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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPierce: This Is the Last Hurrah for All the Fake Conspiracies Trump Has Fed the Rubes Since 2015
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a32596998/lindsey-graham-subpeona-obama-officials-trump-conspiracies/This Is the Last Hurrah for All the Fake Conspiracies Trump Has Fed the Rubes Since 2015
Lindsey Graham embarks on an investigation of something, anything to get everybody riled up in an election year.
By Charles P. Pierce
May 19, 2020
Politico delivers the official word. Snipe hunting season is open in Washington. Some social distancing required.
His proposal would permit the South Carolina Republican to demand testimony and documents from figures involved in the intelligence associated with the launch of the Russia investigation, including Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former national intelligence director James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey...
Graham intends to seek a Judiciary Committee vote on the matter on June 4. The proposal would allow Graham to obtain documents or testimony from any figures referenced in a report by the Justice Department Inspector General's review of the FBI's handling of a surveillance warrant connected to that investigation. That probe found corner-cutting, missteps and abuses by officials in the process used to surveil Carter Page, a former adviser to the Trump campaign.
The subpoena is unusually broad committee subpoenas are usually specific to a smaller number of targets. But its approval, which will likely fall along party lines, would give Graham enormous, unilateral authority to conduct the probe.
Graham intends to seek a Judiciary Committee vote on the matter on June 4. The proposal would allow Graham to obtain documents or testimony from any figures referenced in a report by the Justice Department Inspector General's review of the FBI's handling of a surveillance warrant connected to that investigation. That probe found corner-cutting, missteps and abuses by officials in the process used to surveil Carter Page, a former adviser to the Trump campaign.
The subpoena is unusually broad committee subpoenas are usually specific to a smaller number of targets. But its approval, which will likely fall along party lines, would give Graham enormous, unilateral authority to conduct the probe.
And Im sure the fact that Graham is facing the toughest re-election fight of his career, and therefore needs every drop of poisonous fuel the Trumpist base can provide, has absolutely nothing to do with his decision to open this farce at this time.
Trump allies have been forcefully demanding for months that Graham take a more aggressive posture toward investigating the origins of the Russia probe, which Trump has assailed as a "hoax" against him for years. Graham's proposal would allow him to subpoena some of Trump's most frequent Twitter targets, including former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and former FBI officials Lisa Page and Peter Strzok.
Trump in recent days has leaned on allies in the Senate, including Graham and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), to ramp up their probes of Obama administration officials, as Trump has sought to level unsupported allegations of criminality by his predecessor against his incoming administration. Graham recently shot down a suggestion by Trump to call Barack Obama himself, an action that Trump's Justice Department has argued is unconstitutional, despite the current president's call.
Trump in recent days has leaned on allies in the Senate, including Graham and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), to ramp up their probes of Obama administration officials, as Trump has sought to level unsupported allegations of criminality by his predecessor against his incoming administration. Graham recently shot down a suggestion by Trump to call Barack Obama himself, an action that Trump's Justice Department has argued is unconstitutional, despite the current president's call.
If this were a genuine good-faith investigation into how the FBI and the FISA process do their business, Id buy tickets. But, of course, its not that. This is the final trip around the track for every faux conspiracy that the president* has fed to the rubes since 2015. Graham is the straw boss of this caper because he needs the rubes more than ever before. The fact that he doesnt have the guts even to muse about a subpoena for Barack Obama is something of a tell. So much of this presidential campaign is not going to take place on the campaign trail that were all likely to get lost in the process, never to return.
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Pierce: This Is the Last Hurrah for All the Fake Conspiracies Trump Has Fed the Rubes Since 2015 (Original Post)
babylonsister
May 2020
OP
A big who cares in the middle of a pandemic with a collapsing economy...only those already voting
Demsrule86
May 2020
#1
Those that care about that shit are already voting for Trump and Graham...it would be so nice to se
Demsrule86
May 2020
#7
I have donated...hate Graham...will do more when husband and I are back at work...laid off.
Demsrule86
May 2020
#12
Subpoenas should Just be blown off like the repubs have done to every legit investigation
notdarkyet
May 2020
#5
No, Pugs don't get to flout the rule of law and than use it against us only...nope.
Demsrule86
May 2020
#8
Ideally the Last Hurrah for All the Fake Conspiracies the Right Ever Pushed
LymphocyteLover
May 2020
#17
We need to oust every sitting Republican from dogcatcher to trumpasskisser.
Hermit-The-Prog
May 2020
#20
Demsrule86
(68,473 posts)1. A big who cares in the middle of a pandemic with a collapsing economy...only those already voting
for Trump will care. The rest of us wonder why they can play politics and waste money but won't send help to the American people.
outasync
(41 posts)3. to the point!
Demsrule86
(68,473 posts)7. Those that care about that shit are already voting for Trump and Graham...it would be so nice to se
Lindsey packing.
AZ8theist
(5,417 posts)11. Then donate here:
I have ...multiple times:
https://jaimeharrison.com/
Demsrule86
(68,473 posts)12. I have donated...hate Graham...will do more when husband and I are back at work...laid off.
Demsrule86
(68,473 posts)9. Fuck Reptilian pugs.
LymphocyteLover
(5,638 posts)15. exactly.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)2. Just ignore the subpoenas.
Those no longer carry any meaning.
leftieNanner
(15,068 posts)6. Precisely
If Ass Face doesn't have to respond to subpoenas, then nobody else should either.
Goose - meet gander.
notdarkyet
(2,226 posts)5. Subpoenas should Just be blown off like the repubs have done to every legit investigation
For years. They never answered subpoenas.
Demsrule86
(68,473 posts)8. No, Pugs don't get to flout the rule of law and than use it against us only...nope.
Make them go to court for every fucking subpoena.
kairos12
(12,843 posts)10. Dems should ignore these subpoenas for the asswipe they are.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)13. My thoughts exactly.
BootinUp
(47,087 posts)14. The universe willing...
dlk
(11,514 posts)16. Whoever Graham subpoenas should take the Trump aporoach
Ignore the subpoenas since apparently theyve become optional.
LymphocyteLover
(5,638 posts)17. Ideally the Last Hurrah for All the Fake Conspiracies the Right Ever Pushed
We've had enough of their BS for a lifetime. They've nearly wrecked the country with their nonsense.
mgardener
(1,812 posts)18. They should refuse to testify
Just like Trump and his people.
And Bush and his.
calimary
(81,127 posts)19. I love Charlie Pierce!
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,262 posts)20. We need to oust every sitting Republican from dogcatcher to trumpasskisser.