# DOJ/Jack Smith Investigation into Trump and Election Interference, January 6th Insurrection (Re-Indicted August 27, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 23, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455 "2022-11-23T20:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 134
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2664 "2024-11-25T22:51:37Z")
I wonder if he could get his old job at The Hague back, or a like position there? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2665 "2024-11-25T22:57:55Z")
Probably. He has an excellent reputation. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2666 "2024-11-25T23:09:50Z")
That’s good. I wouldn’t be surprised if going back there would be both a professional and personal relief. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2667 "2024-11-25T23:10:12Z")
I wish he’d put me in his carry-on. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2668 "2024-11-25T23:14:33Z")
On that note, judges like Judges Juan Merchan and Arthur Engoron probably have some serious concerns now. I doubt that even Trump would literally try to jail them – or at least, saner minds would talk him out of it – but Trump would surely very much like to fire them and replace them with loyal Trumpists. With established judicial careers, they’re also not easily mobile. This could be one measure of just how extreme the lunacy might become. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > I wish he’d put me in his carry-on. I’m seriously hoping – and I’m not joking – to see an influx of progressive, skilled, and educated Americans emigrate to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2669 "2024-11-25T23:17:54Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > On that note, judges like Judges Juan Merchan and Arthur Engoron probably have some serious concerns now. I doubt that even Trump would literally try to jail them – or at least, saner minds would talk him out of it – but Trump would surely very much like to fire them and replace them with loyal Trumpists. > Federal judges can only be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction in the Senate. Judges and Justices serve no fixed term — they serve until their death, retirement, or conviction by the Senate. Source: [The Judicial Branch | The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-judicial-branch/) ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2670 "2024-11-25T23:19:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’m seriously hoping – and I’m not joking – to see an influx of progressive, skilled, and educated Americans emigrate to Canada. My best friend here is Canadian. She and her hubby are exploring moving there, and I’ve looked into it as well. Unfortunately, I’m too old and not quite wealthy enough to buy myself a spot. I guess I’ll just have to be part of The Resistance. 😉 Re removing judges, thanks, @EddyTeddyFreddy. Good to know Trump will struggle to do bad things to Justice Merchan and Judges Chutkan and Engoron. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2671 "2024-11-25T23:21:05Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Then I’m pretty sure The Netherlands will protect Jack Smith for the rest of his life if necessary. You may know far more than I do about governance in the Netherlands. But doesn’t Geert Wilders being the head of the largest party in their House of Representatives (although not the PM) suggest that one day he may be the PM and would gladly do what Trump asked? Maybe I’m wrong in the last paragraph, but it seems to me it would be in Dutch national interest to hand Smith over. There’s too much risk of the U.S. retaliating by doing something harmful to their economy. In these threads, I find the practicality of an extremely high profile figure (Trump or now Smith) avoiding prosecution by going abroad exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2672 "2024-11-25T23:28:54Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Maybe I’m wrong in the last paragraph, but it seems to me it would be in Dutch national interest to hand Smith over. There’s too much risk of the U.S. retaliating by doing something harmful to their economy. Hand Smith over for _what_? He’s not going to break any laws. 🙄 Except made-up ones. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2673 "2024-11-25T23:44:44Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > > Federal judges can only be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction in the Senate. Judges and Justices serve no fixed term — they serve until their death, retirement, or conviction by the Senate. > > Source: [The Judicial Branch | The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-judicial-branch/) Justices Merchan and Engoron are NY state trial judges. Trump can’t do anything to them. (unless things truly go to shit) ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2674 "2024-11-26T00:03:51Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Trump can’t do anything to them. (unless things truly go to shit) Recalling how far Trump went in his first term to go after James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, I’d say we’re there. Corruption, revenge and bullying make up his whole persona. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2675 "2024-11-26T00:07:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Justices Merchan and Engoron are NY state trial judges. Trump can’t do anything to them. (unless things truly go to shit) Ah, thank you for that correction. I wonder whether Judge Chutkan might become a target? ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2676 "2024-11-26T00:25:01Z")
I would define stay away from windows if I crossed Trump or Musk. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2677 "2024-11-26T00:28:38Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Hand Smith over for _what_? Trump has [mentioned treason](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/matters-trump-wants-see-jack-smith-get-arrested-rcna150824). But he probably will be pleased with anything Pam Bondi can get past the grand jury. Googling claims that grand juries indict whomever the prosecutor wants them to (“indict a ham sandwich”), I’m not finding many examples of the grand jury failing to indict when the prosecution team unambiguously wants that indictment. If I was Smith, I’d put my hopes on the petit jury. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2678 "2024-11-26T00:36:35Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Googling claims that grand juries indict whomever the prosecutor wants them to (“indict a ham sandwich”), I’m not finding many examples of the grand jury failing to indict when the prosecution team unambiguously wants that indictment. Very likely, but you may have forgotten this case: > **[On the Mystery of the McCabe Grand Jury](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/mystery-mccabe-grand-jury)** > > We don’t know what happened before the grand jury this week in Andrew McCabe’s case. But the Justice Department knows whether grand jurors just told them to stand I genuinely doubt The Netherlands would hand Smith over for prosecution on thin to non-existent evidence. There’s nothing “treasonous” about doing one’s job. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2679 "2024-11-26T00:57:14Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > IANAL, AIUI, the statute of limitations means that indictments must be made within a particular time limit. When the indictment is dismissed, has the limitations clock been running the whole time, beginning with the date of the offense alleged? I assume it has but IANAL, either. Does the dismissed indictment have any impact on the clock? The time limit is five years for most non-capital charges. “Temporary dismissal”? Yeah, right. I don’t see any way to hold Trump accountable. Zero. Unless he commits new offenses (very likely, IMHO) and DOJ has the balls to charge him once he’s gone (assuming a D president follows) He ran out the clock with the help the courts. He next USSC picks will be younger and even more right wing unless the Dems can win back the Senate in two years and hold it after that. The current minority Justices need to hold on until then before retiring, if there is to be _any_ hope at all for the USSC. I think one of the great mistakes in our county’s history was the pardoning of Nixon. This whole fiasco with Trump tops that. “No man is above the law”. Bullshit. One last thought. The hardcore 2nd Amendment people often say that they need guns to protect from a tyrannical government. It would be ironic if it turned out that that government was one they helped put in place. Of course, it wouldn’t be coming for them. At least, not at first. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2680 "2024-11-26T00:58:04Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I genuinely doubt The Netherlands would hand Smith over for prosecution on thin to non-existent evidence. There’s nothing “treasonous” about doing one’s job. They would have a much greater reluctance to hand over someone for treason, than for another alleged crime, because of the potential death penalty. Today’s news is relevant: [Donald Trump vows to impose 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/25/trump-tariff-canada-mexico/76576835007/) > [@](#): > > President-elect Donald Trump vowed Monday that on his first day in office he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and Canada . . . I hope courts block that. But if Trump gets away with it, he has a tool for bullying that no foreign government can ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2681 "2024-11-26T01:01:39Z")
Sure. But let’s not discuss it in this thread. There are better threads to discuss Trump’s stupid tariffs. The consequences of tariffs to Jack Smith are, IMHO, insignificant compared to the destruction those tariffs would impose on this country as a whole, so not really a good fit for discussion in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2682 "2024-11-26T01:02:06Z")
I don’t think Trump could even try to indict Smith for treason, since it is a pretty specific crime involving working with America’s “enemies” (as defined as being at war with the country). But I could see him trying to get him for “insurrection”, ironically enough, arguing that by going after Trump he was trying to stop him from taking his rightful place as ruler of the nation. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/2683 "2024-11-26T01:04:50Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I wonder whether Judge Chutkan might become a target? I don’t expect Trump to actually expend the genuine effort to do anything to the judges directly, by himself. His practical legal options are limited and he’s a lazy man. I do, however, expect him to complain a lot about troublesome priests. And then if something happens, well, (shrug) whaddaya gonna do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455.md?page=133) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455.md?page=135)