Law prof explains legal reasoning why Trumps new memo puts Mike Pence in legal jeopardy for impea

[turbinetree]

Fordham University Law professor Jed Shugerman made one of the most damning case against Vice President Mike Pence for being involved in obstruction of justice.

The New York Times and Washington Post both broke stories about the original memo that President Donald Trump authored during a rainy day that would ultimately fire former FBI Director James Comey.

Shugerman told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that the biggest name that has been associated with this memo and this conversation is Pence.

“Let me explain why this timeline puts him in legal jeopardy,” Shugerman began. “So, we know that this letter was drafted on one day, and then after Steven Miller came back with that draft, it was read in a room of people, including Vice President Pence. And when that letter was read, it had, quote, The New York Times talks about a screed, and it identified all of these other connections to the Russian probe for why Trump had decided to fire Jim Comey. Then after this letter is edited, Mike Pence then tells the media that the Comey firing was not connected to the Russian probe, and he said it was due to Rod Rosenstein’s recommendation. Those statements are untrue.”

He explained that because Pence heard the first letter and the second letter and lied about it, it now “implicates Mike Pence now in a combination of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting obstruction of justice, and also a relatively less known felony called misprision of a felony.”

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/09/law-prof-explains-legal-reasoning-why-trumps-new-memo-puts-mike-pence-in-legal-jeopardy-for-impeachment/

[Merlot]

1. Could it be like with nixon and his VP that they go

for the low hanging fruit first?

pense is in it up to his ears and those doing the investigation know this as well and will go after him first to make sure he isn't installed as president.

[fierywoman]

2. oh please oh please oh please let it be so !

[George II]

4. Actually Agnew's resignation was completely unrelated to Watergate...

There was a Federal investigation of corruption in Baltimore (Agnew was previously Governor of Maryland) and the United States Attorney essentially stumbled upon Agnew during his investigation. Apparently Agnew had been getting kickbacks from contractors for years and even after he became Vice President.

He wound up pleading no lo contendre and was fined a nominal amount, and resigned.

[shanny]

7. who is "they"?

Republicans who would need to initiate and support impeachment? Hah. They need him to sign the tax cuts.

Mueller? Schneidermann? If it is federal, tRump will just pardon Pence (and maybe himself). I don't think a sitting Prez can be indicted either, state or fed (altho I believe a civil suit can proceed).

And we know neither of these guys has any shame, so good luck with getting them to resign in disgrace.

tRump might decide that everyone is unfair and unkind and this whole thing just isn't any fun and we don't deserve him, anyway (he'd be right about that), and quit. But for the rest of us the only way out is through: retake Congress next year, and block / investigate everything and everybody until they can be replaced.

[Baconator]

9. It takes 5 folks losing their position before we get to anybody decent...

[iluvtennis]

3. Had to look up the word 'screed' after hearing it twice today and reading it here...never heard ...

of it before today.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screed

a: lengthy discourse
b : an informal piece of writing (such as a personal letter)
c : a ranting piece of writing

[George II]

5. That seems to be the word o' the week this week. I've heard of it before but...

..have heard it dozens of times this week.

[iluvtennis]

6. Yep, definitely my word of the week :-)

[onetexan]

12. this should be dubbed "SCREEDGATE"

[George II]

8. MSNBC is rerunning last night's Lawrence O'Donnell show right now.

[pbmus]

10. From this reporters journal to Gods ears...

Make it so whippersnapper...

[BigmanPigman]

11. 45 will pardon himself, Pence and whoever else he can.

At least Pence's name will be dirty (no more Mr. Clean) and NY state can nail 45 (no pardons for state crimes).

[marylandblue]

13. Trump pardoning himself for obstruction would itself be obstruction

He is caught in a trap and he can't get out.