No need to read between the lines with Berman's statement

[Tom Rinaldo]

"I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate," Berman said. "Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption."

No U.S. Attorney would ever use that phrase under normal circumstances. It wouldn't even come up. Of course investigations conducted by an office continue until such time as there is no merit in continuing them. It is almost as if a School Superintendent were to say, upon hearing that there was an effort underway to remove him or her, "Until then all school classes will move forward without delay or interruption." It is the business of a school district to educate, it is the business of a U.S. Attorney's office to investigate and prosecute.

If this showdown was just over his role as leader rather than over specific investigations being conducted, Berman might have instead said "Until then I will continue to fulfill all the duties of my office". Instead he put the emphasis and focus on the status of current investigations. Which investigations? Why might they risk being delayed or interrupted? Berman's statement intentionally begs us to ask those questions.

[northoftheborder]

1. Instead of waking up to recorded Stephen Colbert like four days out of week.....

I get two awful news stories: the Voice of America taken over by Bannon, and Barr trying to remove the SDNY prosecutor. Will avoid all TV today - want to miss the nauseous coverage of Okla. event.

Netflix and Amazon Prime day.

My blood pressure and sanity come first.

Will have to check in here though!

[bermudat]

14. Sounds like a plan

[JmAln]

27. Get outside and do something.

Go for a walk maybe. That's what I'm going to do. It's time to put down the internet for awhile.

[northoftheborder]

28. I did my usual garden watering, picked roses, tied up the tomato vines which are HUGE this year for

some reason. Now too hot for any outdoor activities! (for me) Until after 7 PM!

[Laelth]

2. His statement can only mean one thing.

There must be ongoing investigations that Trump wants to shut down.

-Laelth

[Lonestarblue]

3. I wonder if the SDNY investigations involve civil or criminal misdeeds.

If civil, it would be similar to other cases where Trump just pays a fine. It’s more serious if it’s criminal, like tax fraud. And tax fraud could rope in his adult children as well since we know all of them are crooks. Very interesting!

[Laelth]

4. Someone here speculated that Deutsch Bank needed protection from SDNY.

This might be a favor to Trump’s primary lender. I don’t know for sure.



-Laelth

[leftieNanner]

7. I think you are spot on with Deutsch Bank

Because I believe that the guy they wanted to put in Berman's place was a defense attorney for DB in the past. Gee, what a coincidence!

There is something prickly that Erdogan doesn't like going on at SDNY, so there's that too.

[benfranklin1776]

6. Yes that is the clear import of his major jowl jiggling word smack to Barr's face.

So as Ted Lieu says rightly all info gathered in these investigations needs preserved by handing it to the judiciary committee. This shows we need the return of an independent counsel statute whereby a court appoints the prosecutor. A special counsel won’t happen now because Barr would do the appointing. For the time being though ensuring this evidence SDNY has amassed isn’t buried is of paramount importance. I would imagine there’s much there of interest to the New York State attorney general.

[Bev54]

20. We all know there are investigations into

Rudy, Trump family and investigations that Turkey and others have requested Trump shut down. In Bolton's book Trump said he had to get his guy into the SDNY. I hope Berman takes these cases to court immediately and filed so they cannot be killed. I think others in the SDNY will continue unless someone is put in the position to kill them at the investigative stage. Do some indictments now, with more to come.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

5. Treasonous criminal enterprise. They're desperate. nt

[Rainbow Droid]

8. Exactly right, and I expect to see more movement than simply tweets about this. Immediately.

Where you at Congress?

[albacore]

12. Congress needs to get the documents involved in all the cases SDNY is investigating. NOW nt

[Bev54]

21. In case you haven't heard

Within an hour of all this happening, Nadler invited Berman to testify to the house Judiciary committee.

[yaesu]

9. Jay Clayton, Trump's new SDNY attorney nominee, defended Deutsche Bank in $10 billion Russian

laundering scam

https://meaww.com/jay-clayton-donald-trump-nominee-next-sdny-new-york-attorney-defended-deutsche-bank-corruption-case

[jalan48]

10. Sounds like McConnell will be fast tracking an appointment soon. What can the Dems do to slow

the process down?

[gab13by13]

13. That would bring a ton of bad publicity

and control the news cycle, also McConnell is no shoo in to win reelection. I think he's up for reelection?

[jalan48]

16. Given his past behavior I don't think bad publicity will stop him.

[ooky]

18. Me either.

I expect Mitch will be on top of this by Monday morning.

[Laelth]

23. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[gab13by13]

11. We must not become disheartened,

I have had my ebbs during the Trump regime but I believe now more than ever that the truth will prevail.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. In the stretch run to the end of Trump's term more of those who honor their oath of office

are stepping out of the shadows to resist the undermining of the U.S. Constitution, including those who held significant offices in recent years and increasingly those still holding some. Increasing profiles in responsibility and in some cases courage are emerging in the Judicial branch of government. Top military leaders, both past and present, who normally are loathe to challenge an elected Commander in Chief, have started to draw the line with Trump. More whistle blowers are emerging from inside his administration despite how Trump savages them. Even mainstream media is growing less reluctant to speak openly of both Trump's lies and authoritarian tendencies. I think everyone senses that now is the time for the showdown, the time to go all in to save our institutions and democracy.

Republicans elected to Congress are the last bastion that Trump has had to count on, and so far they still stand almost fully behind him. But, not so coincidentally I believe, more and more Republican Senators are now facing difficulty in being reelected.

[KPN]

24. As long as it isn't too little too late -- or just plain

too late. Even with the growing gap in polls that would seem to ensure it’s legitimacy outcome-wise, can we be confident about a secure election or genuine outcome?

Scary times for anyone who cares about democracy. All we can do is vote, encourage and enable others to vote, and do the best we can at monitoring the election.

[jaxexpat]

17. from your lips to gods ears.

[Mike 03]

19. Excellent post

[Historic NY]

22. Well he better put his foot on the damn gas pedal

with the indictments......cause the tea pot is boiling over in DC . Only so much delaying with the Senate.


[link:https://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/2020_calendar.pdf|]

[Happy Hoosier]

25. Berman needs to drop an indictment soon...

... on whatever Trumbarr is trying to stop.

[Joinfortmill]

26. Inquiring minds want to know - Stay tuned