You have to appreciate the good news stories as they come along since they are few and far between these days. While the Republican obstructionism and the problems the Democrats are having getting President Biden’s agenda implemented what with Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and their tomfoolery the Department of Justice is another matter. They appear to be doing the job they are supposed to be doing.
Here’s one example in case you missed this:
Excerpt:
DeBerardinis, 45, of Boston was charged with one count of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person; one count of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion; and one count of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment.
The DOJ accompanied its charges with a level of intensity not customarily expressed in the prior administration.
"My office aggressively prosecutes people who threaten racially-motivated violence because such threats are illegal, despicable and an affront to American values," said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. "We take a hard line on threats and intimidation, and these charges make clear that such conduct will be prosecuted federally."
There is another good news story, or at least a story that I hope bodes well for the pursuit of justice.
On “Morning Joe” terrorism expert Frank Figliuzzi said the following about the House Jan 6 committee:
"They can go civil, and sue somebody for not complying with the subpoena," said Figliuzzi. "They could go criminal, and that is going to involve DOJ and the executive branch going to prosecuting a grand jury. Or they can do a new color option, which is inherent contempt of Congress, where they actually reach out and lay hands on somebody, and arrest them. We haven't seen that for many many decades but we are all in for a real lesson on how this works, or doesn't work."
"There'll be some fascinating things happening with people like Steve Bannon and Roger Stone, who are actually pardoned by President Trump, and may fall into a trap where if they say I'm not talking, Congress says while you are actually pardoned on this kind of topic, you have to talk because you are not facing any charges. We are in for some real lessons here, watch for people, the DOJ saying you can't give immunity to that person, that would be a tea leaf to pay attention to ... lots to happen, lots to watch for."
We are anxious about the possibility of the Republicans gaining control of one or both houses of Congress (or possibly sooner for the Senate if a Democrat dies) in the next election.
The House Jan. 6 committee has only two Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who were appointed by Nancy Pelosi. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy withdrew all his Republican designees in protest after Pelosi rejected his appointing Jim Jordan and Jim Banks. This committee has substantial power to render a form of justice by exposing the truth over what happened on Jan. 6th, but if the Democrats lose control of the House in the midterm elections I think if the committee is still active the Republicans will disband it.
There is good news however. Attorney General Merrick Garland will most likely be in charge of the Justice Department at least until the next presidential election. Let’s hope he is because although the Senate confirmed his appointment 70-30 a new Republican Senate may impede a new Attorney General nomination. Still, if Garland wasn’t the AG it wouldn’t be the end of the world since Deputy AG Lisa Monaco would become acting AG.
Regardless of the makeup of the House and Senate at least when if comes to DOJ prosecutions we won’t see the kind of partisanship of the William Barr DOJ as long as Biden or a Democrat is president.
As for the FBI, under Christopher Wray from what I can tell even though he was a Trump appointee and is a registered Republican, from this article at least it seems he has been non-partisan:
EXCERPT: Wray is a registered Republican, NJ Advance Media reports, and has donated thousands of dollars to Republican campaigns over the years. This includes both John McCain and Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns, as well as other smaller races — you're talking some $50,000, CNN reported after referencing Federal Election Commission records.
That said, there's no evidence that Trump's pick is someone overly partisan who will do the president's bidding; in fact, it's likely quite the opposite. Leon Neyfakh at Slate argued that Wray is basically another Comey, and that would make sense since they worked together at the Department of Justice. Before becoming director of the FBI, Comey was the deputy attorney general under John Ashcroft. Wray was also at the DOJ at the time, serving as assistant attorney general, and would have reported to Comey.
And then there’s this from Heavy.com:
Christopher Wray is the director of the FBI, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks from President Donald Trump and some Republicans. Trump and others have accused the FBI of being corrupt, liberal and slanted toward Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton.
There was also a MAGA petition calling for the firing of Wray (here) because he refused to be a Trump toady.
Whenever I worry about the worst happening come the midterm elections I remind myself that we will have a non-partisan Department of Justice and FBI at least until the next president takes over.
