Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trump justice: He's using his office to reward friends, punish enemies and tarnish America
Trump justice: He's using his office to reward friends, punish enemies and tarnish America
We count on an independent Department of Justice to look out for us and for America. But Trump has commandeered DOJ to protect his friends and allies.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/23/trump-harnesses-justice-department-fight-enemies-help-friends-column/4841585002/
Michael J. Stern Opinion columnist
The Real Housewives have nothing on the Department of Justice when it comes to drama. I dont mean to be flippant. But if I cant marvel at the absurdity of the nuclear meltdown that is gripping the institution to which I dedicated my professional career, Im afraid I will cry.
I was concerned when the punchline Donald Trump came to be preceded by the title president. But my beloved DOJ was filled with career prosecutors whose dedication and integrity would keep the ship on course even if the storm lasted four years.
I was confident that the traditions that made the Justice Department the most respected law enforcement organization in the world would surely allow it to weather any attorney general Trump could install.
But Trump has commandeered the department and sent a clear message: Investigate me or people close to me and I will undercut years of your hard work, trash your reputation on Twitter, and create a Hobsons choice between your integrity and your ability to earn a living. And if you pick the former, I will issue a pardon and undo all you worked for anyway.
..................Trump justice: He's using his office to reward friends, punish enemies and tarnish America
We count on an independent Department of Justice to look out for us and for America. But Trump has commandeered DOJ to protect his friends and allies.
Michael J. Stern
Opinion columnist
The Real Housewives have nothing on the Department of Justice when it comes to drama. I dont mean to be flippant. But if I cant marvel at the absurdity of the nuclear meltdown that is gripping the institution to which I dedicated my professional career, Im afraid I will cry.
I was concerned when the punchline Donald Trump came to be preceded by the title president. But my beloved DOJ was filled with career prosecutors whose dedication and integrity would keep the ship on course even if the storm lasted four years.
I was confident that the traditions that made the Justice Department the most respected law enforcement organization in the world would surely allow it to weather any attorney general Trump could install.
But Trump has commandeered the department and sent a clear message: Investigate me or people close to me and I will undercut years of your hard work, trash your reputation on Twitter, and create a Hobsons choice between your integrity and your ability to earn a living. And if you pick the former, I will issue a pardon and undo all you worked for anyway.
Story from U.S. Census Bureau
How can the census help improve roads and bridges?
Next time youre on your morning commute, merging on to a freeway or crossing a bridge, think of the decennial census.
See More ?
Destructive Trump-Barr alliance
Since Republican senators refused to remove Trump from office, theres nothing in his path. Trump is certainly getting no pushback from Attorney General William Barr, who has revealed himself to be the second coming of the late Roy Cohn Trumps former personal attorney who was disbarred due to his sleazy legal tactics.
Barrs first order of business was to release a misleading summary of special counsel Robert Muellers report effectively urinating on what should have been a bonfire that burned Trumps presidency to the ground. Then, Barr stonewalled congressional efforts to do what an honest reading of Muellers report should have done.
Things have only gotten worse since Trump survived his Senate impeachment trial. For a start, Barr has said that he must personally approve any investigation into corruption by a presidential candidate or campaign. Thats the DOJ equivalent of a GPS warning: "Red light camera ahead."
President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr
No agent or prosecutor is going to tap the attorney general on the shoulder to ask permission to investigate the man Barr lives to protect. That means Trump and his campaign can solicit assistance from foreign adversaries in this years presidential election, and no one will stop them.
As for existing investigations, Barr is second-guessing his departments work and even changing it to be more favorable to Trump. After Trump tweeted his dissatisfaction with DOJs sentencing recommendation against political ally Roger Stone, Barr ordered prosecutors to propose far less time in prison.
Story from U.S. Census Bureau
Every person in America matters. The 2020 Census wants to count them all
In mid-March, homes across the country will begin receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail.
See More ?
His order was such an abuse of power, all four of the Stone prosecutors withdrew from the case and more than 2,600 former federal officials, myself included, published a letter asking Barr to resign.
Failing institutions:Stone prison term: Will courts hold Trump accountable after Congress, Mueller fall short?
But it was mission accomplished for Trump and Barr. On Thursday, Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison, substantially less than the seven to nine years requested by the prosecutors.
A similar sequence occurred after Trump expressed unhappiness with the prosecution of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Prosecutors who had recommended up to six months in prison later said probation would be appropriate. And Barr has now ordered a reinvestigation of Flynns case, presumably to undermine Flynns guilty plea. ...................
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
0 replies, 954 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post