# F Merrick Garland. (He won't be going after anyone) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2022, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190 "2022-07-19T06:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/441 "2023-02-12T13:54:53Z")
Wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/442 "2023-02-12T21:47:21Z")
Awesome. Love it! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/443 "2023-02-12T22:29:04Z")
I agree, with the possible exception of perjury. Because I have theory about Pence and some of his accounts of his conversations with Trump. I think he lies his ass off about those conversations in order to make Mrs. Pence think Trump is way less of an asshole than he is. “He’s not that bad honey, he asked if you were OK. He’s concerned about you.” “Yes, he said that stuff in public but he apologized in private. He’s not that bad, we’re friends.” And I think Pence has been living those lies, and I’m not sure if he’ll tell the truth about his private conversations with Trump, even under oath. Because Mommy would be very disappointed in him. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/444 "2023-02-12T22:41:21Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think he lies his ass off about those conversations in order to make Mrs. Pence think Trump is way less of an asshole than he is. He doesn’t though. Your fan fiction is amusing, sure, but it’s not what he’s saying. > **[Mike Pence, pondering a presidential run, condemns Trump's rhetoric on Jan. 6](https://www.npr.org/2022/11/22/1138465389/mike-pence-2024-donald-trump-jan-6-abortion)** > > Former Vice President Mike Pence tells Morning Edition that he and former President Donald Trump have gone "our separate ways." Pence looks back on pivotal moments and ahead to what he might do next. > “President Trump was wrong, and his words and actions that day were reckless,” Pence said. “They endangered my family and people at the Capitol building. And I’ll never hold any other view.” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/445 "2023-02-12T23:02:55Z")
Do you really think this conversation happened? > **[Pence says Trump ‘seemed genuinely remorseful’ about family’s well-being...](https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3761262-pence-says-trump-seemed-genuinely-remorseful-about-familys-wellbeing-after-jan-6/)** > > Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday said that after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, former President Trump was “genuinely remorseful” and had asked about his family… ---
**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:** [February 12, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/446 "2023-02-12T23:08:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Do you really think this conversation happened? So he’s saying both things. He’s just a flip-flipper. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/447 "2023-02-12T23:38:26Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Do you really think this conversation happened? > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3761262-pence-says-trump-seemed-genuinely-remorseful-about-familys-wellbeing-after-jan-6/](https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3761262-pence-says-trump-seemed-genuinely-remorseful-about-familys-wellbeing-after-jan-6/) Nope. I think your ‘_keep Mother believing the job I took in 2016 **wasn’t** an almost-literal Deal with the Devil_’ theory makes a lot of sense. Almost certainly those questioning Pence–under oath–will be aware of these conflicting accounts he’s advanced over the months since 1/6/21. Pence will be pinned down like a bug\* on a microscope slide. > \*a fly, of course ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/448 "2023-02-13T00:26:53Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Do you really think this conversation happened? I think the conversation happened, but not that Trump felt the slightest bit of remorse. I think he was trying to manipulate Pence, and stay in his good graces for the possibility of using him again later. Pence may well have fallen for it. Pence probably fancies himself as the forgiving type; a weakness Trump could easily exploit. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/449 "2023-02-13T03:31:26Z")
This article (gift link) is pretty meaty. I couldn’t choose which paragraphs to quote, so here’s the whole thing. > **[Jack Smith, Special Counsel for Trump Inquiries, Steps Up the Pace](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/us/politics/jack-smith-special-counsel-trump-investigations.html?unlocked_article_code=Sm5pqycKQQ_WCdVrwAMrzaMm7d63JDmVhiCNLStFJmVerfdotQ2AZila8ROgXknUYaeEI0ExQJ-88OHvh_RbyFmA0xS5fXw3ckwUmCkXbvcTaybtZ_CJORUFmjw-Ni3G1hpmmcoBBT6Fba1qQK_Cu5MqEhiEhwLwCK3bmC66Wu0GT5Gjcx_QOtaUc4pnC21J75HT6tlpVjrKRLVGWsAnS_Bk0mGw8W3yep7ohLXt9goQmeRIh6Yqk0jx8YEWDEzWErOkNiIw2A_wSNhZSkIm0m4mfPOHzQ7Qwsz8RYHO3Stosh1y6dHYmtTWtEzL8ioRKzI9FAjG-OKpw1Q77YpQlg4vYQ1T5gNu5Vt0i6tFgPinmj4-9mUapa0hRImJ&smid=share-url)** > > Named less than three months ago to oversee investigations into Donald J. Trump’s efforts to hold onto power and his handling of classified documents, the special counsel is moving aggressively. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/450 "2023-02-13T03:44:13Z")
I haven’t been a fan of [General Zod’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Zod) work in the past, but, man, he’s doing amazing work these days. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2023, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/451 "2023-02-13T08:16:00Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I haven’t been a fan of [General Zod’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Zod) work in the past, [I have been.](http://i-mockery.com/generalzod/bumble-bees.php) ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/452 "2023-02-13T14:10:51Z")
I personally like this > More recently his team has been asking witnesses about research the Trump campaign commissioned by an outside vendor shortly after the election that was intended to come up with evidence of election fraud. The existence of that research was [reported earlier](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/11/trump-campaign-report-electoral-fraud/) by The Washington Post. And this > In the investigation into Mr. Trump’s handling of classified information, and whether he obstructed justice when the government sought the return of material he had taken from the White House, investigators are casting a wide net. They appear to be seeking to recreate not only what took place once Mr. Trump had departed the White House with hundreds of sensitive documents, but also how he approached classified material and presidential records long before that, according to multiple people briefed on the matter. And that trump claimed he was using a folder marked “classified evening summary” to block out the light from his bedside phone! That may be the least of our concerns caused by this document-ripping so-called president, but he can’t, like, move the phone or turn it off? It feels like this whole investigation is just going to take until sometime after the 2024 election and then be quietly dropped, honestly. But it’s at least nice that they’re even looking into the documents being torn and flushed ‘n stuff. Thanks for the link! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/453 "2023-02-13T15:12:35Z")
I fear that the sheer number of crimes DJT committed are going to shield him from prosecution, if the DOT/Special Counsel insist on investigating every crime before indicting for any crime. What I’d like Jack Smith to do is pick the two strongest cases that he thinks he has and investigate those and only those. Indict and try those and then after a conviction, go ahead and investigate other charges that may be brought. I have no faith that Pence is going to do anything but claim executive privilege. He’s like the kid who gets his lunch money stolen and gets wedgied at school every day, but when asked about it by the principal will say nothing but nice things about the bully. I say if Pence won’t testify about a guy who conspired to have him assassinated, then book him for obstruction of justice. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/454 "2023-02-13T16:15:00Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I fear that the sheer number of crimes DJT committed are going to shield him from prosecution, Sort of like Mr. Burns but with crimes instead of diseases. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aI0euMFAWF8/hqdefault.jpg "Mr. Burns is Indestructible") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI0euMFAWF8&t=67s) ---
**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:** [February 13, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/455 "2023-02-13T17:36:17Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Sort of like Mr. Burns but with crimes instead of diseases. “The Three Stooges Defense” _The more you crime, the less likely you’ll do time._ ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/456 "2023-02-14T04:31:36Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > That may be the least of our concerns caused by this document-ripping so-called president, but he can’t, like, move the phone or turn it off? Just like his base, the only use he gets out of certain items is: - Holy Bible ~ keeps the table level - Constitution ~ toilet paper - Classified documents ~ gift paper ---
**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:** [February 14, 2023, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/457 "2023-02-14T07:54:11Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Classified documents ~ gift paper I object to this gross distortion of our 45th president. As if he would wrap a gift. Or even give one in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/458 "2023-02-14T08:37:09Z")
The classified documents are paper and they are gifts for his foreign controllers, thus _gift paper_. 😁 ---
**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:** [June 9, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/459 "2023-06-09T00:43:03Z")
So… Did he ever go after anyone? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/460 "2023-06-09T01:18:03Z")
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