No need to read between the lines with Berman's statement [View all]

[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.