They’re taking an appropriately holistic approach to the crisis and rightly so of course. Bearing Trump’s utter lack of impulse control in mind the investigation will needless to say be overtaken by real life events in short order.
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The difference between the Senate actions and those of the House committee are the result of the Gerrymandered House.
The Republicans in the Gerrymandered House are controlled by the pro-Trump GOP traitors to America. The Senators still remain loyal to America, because they do not fear losing elections so much.
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The big worry I have is that the Senate is not setup to be the primary investigative arm for criminal or corruption investigations. And there is…and will continue to be…a LOT that is going to need investigation, because the actual bodies set up to do that are run by Trumpers…like the DoJ. So we are looking at overwhelming an inherently partisan body NOT setup to do these type of investigations. That’s not a pretty picture.
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I find it impressive, and somewhat comforting, that they are noting how much Russia is meddling in European elections. That in itself is something that should give us–and the Europeans–pause. The EU and NATO are targets of Russian aggressive antagonism. If we have such Russian snakes in our own government following an election they meddled in, that is a BFD, as Joe Biden would say.
The American people need to KNOW.
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Hoping against hope that at least some of our national institutions and separations of powers are alive and well.
Both California Senators are on this committee. I think I’ll be burning up the phone and fax lines on this.
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The Senate can’t file criminal charges, but neither can an independent commission. While there may be crimes (likely are many) the bigger concern is national security and how to prevent this from happening again, here or elsewhere, such as France or Germany. You can’t indict Trump until he’s impeached and removed from office anyway, and the Senate would obviously have a role in that.
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Please note this article
While this is dealing with a civil case (and the irony on THAT alone probably deserves it own thread), they are attempting to advance a broader theory…that Trump cannot stand trial for anything brought by the states while in the White House. If they succeed on this one, without a doubt they will argue the same applies to criminal charges and quite likely will try to argue it extends to anyone in his White House.
I am not saying they are going to win, but it will be a battle.
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The House brings articles of impeachment which are then tried in the Senate (article 1 section 3) But the document does say that indictments, trials and punishments are still a liability in the regular legal system outside Congress.
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Correct on an independent commission. That does’t apply to a special prosecutor, depending on who that specific law would be worded.
Which of course raises the big problem with the special prosecutor track…from my understanding, it requires the Congress pass a bill defining the special prosecutor, and that means the President must sign it. Which Trump will never do. That of course could kick off immediate impeachment proceedings, but with this bunch, its hardly a given.
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I don’t think a sitting President can be indicted in either state or federal court, but that immunity doesn’t extend to White House aides and campaign staff, especially for acts committed prior to taking office. There is no way Manafort or Stone can claim immunity. Once indicted, they can be induced to roll over and spill the beans on Trump.
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Correct. Impeachment is completely a political action, in definition, process and punishment. In theory, it would be possible for a President to be tried and convicted of a crime…even a felony…and as long as the House refuses to start impeachment…stay in office. What happens in the legal system has no statutory requirement on the political process and vice versa.(A president could be impeached and kicked out of office, and then have no charges brought against him or be found not guilty in the legal system).
Its highly unlikely of course, but…just another of the things that wakes me up at night.
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I think you are wrong on that. Certainly Clinton didn’t sign to have Ken Starr appointed. The AG can appoint a special prosecutor. Since Sessions has recused himself it would fall to the deputy AG.
Also, while I would love to see Trump in the pokey, I would be satisfied just getting him out of office, either by impeachment and conviction or by resignation. As his popularity sinks, the inducement for Republicans to rally behind him shrinks.
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I think that Trump is wrong on this one unless the laws have changed.
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That’s probably more of a fig leave than an actual recusal. The AG can bring tremendous pressure to bear on anyone in his office, prosecuting anything. I would have to go back and look at his actual statement, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Sessions even argue at some future point, that he was merely recusing himself from any investigations into HIS connections with the Russians. And at some point, the investigations will go beyond mere communication…will he still recuse himself then? Or use the changing scope as a weasel way out?
Me too. You beat me to it, Darr. I don’t want them to prove ad nauseum that Trump is a Russian agent or similar. As soon as they know, they should act. A prolonged investigation which releases findings only in the final report, like the 9/11 commission, will make Trump sweat, and diminish his already meager effectiveness, but meanwhile he needs to be stopped before he causes any more catastrophes small or big. The ACA repeal was a close shave for many of us, and the longer he stays in office, the more damage he can do. So do I have an ulterior, perhaps even a political motive for wanting this investigation? Hell, YES!
Another thing about the slow steady pace of this investigation. The FBI and other federal agencies are not bound to this schedule, and may render the Senate investigation moot much sooner. That is my hope. At least I have some!
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I thought it was something about move a mountain by starting small~~~~-every great journey starts w first step~~~~~
nevermind!
True, Burr is savvy and maybe too slick. He bears close watching. I’ve always heard good things about Warner, but don’t really know much about him.
Undoubtedly this investigation will be an education for many of us.
Nixon tried that “I’m President so I can’t be a criminal” approach. Didn’t work out too well for him.
And as far as DT’s germ-o-phobia approach…
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