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Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 04:44 PM Feb 2020

Greg Sargent: Time for Democrats to get much tougher with William Barr

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/11/time-democrats-get-much-tougher-with-william-barr/

By Greg Sargent
Opinion writer

Feb. 11, 2020 at 2:45 p.m. EST

Only hours ago, President Trump tweeted out his rage over the “very unfair” sentencing that prosecutors were thought to be seeking for Roger Stone, his longtime confidant.

Trump fumed that a long sentence for Stone, who had been convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress in connection with the special counsel’s investigation of Russian sabotage of the 2016 election, would constitute a “miscarriage of justice.”

By shocking coincidence, the Justice Department is now going to revise its recommendation — while telling us it had nothing whatsoever to do with the president’s command. The Post reports:

The Justice Department plans to reduce its sentencing recommendation for longtime President Trump confidant Roger Stone, after top officials were apparently blindsided by the seven-to-nine year penalty prosecutors urged a judge to impose, a senior Justice Department official said Tuesday.

In a stunning rebuke of career prosecutors that will surely raise questions about political meddling in the case, a senior Justice Department official said the department “was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the Roger Stone case last night.”
“That recommendation is not what had been briefed to the department,” the official said. “The department finds the recommendation extreme and excessive and disproportionate to Stone’s offenses. The department will clarify its position later today.”


The original sentencing recommendation had justified itself by citing the severity of Stone’s offenses — including, among other things, the fact that he tried to obstruct an investigation designed to get to the bottom of interference in our election, which “strikes at the very heart of our American democracy.”

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Greg Sargent: Time for Democrats to get much tougher with William Barr (Original Post) Dennis Donovan Feb 2020 OP
Time to impeach Barr spanone Feb 2020 #1
That won't stop him though. He won't be removed. OliverQ Feb 2020 #3
At this point who cares? If it slows him down a little it is worth it. And if impeaching Maraya1969 Feb 2020 #9
Wouldn't accomplish anything. TwilightZone Feb 2020 #4
Impeaching Trump slowed down the incompetent judge assembly line... lame54 Feb 2020 #11
McConnell kept pushing judges through during impeachment. TwilightZone Feb 2020 #12
I read a conflicting article... lame54 Feb 2020 #14
I think they were hoping it would slow them down. TwilightZone Feb 2020 #16
Stone will never spend 1 day in jail! Meadowoak Feb 2020 #2
more than a strongly worded letter? don't hold your breath beachbumbob Feb 2020 #5
Does he have a clear cut answer on HOW to accomplish this feat? nt Ferrets are Cool Feb 2020 #6
That's my question, right there gratuitous Feb 2020 #7
Unfortunately, you are spot on. nt Ferrets are Cool Feb 2020 #8
Great! How? ibegurpard Feb 2020 #10
One word, VOTE. It appears that's the only weapon that will take dear leader down to 42bambi Feb 2020 #13
Agreed. TwilightZone Feb 2020 #15

Maraya1969

(22,441 posts)
9. At this point who cares? If it slows him down a little it is worth it. And if impeaching
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 05:32 PM
Feb 2020

the orange assohole slows him down a little impeach him again too.

TwilightZone

(25,342 posts)
4. Wouldn't accomplish anything.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 04:49 PM
Feb 2020

It would just mirror the vote acquitting Trump. Romney might even vote to acquit.

lame54

(35,130 posts)
11. Impeaching Trump slowed down the incompetent judge assembly line...
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 05:47 PM
Feb 2020

Which is back to full speed

With less than a year left any slowdown is beneficial

TwilightZone

(25,342 posts)
12. McConnell kept pushing judges through during impeachment.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 05:53 PM
Feb 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/18/politics/senate-mcconnell-judges/index.html

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/12/trump-judges-mcconnell-circuit-082836

https://qz.com/1745526/trump-and-mcconnell-celebrate-victory-despite-impeachment-inquiry/

I see no reason why impeachment would slow Barr down. He knows impeachment would result in acquittal. There's no reason for him to change anything he's doing. He's going to do what Trump wants regardless of the circumstances. That seems pretty obvious.

Look at Trump. He not only didn't stop doing the stuff that got him impeached in the first place, he admitted it repeatedly in public and kept doing it, including stuff like witness intimidation.

TwilightZone

(25,342 posts)
16. I think they were hoping it would slow them down.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 06:05 PM
Feb 2020

But McConnell just quickly (and quietly) pushed forward. They didn't get much press because it was all impeachment, all the time.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
7. That's my question, right there
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 05:12 PM
Feb 2020

As long as AG Barr protects President Trump and President Trump protects AG Barr, they're bullet-proof. The Senate will never vote to remove either man, so Trump can do as he pleases and Barr will provide the legal cover for anything he does. The judge in the Stone case is not, of course, constrained by sentencing recommendations, but it will take a judge of extraordinary courage to stand up to the President and the Department of Justice. And Mitt Romney may have used up the available supply of courage with his one vote last week.

42bambi

(1,753 posts)
13. One word, VOTE. It appears that's the only weapon that will take dear leader down to
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 05:55 PM
Feb 2020

the level he deserves ... back to his swamp.

TwilightZone

(25,342 posts)
15. Agreed.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 06:02 PM
Feb 2020

It's always been the most realistic option. Get out the vote like we did in 2018, especially in the few states that are going to swing the election, but really at all levels. Keep the House, make gains in the Senate, take back state legislatures, wherever possible.

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