# DOJ/Jack Smith Investigation into Trump and Election Interference, January 6th Insurrection (Re-Indicted August 27, 2024)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455>\
**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:** 76

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1502 "2023-10-03T07:50:23Z")

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> [@squeegee](#):
>
> Obama: [“We will kill Bin Laden.”](https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/901/we-will-kill-bin-laden/)

Not really in the same ballpark of venomous bluster, though, when considered in context. [Bush was deliberately and explicitly invoking that tone of Wild West bravado:](https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92483&page=1)

> [@](#):
>
> “I want justice,” Bush said. “And there’s an old poster out West, I recall, that says, ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.’”

The statement you quoted from Obama, on the other hand, was made in a more nuanced major policy speech and was stated soberly as a specific policy objective:

> [@](#):
>
> “What I have said is we’re going encourage democracy in Pakistan, expand our non-military aid to Pakistan so that they have more of a stake in working with us, but insisting that they go after these militants. And if we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act, and we will take them out. We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaida. That has to be our biggest national security priority.”

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1503 "2023-10-03T14:17:49Z")

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As a non-American, I would say those statements are the same. Obama just dressed it up more.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1504 "2023-10-03T14:28:39Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Obama just dressed it up more.

It was Bush dressing it up as some vague Old West American virtue. Obama explicitly tied it to American policy and put it into real life context. Nothing “dressed up” about that.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1505 "2023-10-03T14:30:16Z")

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Bottom line: we will kill him.

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1506 "2023-10-03T14:31:32Z")

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The bare meaning is the same, but context matters.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1507 "2023-10-03T14:34:29Z")

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Yes, Obama made it clear that the US would ignore the national sovereignty of other countries to kill bin Laden.

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**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1508 "2023-10-03T14:37:51Z")

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> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> but context matters.

Yes, there’s a difference between seeking out someone in your own country, a person subject to its laws, in which you have control of vast police power to find and detain them for trial, even if that trial may result in an execution, and trying to do the same for someone in another country, with a government you can’t control, which government has a history of doing things to oppose your own government. Your options in that case are much more limited, and sometimes may only be, “Bomb them and accept any consequences of that.”

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1509 "2023-10-03T14:41:50Z")

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But we are having problems putting our own traitor in prison.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1510 "2023-10-03T15:18:32Z")

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To me Obama’s was more chilling. Not cowboy posturing but statement of fact.

But let’s be clear as we bring it back to thread: making it clear that killing a terrorist is the intent and goal is a very different thing than potentially murder incitement of an American citizen who displeases you.

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**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1511 "2023-10-03T15:22:23Z")

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> [@enipla](#):
>
> But we are having problems putting our own traitor in prison.

…but only because you’re being thwarted by a government hostile to the American people!

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1512 "2023-10-03T15:25:56Z")

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Moderating:

Many of you have gotten waylaid into another hijack. Some of you are engaging in this a lot lately. I’d rather not name names, but if you see yourself in this mod note, please be more mindful of your posts in various threads going forward to make sure you’re discussing the topic of the thread.

Discussion of Trump’s death threats in connection with this case are fine. "Whatabout"ing about Bush and Obama’s similar language belong in another thread.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1513 "2023-10-03T15:48:11Z")

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Getting back to Trump’s death threats: why is that Biden stumbling a bit seems to get more media time than a candidate for President threatening to execute the former Chief of Staffs and to have shoplifters shot on sight? Which of those is more of a threat to a civil society, and which gets more air time?

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1514 "2023-10-03T15:54:43Z")

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> [@MulderMuffin](#):
>
> I don’t know what’s up with that, either. All of the various jurisdictions (Florida excepted) have been Johnny-on-the-spot with all of the various motions, often in just a couple days. I don’t see any reason at all to delay this motion. The prosecution is asking for a very narrow, specific, and standard limited gag order.

Possible wishful thinking, but could it be possible the Judge is working around the fraud case schedule in NY because she is going to do something drastic? Probably not jail but maybe gag all his public comments?

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1515 "2023-10-03T16:25:45Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Getting back to Trump’s death threats: why is that Biden stumbling a bit seems to get more media time than a candidate for President threatening to execute the former Chief of Staffs and to have shoplifters shot on sight? Which of those is more of a threat to a civil society, and which gets more air time?

I think “The Media” are actively avoiding rebroadcasting each and every morsel that comes out of Trump’s mouth. It is simply BS and bravado and is only red meat for his base. Rebroadcasting it only helps Trump. Even speaking against it helps Trump.

If the DNC has any strategic sense, they will be already making attack ads with sound bites with Trump saying “should be executed,” and “shot on sight,” and others, not mentioning who, specifically, Trump wants to eliminate. Then connect these remarks with what a dictator of a “Banana Republic” might say. The DNC shouldn’t air such ads until after the Republican Convention, but they need to be collecting the sound bites now.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1516 "2023-10-03T16:31:08Z")

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Then “fairness” means that you don’t publicise any slips by Biden, because that only helps Trump.

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1517 "2023-10-03T16:47:53Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Getting back to Trump’s death threats: why is that Biden stumbling a bit seems to get more media time than a candidate for President threatening to execute the former Chief of Staffs and to have shoplifters shot on sight?

I think it’s just simply that Trump saying incendiary and potentially illegal stuff is just business as usual, while a stumble by Biden doesn’t happen every single day.

It’s sad but Trump has really worn people down by being so bad so often that they get bored. Or maybe it’s like that horrible stench you stop smelling after awhile since your nose just gets used to it.

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1518 "2023-10-03T19:52:45Z")

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> [@xizor](#):
>
> Possible wishful thinking, but could it be possible the Judge is working around the fraud case schedule in NY because she is going to do something drastic? Probably not jail but maybe gag all his public comments?

Note - that the Judge in the NY case just issued a gag order regarding any form of threats made via SM, Email, etc against any of the court staff, after one of “the defendants” did so complete with identifying information. Along with a notification that there would be severe consequences for violating said gag order. I bring this up in -this- thread because I suspect that this WILL be referenced in this case, and likely the Georgia case in terms of why severe limitations will be be imposed upon Trump and his team because of prior violations.

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**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:** [October 3, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1519 "2023-10-03T19:55:55Z")

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I think we can count on it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [October 3, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1520 "2023-10-03T19:57:50Z")

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-heh-

But I’m being careful to not cross the streams… err, threads, with the other cases information unless it’s directly relevant!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [October 3, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-jack-smith-investigation-into-trump-and-election-interference-january-6th-insurrection-re-indicted-august-27-2024/975455/1521 "2023-10-03T19:58:46Z")

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I appreciate it. But believe me, I also understand how easy it is to get confused. I’ve done it myself a time or two.

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