# 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:** 42
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/822 "2023-08-06T15:24:51Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Former President Donald Trump said he will be asking for recusal of the judge on the elections case “on very powerful grounds,” according to a post on his Truth Social media platform on Sunday.” “She has too much melanin “ ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/823 "2023-08-06T16:02:50Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > That is what I am wondering, why did the judge mention the jury before one was sat? Because the judge knows he can’t keep his yap shut. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/824 "2023-08-06T16:16:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That can’t possibly be a viable courtroom strategy. I’ve been wondering about this and would love to hear from our legal dopers. Is the **reason** for bias a factor in determining whether a fair trial is possible? If Trump holds daily press conferences railing against the DC lunatics, criminals, and deranged \*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*s, and respectable polling outfits show his reputation in DC to be at Hitler levels, what then? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/825 "2023-08-06T16:25:15Z")
By way of analogy, could Dylann Roof have insisted on no Black jurors, since they couldn’t be unbiased toward a white supremacist? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/826 "2023-08-06T18:31:19Z")
He already tried out a version of this with Judge Curiel in the Trump University case, claiming that he couldn’t get a fair trial with a hispanic judge. Why? Because of bigoted remarks he had been making about Mexicans! ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/827 "2023-08-06T18:49:43Z")
> **[Donald Trump says he will ask the Judge to step aside](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66422516)** > > Former US President Trump says that his lawyers will ask for a recusal of the judge on his election fraud case. " **Donald Trump has said he will ask the judge in his election fraud case to step aside on what he called “very powerful grounds”.** He claimed that “there is no way I can get a fair trial” unless she does." ---
**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:** [August 6, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/828 "2023-08-06T19:07:00Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > He claimed that “there is no way I can get a fair trial” unless she does." I expect this will go as well as the request for a change of venue. As in, a swift no. His argument that a trial is only fair if it’s held in a place heavily biased toward him and with a judge heavily biased toward him (as in the documents trial) is not going to fly. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/829 "2023-08-06T19:39:51Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Thanks for saying it gets to you, too. I know I’m not the only one here on the Dope. But it still helps to hear it from others now and then. What concerns (and maybe frightens) me about our current situation is that, notwithstanding the importance of rules-based systems and law and order, those things are contingent on enough people believing in, and respecting them. The concerning thing, to me, is that too many, if not a critical mass, of people seem to want to disregard facts and this reality and thus the law. Trump can now say anything that is obviously false, and many, many people, including a good chunk of the federal government, will choose to believe him. I really hope that all of the positive, good-sounding things that have been stated in this thread will come to pass and that the toxicity of trumpism can ultimately be stopped. If the one MAGA juror can’t be convinced to change his/her mind and Trump gets re-elected, that could have appalling implications for NATO and the west ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/830 "2023-08-06T19:41:06Z")
So according to a [Reuters article](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lawyer-says-trump-was-just-asking-with-2020-election-actions-2023-08-06/), all the things Trump said about overturning the election were not directives, they were just “asks.” > “Every single thing that President Trump is being prosecuted for involved aspirational asks - asking state legislatures, asking state governors, asking state electoral officials to do the right thing. In fact, even asking Vice President Pence was protected by free speech,” Lauro told Fox News. That’s John Lauro, Trump attorney. I’ll just leave that here to sink in. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/831 "2023-08-06T19:47:28Z")
I just saw part of that with Dana bash. They really do enjoy trying out various defences out loud. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/832 "2023-08-06T20:00:49Z")
I honestly don’t know if I feel good or bad for Smith’s inevitable Conservative News observation team. I mean, dear god, the horror they’d have to wade through. But, I also imagine them ringing a little bell every time Trump or his attorneys further incriminate themselves. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/833 "2023-08-06T20:48:55Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So according to a [Reuters article](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lawyer-says-trump-was-just-asking-with-2020-election-actions-2023-08-06/), all the things Trump said about overturning the election were not directives, they were just “asks.” > > > “Every single thing that President Trump is being prosecuted for involved aspirational asks - asking state legislatures, asking state governors, asking state electoral officials to do the right thing. In fact, even asking Vice President Pence was protected by free speech,” Lauro told Fox News. > > That’s John Lauro, Trump attorney. > > I’ll just leave that here to sink in. I’m guessing that this is entirely unlike anyone even mildly associated with the executive branch (The Biden Administration) informing social media outlets of violations of their own TOS. I have to admit, I get confused. When Biden does it, Biden is violating the 1st Amendment. But, when Trump does it, the 1st Amendment protects Trump. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/834 "2023-08-06T20:55:48Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > I have to admit, I get confused. When Biden does it, Biden is violating the 1st Amendment. But, when Trump does it, the 1st Amendment protects Trump. Lest we forget: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” –Frank Wilhoit ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/835 "2023-08-06T21:28:52Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Every single thing that President Trump is being prosecuted for involved aspirational asks They’re not wrong. Def: Aspirational - … a strong desire for something ETA. I see aspirational asks in the DWI videos on youtube. Never seen one work out. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/836 "2023-08-06T22:12:11Z")
Trump has a never-ending pit of things he has to have in order to make things “fair.” Or you might say he’s an “ask-hole.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/837 "2023-08-07T01:05:03Z")
“Aspirational coup” is the MAGA version of “Hope and Change.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/838 "2023-08-07T02:17:38Z")
> **[If Trump committed 'a technical violation of the Constitution,' it's not a...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna98406)** > > Later on NBC's "Meet the Press," Rep. Jamie Raskin, who sat on the House panel that investigated the Capitol riot, said Lauro’s argument was “deranged.” “It’s just the constitution, your honor, chill out.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/839 "2023-08-07T02:35:12Z")
There’s another term for a technical violation of the Constitution - it’s, “Violation of the Constitution.” ---
**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:** [August 7, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/840 "2023-08-07T02:55:48Z")
“Your honor, my client is _technically_ guilty, but does that really matter?” “That’s the only kind of guilty that matters.” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/841 "2023-08-07T03:10:06Z")
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