : )
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— RESIST — because nuclear war is another possibility with the current regime where corruption runs this deep — actually seeking options for a “limited nuclear strike" ..the so-called “bloodied nose” strategy