Heather Cox Richardson from Thursday early morning, speaking about events of Wednesday:
March 2, 2022
In the midst of all the news stories that have taken the headlines, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol has continued its work. Today, in a lawsuit, it told a judge that the committee “has a good-faith basis for concluding that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.”
The filing also said that a “review of the materials may reveal that the president and members of his campaign engaged in common law fraud in connection with their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.” One of the emails it released to support the filing indicated that Trump legal advisor John Eastman knew those delaying the electoral count were breaking the law.
The January 6th committee is investigating the events of January 6, 2021, to see what changes in the law, if any, should be in place to make sure what happened on January 6 cannot happen again. It cannot charge anyone with a crime, although it can make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, which the department will then consider. Today’s statement makes it seem likely that the committee will be making such a referral.
Former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal told MSNBC: “This is as deadly serious as it gets, seditious conspiracy.”
The filing was in a case over whether Eastman, the author of the memo outlining how then–vice president Mike Pence could use his role in the counting of electoral votes to overturn the election, can refuse to turn over about 11,000 pages of emails and documents to the committee. Eastman wants to withhold them, saying they are covered by attorney-client privilege. But he has not been able to establish that Trump was his client, and, further, attorney-client privilege cannot be invoked to cover a crime.
Also today, in a case concerning whether the Oath Keepers, who stormed the Capitol on January 6, engaged in seditious conspiracy, Joshua James of Alabama pleaded guilty. According to CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who is following all the January 6 cases, James agreed that he tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power and that Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes had a “plan” for accomplishing that disruption. In the plea deal, James said that “Rhodes instructed James &..conspirators to be prepared, if called upon, to report to the White House grounds to secure the perimeter & use lethal force if necessary against anyone who tried to remove President Trump."
At this pint Garland is a prosecutor, not a politician making stump speeches. If there are going to be charges, the filing will be the first we hear about them.
“Wagner mercenaries in Kyiv have sustained losses during their attempts and are said to have been alarmed by how accurately the Ukrainians had anticipated their moves. A source close to the group said it was ‘eerie’ how well briefed Zelensky’s security team appeared to be.”
I have no doubt whatsoever that US Intelligence is in close touch with President Zelensky's security team.
I was just listening to/watching this: Former MI6 Chief On the Ukraine & Russia Conflict | Oxford Union [Click] Very well worth listening to, I think. This fellow has a great deal of experience with such disputes and how they can be resolved. He even has personal experience with Putin. Much more knowledgable than any of the high-ranking retired generals whom I have seen interviewed.
So today I got my hair cut and then went out to a restaurant I had been unjustly igoring. The long story is that years ago this was the Mongolian Hot Pot, which specialized in a variety of stir-fry I found unexciting. That closed and was replaced by the New Pot, which I assumed was essentially the same thing. But no. I recently checked the on-line menu and it has a very broad range of Thai-based food. And it's cheap! Thai salad, Masaman pork curry, green tea cheesecake, and iced tea came to just over $32 with tax and tip.
That sounds like a rather nice day. Great to find good, affordable Thai food. Years ago, when I would trek to NH for monthly peer meetings (a group of spiritual guides), we would go for lunch afterward at the Siam Orchid in Concord NH. Best Thai food I have ever had!
Also, I kind of envy you the haircut. I haven't had one since last April ... been cutting it myself. Planning to get a real haircut in another week or two.
Heather Cox Richardson from Thursday early morning, speaking about events of Wednesday:
ReplyDeleteMarch 2, 2022
In the midst of all the news stories that have taken the headlines, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol has continued its work. Today, in a lawsuit, it told a judge that the committee “has a good-faith basis for concluding that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.”
The filing also said that a “review of the materials may reveal that the president and members of his campaign engaged in common law fraud in connection with their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.” One of the emails it released to support the filing indicated that Trump legal advisor John Eastman knew those delaying the electoral count were breaking the law.
The January 6th committee is investigating the events of January 6, 2021, to see what changes in the law, if any, should be in place to make sure what happened on January 6 cannot happen again. It cannot charge anyone with a crime, although it can make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, which the department will then consider. Today’s statement makes it seem likely that the committee will be making such a referral.
Former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal told MSNBC: “This is as deadly serious as it gets, seditious conspiracy.”
The filing was in a case over whether Eastman, the author of the memo outlining how then–vice president Mike Pence could use his role in the counting of electoral votes to overturn the election, can refuse to turn over about 11,000 pages of emails and documents to the committee. Eastman wants to withhold them, saying they are covered by attorney-client privilege. But he has not been able to establish that Trump was his client, and, further, attorney-client privilege cannot be invoked to cover a crime.
Also today, in a case concerning whether the Oath Keepers, who stormed the Capitol on January 6, engaged in seditious conspiracy, Joshua James of Alabama pleaded guilty. According to CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who is following all the January 6 cases, James agreed that he tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power and that Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes had a “plan” for accomplishing that disruption. In the plea deal, James said that “Rhodes instructed James &..conspirators to be prepared, if called upon, to report to the White House grounds to secure the perimeter & use lethal force if necessary against anyone who tried to remove President Trump."
Richardson also discussed Ukraine. Full commentary here:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-2-2022?r=a0zry&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
I am really curious as to the "why" of Merrick Garland's complete silence. Is he just going to let the obviously traitorous trump slide?
DeleteAt this pint Garland is a prosecutor, not a politician making stump speeches. If there are going to be charges, the filing will be the first we hear about them.
DeleteBBC website ‘blocked’ in Russia as shortwave radio brought back to cover Ukraine war [Click]
ReplyDeleteZelensky Has Survived Three Assassination Attempts [Click]
ReplyDeleteJPMorgan Warns Russia Faces 1998-Like Collapse in Economy [Click] “Export earnings disrupted, imports set to buckle, analysts say.” China probably isn’t going to disrupt its own economy and future to help Russia.
Vast Majority of Texas Voters Skipped Primaries [Click]
US officials say Biden administration is sharing intelligence with Ukraine at a ‘frenetic’ pace after Republicans criticize efforts [Click]
Wikipedia article on Tom Nichols [Click] Interesting.
War in Ukraine: BBC suspends its journalists' work in Russia [Click] Independent news broadcasts also suppressed.
Ukraine war: 'My city's being shelled, but mum won’t believe me' [Click]
Ukraine war is economic catastrophe, warns World Bank [Click]
“Wagner mercenaries in Kyiv have sustained losses during their attempts and are said to have been alarmed by how accurately the Ukrainians had anticipated their moves. A source close to the group said it was ‘eerie’ how well briefed Zelensky’s security team appeared to be.”
DeleteI have no doubt whatsoever that US Intelligence is in close touch with President Zelensky's security team.
China has little to gain but much to lose as Russia’s ally [Click] One thing not mentioned is China’s looming dominance in the world electric vehicle market; to throw that away would be senseless.
ReplyDeleteRussia’s callousness towards its own soldiers is undermining its combat power [Click]
ReplyDeleteThis bloody invasion is turning the march of history into a sprint – and it’s not going Putin’s way [Click] “The last few days have sealed Ukraine’s place in the global imagination – and for Russia, that’s a big problem.”
ReplyDeleteI was just listening to/watching this:
ReplyDeleteFormer MI6 Chief On the Ukraine & Russia Conflict | Oxford Union [Click] Very well worth listening to, I think. This fellow has a great deal of experience with such disputes and how they can be resolved. He even has personal experience with Putin. Much more knowledgable than any of the high-ranking retired generals whom I have seen interviewed.
So today I got my hair cut and then went out to a restaurant I had been unjustly igoring. The long story is that years ago this was the Mongolian Hot Pot, which specialized in a variety of stir-fry I found unexciting. That closed and was replaced by the New Pot, which I assumed was essentially the same thing. But no. I recently checked the on-line menu and it has a very broad range of Thai-based food. And it's cheap! Thai salad, Masaman pork curry, green tea cheesecake, and iced tea came to just over $32 with tax and tip.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a rather nice day. Great to find good, affordable Thai food. Years ago, when I would trek to NH for monthly peer meetings (a group of spiritual guides), we would go for lunch afterward at the Siam Orchid in Concord NH. Best Thai food I have ever had!
DeleteAlso, I kind of envy you the haircut. I haven't had one since last April ... been cutting it myself. Planning to get a real haircut in another week or two.
Delete