# 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:** 5
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/81 "2022-07-29T20:47:49Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > People unfamiliar with the process of criminal investigation don’t understand that to get to the point where DOJ is conducting grand jury hearings involving people like Marc Short and Greg Jacob, _they have to have already had face-to-face meetings to determine what these people are going to testify to before the grand jury_. You don’t just slam someone down in the seat and start asking questions. You have to know precisely what they’re going to say. The questions being asked focus almost entirely around what Trump was doing and saying with respect to his pressure campaign against Pence. I watch the Legal Eagle videos on YouTube, and one thing I’ve learned is that on TV and in movies when they show a courtroom, they need to build suspense. You ask questions and then eagerly wait for the answer. But in a real trial you don’t have surprises where everyone scrambles over gasps of shock and the judge bangs a gavel for order. Perry Mason is a really terrible example of how a real trial works. Witnesses and evidence are known in advance and you generally know what the answers are going to be before you ask them. The key is making your case before the judge and/or jury. There is a lot of work and research and planning for a trial, a lawyer isn’t skillfully improvising anything. Another thing that sets bad expectations is when a person gets arrested then almost immediately goes to trial. That doesn’t generally happen. It usually takes months. As a casual layman, I’ve been trying to dispel some of the myths I’ve fallen for thanks to Hollywood. Real life doesn’t work that way. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/82 "2022-07-29T20:50:05Z")
Thank you so much for acknowledging this. I’ve worked on serious criminal cases that take literally _years_ to get to trial. And that’s with respect to one defendant. The prosecutors weren’t incompetent. It’s just how the process works. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/83 "2022-07-29T20:51:09Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > As a casual layman, I’ve been trying to dispel some of the myths I’ve fallen for thanks to Hollywood. Real life doesn’t work that way. So, what you are saying, is that we can’t handle the truth. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/84 "2022-07-29T21:05:49Z")
What bugs me is that idea that you have time to prosecute each person who breeched the capitol before you can move up the food chain. I thought the whole point was that when you had enough leverage you moved up and didn’t waste time. We need to see not just lawyers get searched but actual lawmakers. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/85 "2022-07-29T21:15:12Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > What bugs me is that idea that you have time to prosecute each person who breeched the capitol before you can move up the food chain. I thought the whole point was that when you had enough leverage you moved up and didn’t waste time. Why not? If you want to get dirt on Bob, but you don’t have the evidence, but Alice who worked for Bob is clearly guilty of a crime, why not charge Alice then reduce her sentence if she provides what you need to convict Bob? You don’t just let her go, she broke the law and the law says she also must face consequences. It doesn’t have to be an either-or. Prosecuting criminals isn’t a waste of time, it’s the entire point of what they do. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/86 "2022-07-29T21:20:22Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > What bugs me is that idea that you have time to prosecute each person who breeched the capitol before you can move up the food chain. I thought the whole point was that when you had enough leverage you moved up and didn’t waste time. Tell me; how do you think a criminal case is built for success at trial? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/87 "2022-07-29T21:28:49Z")
My eyes are rolling so hard at this, I fear I’ll never see another sunset. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/88 "2022-07-29T21:34:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If you want to get dirt on Bob, but you don’t have the evidence, but Alice who worked for Bob is clearly guilty of a crime, why not charge Alice then reduce her sentence if she provides what you need to convict Bob? You don’t just let her go, she broke the law and the law says she also must face consequences. It doesn’t have to be an either-or. Especially when it’s actually Frank that you are after, and Edward worked for him, and Denise worked for Edward, and Carson worked for Denise, and Bob worked for Carson. Sometimes takes a bit to get people to roll up the ladder. Which is why I think he’s been keeping it under wraps. If it is known where he is, who he is questioning and charging, what deals are being made, then it is easier for those being targeted to find ways of evasion. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/89 "2022-07-29T21:48:48Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Why not? If you want to get dirt on Bob, but you don’t have the evidence, but Alice who worked for Bob is clearly guilty of a crime, why not charge Alice then reduce her sentence if she provides what you need to convict Bob? You don’t just let her go, she broke the law and the law says she also must face consequences. It doesn’t have to be an either-or. > > Prosecuting criminals isn’t a waste of time, it’s the entire point of what they do. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > Tell me; how do you think a criminal case is built for success at trial? My point is that it looks like they are trying to get every single one of them before they move to the next level. There were thousands of breechers, but only limited time to work your way up. Why not use judiciousness and move up while you move sideways? Feels like procrastination. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/90 "2022-07-29T22:00:32Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Feels like procrastination. I guess you missed this part of my earlier post: > [@Aspenglow](#): > > People unfamiliar with the process of criminal investigation don’t understand that to get to the point where DOJ is conducting grand jury hearings involving people like Marc Short and Greg Jacob, _they have to have already had face-to-face meetings to determine what these people are going to testify to before the grand jury_. You don’t just slam someone down in the seat and start asking questions. You have to know precisely what they’re going to say. The questions being asked focus almost entirely around what Trump was doing and saying with respect to his pressure campaign against Pence. So it seems to me they are moving up while they’re also moving sideways. My understanding is that they have already farmed out a lot of the lesser players to field offices so they can concentrate on the bigger fish. It still takes a lot of work and a lot of time. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/91 "2022-07-29T22:48:36Z")
Most of the prosecutions have been low level people with nothing to say about the real criminals who are threatening the system. If they prosecute every breecher without judging their value for going up a food chain then democracy will run out before they get to half of them. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/92 "2022-07-29T22:58:02Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Most of the prosecutions have been low level people with nothing to say about the real criminals who are threatening the system. If they prosecute every breecher without judging their value for going up a food chain then democracy will run out before they get to half of them. - What’s the deadline? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/93 "2022-07-29T23:07:27Z")
Sing it, Sister! _Keep singin’ it._ 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/94 "2022-07-29T23:20:26Z")
I don’t know how to quote multiple posts, so I’ll let this one be the proxy: > [@drad\_dog](#): > > Most of the prosecutions have been low level people with nothing to say about the real criminals who are threatening the system. If they prosecute every **breecher** without judging their value for going up a food chain then democracy will run out before they get to half of them. Bre **A** cher. That is all. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/95 "2022-07-29T23:26:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Bre **A** cher. Are you sure? Because I believe there is a trouser crime to prosecute as well. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/96 "2022-07-29T23:33:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Sing it, Sister! Forgive me for getting heated, but it is the Pit, after all, and goddammit, if the Smartest, Hippest People on the Planet (Plus a Few Total Dipsticks)™ are falling for the garbage that Merrick Garland is a befuddled idiot who doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground or how to prosecute a big, important case, what hope is there for the citizenry at large? Merrick Garland, a man so stupid he gave up one of the cushiest jobs in government as the best respected judge on the best respected federal bench in the country to rescue the DOJ and FBI from becoming a political arm of the presidency. A man so witless he hardly noticed when Mitch McConnell corrupted the process to select a SCOTUS justice to ensure he, Garland, would be done out of a well-earned and bipartisan-supported seat on the Supreme Court. Let’s just shit all over him based on our own ignorance of the criminal justice system and how it is supposed to work. Hell, I’m sure he took the job for the money. 🙄 (Pant, pant.) I think it’s wine-thirty. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/97 "2022-07-29T23:38:48Z")
But I want a prosecution NOOOOOOW! [![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warner-bros-entertainment/images/c/c6/Veruca_Salt.jpg) ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warner-bros-entertainment/images/c/c6/Veruca_Salt.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/98 "2022-07-29T23:41:06Z")
Perfect. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/99 "2022-07-30T00:06:30Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I think it’s wine-thirty The perfect antidote to _whine_-thirty. 🍷 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/100 "2022-07-30T00:43:24Z")
I heard that Cassidy Hutchinson is talking to the DOJ. I doubt that she’s there providing information about random insurrectionists who carpooled in carrying sharpened flagpoles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190.md?page=6)