When the sentence the government seeks for a crime depends on the defendant’s friendship with the president, there’s one word to describe it:
Corrupt.
— Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti tweet (2/11/20)
By Dan Peak
The Commoner Call (2/13/20)
Dear Fellow Readers,
Here’s what happened, you decide:
- Trump long-time adviser Roger Stone convicted for impeding the Trump-Russia investigation; convicted of seven felonies for lying to investigators including Congress
- Trump’s Department of Justice trial prosecutors issue a sentencing guideline of 7-9 years.
- Trump tweets “very unfair”.
- Within hours a senior Justice official promised a revision after being “shocked” over the guideline.
- Trump’s Department of Justice plans to reduce the sentencing guideline.
- Trump’s Department of Justice prosecutors in the Stone case resign – all four.
Trump’s personal lawyer and attorney general William Barr has not been shy about showing his unmitigated bias for all things Trump since he hijacked special counsel Robert Mueller’s report and told us it said something it did not. Mueller made clear, Trump was not exonerated ,though was not charged because of Department of Justice policy. Barr said, ‘Nyet’.
Trump and Barr now operate the DoJ as if it is Trump’s personal law firm, continuing a downward spiral where Justice does not stand for justice but simply for Trump. The Senate has proven to be the Party of Trump, the Senate of Trump. Now, because of the Senate, we have the Justice Department of Trump.
Barr during his confirmation hearings promised conduct independent of Trump’s wishes. I’m sure we’ll hear similar assurances as he is pressed about the ‘coincidence’ of not only the revision of sentencing guidelines but the immediacy of this after Trump’s tweet. Party of Trump are masters of the ‘harrumph’ as if how could we imagine such a thing?
Trump furthers smears Barr by offering his “congratulations” for “taking charge of a case that was totally out of control”.
There is a second chapter to the story but do remember, sentencing guidelines are not pulled out of the air – they are based on law and precedent. And like anything with the Department of Justice pre-Trump/Barr – meant to demonstrate fairness to the administration of the law.
Trump pisses on the walls of another US institution. Party of Trump harrumphs and looks at their shoes.
*****
Chapter 2: Trump’s personal attorneys, formerly known as the US Department of Justice
Trump’s post Impeachment acquittal reprisals continue:
“President Trump on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of former U.S. attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia to a high-ranking Treasury Department post after being lobbied by critics of her office’s handling of cases, including ones inherited from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, two people familiar with the decision said.”
Liu’s collection of cases happens to include Roger Stone, but also convicted former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn – there are more but focus on these two. Similar to the intro, here goes:
- Liu is the (now former) top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital.
- Liu is nominated for a to a high-ranking Treasury post.
- Liu is ‘replaced’ (ahead of her new post) by a Barr loyalist Timothy Shea (former counselor to Barr).
- BOTH FLYNN AND STONE sentencing guidelines/stances have NOW CHANGED.
- Nomination of Liu required public hearings to fill the position, scheduled for this week, now the nomination is withdrawn.
Harrumph after all, I mean call me crazy, but…
*****
Chapter 3: Trump’s personal law firm, formerly US Department of Justice
Barr acknowledges Justice Dept. has created ‘intake process’ to vet Giuliani’s information on Bidens
Yep, no wasting time working through normal channels of State Department or investigation by the FBI – let’s mainline the other Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s QAnon Ukraine revisionist theories directly to Barr’s desk. And Barr will, oh, what is the phrase?
Oh, yes, Barr will conduct himself with integrity independent of the wishes of Trump. HAHA!
“Attorney General William P. Barr acknowledged Monday that the Justice Department would evaluate material that Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump’s personal attorney, had gathered from Ukrainian sources claiming to have damaging information about former vice president Joe Biden and his family — though Barr and other officials suggested Giuliani was being treated no differently than any tipster.
“At a news conference on an unrelated case, Barr confirmed an assertion made Sunday by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) that the Justice Department had “created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it’s verified.””
What’s next, TV ads for a Trump-Ukraine corruption hotline? Or Giuliani ads: “If you or your family has been wronged by Ukraine corruption against Trump, call this number to be added to our class action suit…”
Better Call Saul is looking like the minor league by comparison.
*****
Pvt. Bone Spur’s Revenge
Barr spoon-fed us his lies about the Mueller Report.
Barr told us he was investigating spying on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election.
Barr personally traveled overseas to assist the Giuliani shit-show of involving foreign governments in a conspiracy to benefit Trump’s reelection.
Barr chose not to investigate Trump for campaign finance violations for his solicitation of Ukraine election help.
Barr has offered his own opinions discounting Russian influence to benefit Trump while offering, and validating, investigation of ‘other’ countries involved.
Party of Trump beyond Barr.
Considering Trump suggestions for further “he’ll go through some things” against Purple Heart Lt. Col. Vindman for his honest testimony against Trump; you know, Trump, the guy who made up a bogus “bone spur” deferment to get out of the draft during the Vietnam War.
Trump’s Senate blocked three more election security bills. I mean why would the Party of Trump want to close that door?
Party of Trump House Intelligence Committee boycotted a “emerging technology and national security” hearing because it was a supposedly agenda.
And while this does not exactly fit, let’s acknowledge a rather tawdry example of the lack of integrity of Party of Trump: Best Boy Rep. Jim “Gym” Jordan is accused, again, in a Ohio State Senate hearing of issues related to sexual abuses from the Ohio State University wrestling program:
“Adam DiSabato, a former captain of the OSU wrestling team during the late 80s and early 90s, told members of the House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan and other team officials knew about open-shower team facilities that facilitated sexual harassment and abuse of team wrestlers, an allegation Jordan has denied.
“…Jim Jordan called me crying, groveling… begging me to go against my brother…That’s the kind of cover-up that’s going on there,” he said.
…DiSabato responded by calling Jordan a “liar.”
“He’s throwing us under the bus, all of us. He’s a coward,” DiSabato said.”
Because Gym Jordan deserves what he dishes out.
*****
Our Democracy is failing
Trump shoots one more person on 5th Avenue and takes us to the body and says he ‘did it’ – again. During a Fox News broadcast Trump declared his “absolute right” to dictate to his personal law firm, formerly known as the US Justice Department.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) says his Party of Trump peers are scared. Head-on-pike, attack the truth-tellers like Vindman or Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). Oh my, imagine what could happen to these GOP cowards:
- “Will the hosts on Fox attack me?”
- “Will the mouthpieces on talk radio go after me?”
- “Will the Twitter trolls turn their followers against me?”
Harrumph! I mean screw it; it’s only Democracy as we know it, as each Trumpster coward justifies their cowardice by assuring ‘they’re not the only one’.
So, back to winning elections. This from a Commoner Call reader – it’s about winning EVERY election, not just the presidential election, not just the unicorn election, EVERY ELECTION. VOTE.
Here’s a powerful civics lesson from YelloPain…
(Commoner Call cartoon by Mark L. Taylor, 2018. open source and free for non-derivative use with link to www.thecommonercall.org )