Good stuff - thanks, r_c.
That really is a superb link. Thanks for sharing. I’ve bookmarked it.
And, occasionally, digesting them.
I’ll echo the thanks of others here. I’m at work so just skimmed the subheads, but it seems like a comprehensive takedown.
Excerpts from the conclusion, for other TLDRs:
Based on the facts already known, it appears that Trump, Eastman, and others could be charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding.
The first factor to consider is whether prosecution would advance a substantial federal interest. Here, the answer is yes.The evidence shows that Trump and others attempted to overturn the results of a free and fair election through corrupt means. Their conduct has undermined public confidence in our elections. This effort is antithetical to a democracy that chooses its leader through the popular election of electors who, in turn, select the president.
If Trump were charged and acquitted at trial, then he and his violent extremist followers would be emboldened. A sober and clear-eyed assessment of prosecution must consider that charging Trump criminally could have profoundly negative consequences for our country.
The only thing worse would be not charging him.
But … but … but … Hillary’s emails!!!
Apparently a charge of seditious conspiracy would require the use of violence. So it would be a reach to charge Trump, who only went so far as inciting violence. (The Oath Keepers, though, have already been so indicted.)
They might get him using the Manson strategy. After all, Charlie only incited the murders, he didn’t actually kill anyone personally.
We are a clown down.
(Suicide.)
Jan 6th committee concludes Trump committed federal crimes:
It’s nice to see it finally stated in an unequivocal way. I expect we’ll next have to wait for the judge’s ruling on this motion and for the Committee’s report. I hope criminal charges soon follow.
[One of the Oath Keepers](https://One of the Oath Keepers has plead gui-keeper-plea-deal-seditious-conspiracy/index.html) has plead guilty to seditious conspiracy and is cooperating with the prosecution.
Your link is broken, but here is one that works.
Exactly what I’ve been saying all along!
One the one hand, this is good news. On the other hand, once again I don’t believe Trump will actually get charged with anything or stand trial.
It’s a long way from here to there, to be sure, but I think it could actually happen.
Wake me up if any actual action is taken. Or even contemplated to be taken.
Or sent to a committee to be contemplated to be taken.
For that to happen it will be necessary for Merrick Garland to burn his Federalist Society bridges once and for all.
I guess we’ll all be in suspense for a while longer, waiting to see if he’ll do it.
A new Washington Post story about Roger Stone and January 6th broke today. Apparently, Stone had filmmakers following him around and documenting his efforts to overturn the election.
https://wapo.st/3pCbjBe (This is a gifted link, it’s free)
And here’s a rather long quote from the middle of the story
As he left Washington, stone lobbied for Trump to enact “the Stone Plan”, — a blanket presidential pardon to shield himself, Trump’s allies in Congress and “The America First” movement from prosecution for trying to overturn the election, according to the footage and additional documents reviewed by the Post.
But the plan, along with the bid by Stone to win pardons for the other Trump backers including convicted mobsters, was ultimately thwarted by White House counsel Pat Cippollone, Stone said in several conversation that were filmed.
”Clearly, Cippollone fucked everybody” Stone told Steven Brown, a friend then in federal prison in Oregon for a fraud conviction, during a call on January 19, 2021. Cippollone was aware of Stone’s requests for pardons and opposed them, according to a person familiar with the situation, who some on the condition on anonymity to discuss confidential matters.
”See you in prison,” Stone wrote that evening in a message to another Trump associate.
In an Inauguration Day call with a friend, Stone directed his rage at the man who had confided in him and consulted with him for decades, denouncing Trump as a “disgrace” and expressing support for him to be impeached. “He betrayed everybody” Stone said.
So, my takeaway is that Roger Stone was aware that the efforts to overturn the election were illegal even as he was documenting them. He performed these illegal actions openly because he thought he was getting another pardon. And apparently all of this is on film.
And yet, the fix is still in. The Federalist Society lackeys Merrick Garland and Chris Wray have decided that no one will face any consequences for trying to overturn the election and that they’d rather go after Hillary Clinton. For some inexplicable reason Biden is cool with that. Biden’s DOJ is working harder for Trump than his own DOJ ever did.
I get it, the director of the FBI is supposed to be a non-partisan position ( even though it is currently filled by the most right-wing partisan actor that they could pass off as neutral) But the position of AG isn’t, and while Biden isn’t supposed to influence individual cases, it’s certainly would not be out of line for him to give a general instruction to prioritize the prosecution of people involved in Stop The Steal.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the FBI has no interest in investigating the election theft fraud and DOJ has no intention of prosecuting such crimes. And now we know that even Roger Stone knew he had committed crimes and was convinced that he would be prosecuted. It’s beyond disappointing, I think Biden needs to make some changes.
About the boxes at Mara Lardo: somebody, presumably with enough clearance to be in the White House, and who should have known better, carried those boxes out to the truck. They’re as guilty as orange guy.