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GarySanDiego's avatar

Time is not on our side. It’s obvious that DOJ has come late to the party and doesn’t yet have a complete case against Trump, let alone deciding whether to indict him for sedition or to lump him into a conspiracy with Giuliani, Stone, Mr. Overstock and/or the neo-Nazi leaders of Proud Babies and Oath Breakers. The DOJ, Pre-Trump, was always a by-the-book group and I’m sure they are now resorting to the comfort of proper procedure. They just will not take a flyer and indict with the hope that the 1/6 Committee has or will find the goods on Trump before a Rule 12 motion to dismiss is filed. I know we all think the evidence is there already, but it requires inferences and that’s a bit nerve wracking for a lawyer. (Of course, they work on inferences in Mafia cases, and this is shaping up with lots of parallels to Mafia prosecutions.) And I’m sure Garland thinks he has learned a lesson from Comey and will not announce “that something smells might suspicious around here” just to try to prove his bona fides with his tribe.

I think we have to plan on any indictment or information being handed down long after Trump announces a 2024 run. We have to keep the pressure on Congress and the press. The press especially. They need backbone. I think the greatest service the 1/6 Committee can do is teach the press that this is no time for bothsiderism. And we need to buttress the Georgia and NY prosecutors. They will need to be especially brave to follow the evidence to where it is inevitably leading, and act on that evidence.

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Michael Green's avatar

When the committee is done, perhaps Pelosi should request another round of impeachment charges, convict him, send it to the Senate, and let's see if they have the guts to uphold their oaths, convict him, and prohibit him from running for office again--which they can do.

None of this will happen. But it should.

I also have said often that we wouldn't be in this situation if Merrick Garland were alive. But a little reminder about Garland: He prosecuted the Oklahoma City bombers. And when he did, it took him a while. There were no leaks. And when he went to court, the only way to avoid convicting them was if you were from the Planet Zort. So maybe, just maybe, he wants all of his ducks in a row.

A reminder from the Civil War of how that can be effective. Ulysses Grant was fed up with waiting for General George Thomas to attack John Hood's army in Tennessee. He kept telling him to attack, and Thomas was known for refusing to move until he felt he was ready. Grant finally decided to relieve Thomas of command. Lincoln told him that, in fairness to Thomas for the great work he had previously done, he would go along only if Grant went and relieved him in person. Grant was about to go when word came that Thomas had attacked Hood's army, and destroyed it.

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