Trump is Trump, but Merritt Garland's cowardly dithering may well cost us our Republic...

[capechacon]

Immediately after he assumed the office of Atty. General, Merritt Garland had the opportunity (and obligation!) to investigate Trump and bring suitable charges against him. Instead, for months and years he hummed, hawed, dithered and did nothing about Trump's obviously illegal and treasonous activities. Finally, finally, he appointed a special counsel to begin to look into Trumps illegalities. And that only after public pressure to do so had become irresistible.

But guess what?? Garland waited so long to do the right thing that it now seems unlikely that Trump will actually face any trial(s) for his crimes before November of this year. As a result, Trump may well win the presidency, in no small part because he was never held accountable for his treason prior to the November election. And once the wannabe dictator Trump takes office for his 2nd term, no one can doubt that our Republic is likely to be unrecognizable within a relatively short time.

In reality, the whole judiciary's current constant delays in bringing Trump to the bar of justice will have been responsible for the disappearance of our constitutional Republic but Garland's timidity and cowardice will always be at the core of the problem. Let's hope that, in the end, Garland and the judiciary won't turn out to have been the modern day equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burnt.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. The trial could be held tomorrow and Trump in jail on February

That won’t stop him running for president, or even winning.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Garland bashing BS disproven many times over

You couldn’t even bother to spell his first name correctly, so why should anyone expect you to get the facts straight?

[stopdiggin]

7. no 'facts' here to either address or refute.

You have an 'opinion' concerning Garland's actions and character. You are not the first - and the subject has been explored (quite extensively) in the past.

[Hekate]

20. TY

[Cha]

44. Rec.. Excellent Critique! TY

[walkingman]

3. I think everyone is disappointed in hindsight. I'm just hoping there was more to the story

that we don't know. However, the reluctance to prosecute a former POTUS is not new. I was also disappointed in 2008 - I think it has a lot to do with the idea that perception is as important as justice when it comes to powerful people. There is no doubt in my mind that our justice system is not "fair and balanced".

Too late to worry about it now - water under the bridge.

[WarGamer]

4. googles to see who Merritt Garland is.

[stopdiggin]

6. oh, please!

We've been down this road time after time (after time). The alleged timidity, and failure to investigate, on the part of DOJ prior to Smith has been refuted (with documentation) repeatedly. You're entitled to your own opinion of course - but the facts speak differently.

[Goodheart]

9. "Refuted" if you remove 2021 from consideration.

The delay is irrefutable. I agree with the OP in total except for the "cowardly" part. I'm not so sure it was cowardly so much as unwilling.

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. The lack of public information during 2021 is irrefutable

But it has been proven that the absence of public evidence was not evidence of inaction on DOJ’s part.

Accusations of deliberate delay (or timidity, or foot dragging) remain unproven.

[gab13by13]

18. I believe Tim Heaphy.

Funny how after Jack Smith took over his secret investigations became public knowledge, and yes, he didn't leak.

[triron]

26. Well we have our DU naysayers out in force.

[agingdem]

54. In 2022 when the House flipped to the dark side, Garland

intuitively knew the MAGA cretins would deep-six the Trump investigations...and right on cue Gym and Kevin wrote Garland demanding he turn over all information pertaining to the January 6 and MAL stolen documents probes...Garland politely told them to go fuck themselves and proceeded to appoint Jack Smith Special Counsel so as to insulate the investigations and out of the reach MAGA sleaze ....

[sheshe2]

66. Thank you!

[gab13by13]

16. Not according to the J6 lead investigator Tim Heaphy,

I heard him just this week on Deadline Whitehouse say that DOJ failed to act until after the J6 committee hearings brought to light Trump's criminality.

What is not in dispute is Garland's failure to act. Heaphy even stated that Garland went out of his way not to be partisan, those were his words.

That is water over the dam, Garland did the right thing by appointing Jack Smith and if anyone can get Trump to trial pre-election, Smith can. We will have a better idea by mid or end of January if Smith can get Trump to trial.

It does matter a lot to get Trump to trial pre-election because polls show that if Trump is convicted he loses the election.

Time Matters, and I have not given up on holding Trump accountable, pre-election.

[boston bean]

43. Garland was hoping Trump wouldn't run and all this could just be history. The moment

the orange asshole announced his candidacy, Garland appoints Smith.

[Ocelot II]

8. Merrick. At least spell his name right before you start bashing.

[Generic Brad]

49. This argument is without Merritt

[yagotme]

65. No, actually, Merritt IS here. It's the other guy that's actually missing...

[mcar]

10. ...

[sheshe2]

57. Bwahahahahaha.

[bluestarone]

11. Here's to your thread

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. Thanks for your concern.

[Cha]

47. lol

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. You are factually wrong (not just name) in your first sentence and it goes downhill from there. . . .nt

[Fiendish Thingy]

15. perhaps your lack of awareness of the facts can be forgiven

By somebody else.

Educate yourself, and stop bashing democrats and stop spreading misinformation.

https://www.emptywheel.net/2023/08/09/the-overt-investigative-steps-into-trumps-co-conspirators-tv-lawyers-ignored/

In addition, one of Alex Jones’ partners who was at the “War Room” was interviewed by DOJ in June 2021, and has since entered into a plea/cooperation agreement.

Jack Smith started on third base, thanks to Garland.

[gab13by13]

23. Not according to Tim Heaphy,

Heaphy stated that the vast amount of evidence showing Trump's criminality, came from the J6 committee, not from DOJ.

Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony shamed DOJ into action. Why in heaven's name was the J6 committee ahead of DOJ in questioning Cassidy? Why did Michigan AG, Dana Nessel state that she waited 1 year for DOJ to act on her criminal referral and then she prosecuted the Michigan fake electors herself?

Look at what conspiracy theories that Senator Mike Lee is spewing right now today, that the FBI was behind the insurrection. Mike Lee is the guy who recommended Merrick Garland to Trump to replace James Comey. What is with that?

[stopdiggin]

25. the 'nothing done until Jan6 committee' story line has also been refuted

but I know you're going to stick to your own version ... (and those sources in support)
You are at least consistent.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[tritsofme]

27. As I've pointed out multiple times, there is exactly one reason Lee and other Republicans wanted Garland

appointed to anything by Trump.

So he could fill his spot on the powerful DC Circuit court, while putting Garland into a position where he could be fired at will.

Perhaps not convenient for your narrative, but it’s the truth.

[Fiendish Thingy]

32. UM, are you claiming Garland was appointed AG by Trump? Nt

[tritsofme]

36. No, the poster I responded has some conspiracy theory

where Lee and other Republicans wanted Trump to appoint Garland as FBI Director because of some conspiracy theory nonsense.

I pointed out above why some Republicans actually wanted Garland appointed to anything by Trump, and it was to get his seat on the DC Circuit.

[Fiendish Thingy]

31. How would Heaphy know?

He doesn’t have access to DOJ’s catalog of evidence, so how can he make a claim that the “vast amount” of evidence against Trump came from the committee. All he can do is look at the language in the indictments, and draw unsubstantiated conclusions about the details in the allegations.

We know that Garland and Smith’s teams obtained testimony from several key witnesses who refused to speak to the committee, as well as expanded testimony from numerous Trump lawyers once the crime-fraud exception was invoked.

Once the trial begins, if the vast amount of evidence introduced is simply transcripts of committee testimony (or testimony from committee witnesses repeating their original testimony), then, and only then, will Heaphy’s claim be substantiated.

[sheshe2]

58. This.

Thank you.

[MadameButterfly]

17. ais there something I don't know about the timeing of Jack Smith's

case? I thought it was on track for March. Of course Donny's trying to delay it, but has he succeeded?

[gab13by13]

24. We will know by the end of January,

Oral arguments are set for this coming Tuesday and we shall then see what the Appeals court does about the stay that is on judge Chutkan. I believe there is still time but the Supreme Court could throw a monkey wrench in the trial date. We shall soon see, I have hope because I know that judge Chutkan wants this trial to happen on schedule.

[MadameButterfly]

63. thanks

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Light Years From Accurate

A quick site search of "Garland" or "DOJ" would have yielded copious threads where many of your "points" have been mitigated or outright refuted.

[Hekate]

21. I see you are concerned. Very concerned. Also, you are wrong.

[obamanut2012]

22. sure, jan

[lamp_shade]

28. Ofercrissake

[FrankBooth]

29. Bullshit

Yet another "poster" to add to the ever-growing ignore list

[Hekate]

41. I like to keep them where I can see them

[Cha]

48. Good idea.

[niyad]

50. Same here.

[Attilatheblond]

59. I started keeping a 'questionable DUer' list

with a shortcut on my desktop.

[getagrip_already]

30. What we can see? The statutes of limitations are slipping into history

All of the magiical thinking about what we don't know is going on in the secret halls of the doj belies one fact. The statute of limitations is known, and time is passing.

For most federal crimes, it is only 5 years. So we are past any crimes prior to the 2016 election, the inaaguration, and the start of the covid pandemic. A lot of financial crimes accross multiple federal agencies are now out of reach.

And more are falling away every month.

[Fiendish Thingy]

34. Indictments have already been made, so the SOL clock has stopped

Trump doesn’t have to be convicted within five years to satisfy the statue of limitations, only indicted.

[getagrip_already]

37. for smiths indictments, yes, but there are hundreds of crimes not indicted

crimes within the doj. crimes within hud, dot, name the agency. crimes by the "family" overseas. smith isn't looking at any of that.

Smith is doing a great job. But he is the only one (outside of those charging rioters) actually indicting anyone from this administration not referred by congress..

Georgia has charged more members of the trump admin than the doj has.

And the clock is still ticking.

[edisdead]

33. I mean it helps when you know the person's name.

[MOMFUDSKI]

35. I wondered from the start where Garland's

head was. Some here had faith. So here we are. I now know the answer as to where his head was at.

[Scrivener7]

56. Yep.

[republianmushroom]

38. Yup, it could happen.

[greatauntoftriplets]

39. Merrick, not Merritt.

[brooklynite]

40. I'm always interested in how long arm chair prosecutors think is acceptable to prepare....

…the most consequential prosecution of their career.

[Patton French]

42. Is that Merrick's little brother? NT

[MarineCombatEngineer]

45. Oh wonderful,

another hit and run AG Garland bashing thread.
At least have the decency to spell his name correctly and to comment on the various posts instead of posting a flammatory thread and then disappear.

[dem4decades]

46. How long did it take to appoint a SC to investigate Hunter and Joe?

And how long to appoint one for Trump?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

68. Are you unable to do basic maths?

6 January 2021 to 18 November 2022 is how long it took to appoint Jack Smith as a special prosecutor.

The traitor thugs have been trying to establish that Hunter was a foreign agent for Ukraine acting in concert with his father since 2018, when Giuliani was trying to manufacture dirt by bullying Ukraine into finding it. TFG was actively working to force Zelenskyy to make up a connection starting at least in May 2019.

The special prosecutor for Hunter was assigned 11 August 2023.

Do the bloody maths, mate.

[niyad]

51. MERRICK!!! Generally, when I want to insult or denigrate someone, I try to

make certain that I have their name correct, unless, for whatever reason, the incorrect name is part of the insult. But that is just me.

[dpibel]

52. ZERO response from OP

This is the 52nd reply to this OP.

That is some grade-A return on investment!

[ecstatic]

53. Honestly, his predecessors failed us too. trump should have been arrested on January 6 after the Capitol was secured and

the electoral vote count concluded.

EVERYONE, including trump's own staff, expected him to be arrested. There was a brief moment in time when everyone had distanced themselves from trump and cabinet members were resigning left and right. That was the time to pounce. Pence or anyone else in the Capitol should have filed charges with the police or FBI. trump put a hit out on them. That is a crime.

Why wasn't it done? That would have set the fucking tone for what was to follow. But unfortunately, these are all "firsts" that we're dealing with. A truly unprecedented situation. Some people meet the occasion appropriately but most people don't.

[brush]

55. It's 10 months to the election and 3 years since J6, 2021.

Hard to say the DOJ has carried out the 6th Amendment promptly and without delay in moving to carry out justice in trump's case.

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.

Sorry, DOJ, justice has definitely not been carried out promptly, and trump might, if somehow re-elected, may just get away with his attempted coup.

Not a great job IMO.

[Duppers]

60. He and Comey have been derelict in their duty!

"Justice delayed, is justice denied."

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

69. You cannot be serious

The two aren't remotely comparable. Comey was in office before TFG and after that as well. He took over an agency working well--and Comey was only working with a subdepartment of DOJ, not the whole thing. Garland wasn't so lucky with inheriting a department in good working order.

Not that any of it matters. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of what Garland's job even *is,* which is not about pursuing this one case diddums wants the world to revolve around. Try wrapping your brain stem around this reality:

An AG is an administrator and Presidential adviser, not a prosecutor in the traditional sense. He provides the POTUS with legal advice, but his #1 job is to run the DOJ. Not to prosecute crimes. That job falls to the US Attorneys, and, if necessary, a special prosecutor. Not the AG.

Really.

[Duppers]

70. Yes, that was a bad choice of wording on my part.

The ONLY thing that concerned me, as it did some others, was TIMING and his delay! Repeating:
THAT was my only concern, which was also mentioned in this thread.

[Oopsie Daisy]

62. That's a very low threshold for recommending a post *

* my standards are a bit higher than that.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

64. 63 responses and so far, zilch from the OP.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

67. Oh FFS

It's pathetic when people lie this way out of complete ignorance.