# Jan 6 Hearings Follow-Along & Commentary Thread (Starts Jun 9, 2022) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 9, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940 "2022-06-09T22:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/601 "2022-06-19T21:30:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@jsc1953](#): > > > > So Trump has apparently gotten away with any criminal prosecution in the state of New York for tax & insurance fraud… > > Linky? Your own linky explains that the DA who said that Trump committed several crimes was resigning in protest since the Manhattan district attorney decided not to seek an indictment. Am I misreading this? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/602 "2022-06-19T21:41:22Z")
"_Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for Bragg, said in a statement Wednesday night that the investigation into Trump is continuing and that a "team of experienced prosecutors is working every day to follow the facts and the law. There is nothing we can or should say at this juncture about an ongoing investigation.”_ So there is no official announcement. And again, like here, many are wanting to see trump arrested NOW, no matter the end result. The DA likely wants a sure win, even if that means later. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/603 "2022-06-19T21:42:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The DA likely wants a sure win, even if that means later. I think that we will see Trump’s business endeavors brought down before he personally is. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/604 "2022-06-19T21:45:46Z")
You’re not. Moreover, Alvin Bragg did not renew the grand jury that had been convened to hand down indictments. It appears the case is effectively over, because Bragg was too spineless to proceed without the cooperation of Allen Weisselberg – who did not cave to pressure to testify against Trump and who [just beefed up his legal team](https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/08/politics/trump-org-weisselberg-new-attorney/index.html) in anticipation of the legal fight ahead. Alvin Bragg has said the case against Trump is not yet closed, but based on my own experience in these matters, I’d say it’s gasping its last breaths on the shores of Failure Island. I actually lay the blame for this more at the feet of Cyrus Vance Jr., former Manhattan DA. He could have brought those charges as he danced out the door into retirement with no consequence to himself, and leaving Bragg holding the bag for the actual prosecution. Which, according to lead prosecutors Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, was winnable. This one completely stinks, IMHO. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/605 "2022-06-20T05:06:58Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I’m not praising Luttig. I’m glad he did the right thing, but I don’t know the fellow well enough to offer an opinion on his motives. > > Still, I did hear his testimony first hand, and my impression was that he is gravely concerned for the state of our democracy. Too little too late, for sure – but OTOH, better late than never. You may not be praising Luttig, but it seems that other people are. And he sounds like he’s gravely concerned about something; could be the state of our democracy or covering his own ass. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/606 "2022-06-20T05:27:49Z")
I don’t know much about Letting. But going from his closing statement. Which was about as damming as a statement towards Trump and friends as one can get. I would say providing cover for Trump’s friends was NOT one of Littig’s intentions. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/607 "2022-06-20T11:32:30Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > It is a crazy situation where even a conviction would don’t change the minds of his supporters. But the “perp walk” and presentation of evidence **COULD motivate the rational folk**. And this is the most important thing, IMO. We’ve seen by now that essentially nothing will change the mind of hard-core Trumpists, because they simply refuse to even listen to the case against Trump. The only way American Democracy survives this is if enough other people come out to vote against the Republicans, and that’s not going to happen if those other voters see the Democrats waffling about, failing to even try to convict Trump. Even on this board, we see people lamenting the apparent lack of progress on this front. Do you imagine the bulk of the US population is more, or less, enthused than those of us here? > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > If he hadn’t chosen his words so slowly and deliberately, was he worried that his testimony would be too harsh, or not harsh enough? I think he was trying to avoid giving anyone a “Gotcha!!” quote. If you look around, a lot of Trump’s “defenses” are based around, “I never said _that exact word_, so you’re lying!!” kinds of claims, and his supporters buy that every single time. So I think it’s important to be very careful about how you word things, so as to minimize the wiggle room you allow them. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/608 "2022-06-20T11:41:31Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Do you imagine the bulk of the US population is more, or less, enthused than those of us here? Less. By a lot. The fact that we’re talking about it means we’re self-selected to _want_ to talk about it. Vast swaths of people may not like what’s coming but as long as they get their Jimmy Fallon and their diet sodas they won’t be inclined to raise a significant fuss. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/609 "2022-06-20T12:21:55Z")
^^^ Very much this. The best hope is to energize more folk who trend left but are apathetic, and educate those who vote right/Trump for “entertainment” reasons, and those lighterweight Trumpers who do not appreciate how they will be negatively affected by a breakdown of our systems. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/610 "2022-06-21T00:01:44Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > The best hope is to energize more folk who trend left but are apathetic, … We can be certain that the GOP and its overseas allies will be putting substantial and ongoing effort into pushing the ‘_Democrats and Republicans are both exactly the same, so why vote?!?!!_’ idea. It rears its bad-faith head in every election, but this time they’ll be working extra hard to sell it. > eta -some clarity ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/611 "2022-06-21T17:04:40Z")
For those who are wondering whether these hearings are having any impact, there’s this recent poll: > [@](#): > > The poll found that 58% of Americans say Trump should face criminal charges for the role he played in the riot, a higher percentage than in late April, when it was 52% in an ABC News/Washington Post poll. > **[Nearly 6 in 10 Americans say Trump should be criminally charged for his role...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/19/poll-trump-crime-role-jan-6-attack/7678110001/)** > > An ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 60% of those surveyed say the Jan. 6 committee is "conducting a fair and impartial investigation." ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/612 "2022-06-21T17:20:20Z")
OT, but who does the bushy haired guy who’s always in the background remind me of? ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/613 "2022-06-21T17:21:49Z")
showing what happened at the homes of people is new and seriously terrifying. that could turned very bad very quickly. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/614 "2022-06-21T17:53:39Z")
I think Rusty Bowers is a very effective witness. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/615 "2022-06-21T17:55:57Z")
he is amazing. very powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/616 "2022-06-21T17:56:09Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > OT, but who does the bushy haired guy who’s always in the background remind me of? > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > showing what happened at the homes of people is new and seriously terrifying. that could turned very bad very quickly. I guess I missed the reference(s). Moriarty’s link only has a 26-second video of Rep. Bennie Thompson, and a photo of him and Liz Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/617 "2022-06-21T18:14:59Z")
You know, when they remodel the Capitol they should put in an orchestra pit for the media. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/618 "2022-06-21T18:20:02Z")
they showed clips of protestors outside the houses of election officials. i don’t believe that has been shown nation wide as yet. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/619 "2022-06-21T18:23:25Z")
On ABC, Chris Christie is going full whatabout, painting Gore in 2000 and Clinton in 2016 as examples of rejecting the results of an election. Is there a Pit thread for that guy? ---
**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:** [June 21, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/620 "2022-06-21T18:23:41Z")
I think in the future, when law textbooks discuss what makes an effective witness you’re going to see Rusty Bowers’ picture. Just incredible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940.md?page=32)