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(Thread) Trump's legal "defenses"
As we move toward impeachment, Team Trump seems to have settled on Trump's legal "defenses."
They were neatly laid out by the House GOP in Mueller Judiciary Committee hearing.
nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
Here's what to expect (and we should do).
As we move toward impeachment, Team Trump seems to have settled on Trump's legal "defenses."
They were neatly laid out by the House GOP in Mueller Judiciary Committee hearing.
nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
Here's what to expect (and we should do).
1/ Each of the defenses put forward by the House GOP rests on lies and distortion of the laws.
The problem for the Dems will be prosecuting a case when a large percentage of the population has abandoned truth.
The problem for the Dems will be prosecuting a case when a large percentage of the population has abandoned truth.
2/ Defense #1: A person innocent of the underlying crime can’t obstruct justice.
#1 goes like this:
Mueller found no conspiracy. Trump knew he was innocent, so his attempts to hamper the investigation understandably came from his frustration with a baseless investigation.
#1 goes like this:
Mueller found no conspiracy. Trump knew he was innocent, so his attempts to hamper the investigation understandably came from his frustration with a baseless investigation.
3/ Defense #1 distorts the law. A person can have other corrupt motives for obstructing, such as:
💠Preventing personal embarassment. Mueller Report, v.2, 178,
💠Protecting non-criminal personal interests, p. 157, and
💠Hiding criminal liability that falls into “gray area.”
💠Preventing personal embarassment. Mueller Report, v.2, 178,
💠Protecting non-criminal personal interests, p. 157, and
💠Hiding criminal liability that falls into “gray area.”
4/ Because the investigation ended up with so many of Trump’s friends and staff convicted of crimes—including his personal lawyer who implicated Trump in an election finance crime—it seems to me we can add that “conspiracy with Russians” wasn’t the only crime under investigation.
5/ Defense #2: “The Deep State defense” goes like this:
The entire investigation arose from lies and “baseless gossip,” so the entire investigation was corrupt, and all the findings are suspect.
This is where the GOP talks about Fusion GPS, the “unverified” Steele Dossier. . .
The entire investigation arose from lies and “baseless gossip,” so the entire investigation was corrupt, and all the findings are suspect.
This is where the GOP talks about Fusion GPS, the “unverified” Steele Dossier. . .
6/ And angry Democrats who want to bring down Trump.
The first problem is that this defense distorts the rules of evidence governing when tainted evidence (for example, evidence gotten from an illegal search) is admissible in court.
See the problem: Distorting the law is easy.
The first problem is that this defense distorts the rules of evidence governing when tainted evidence (for example, evidence gotten from an illegal search) is admissible in court.
See the problem: Distorting the law is easy.
7/ Distortions are catchy and fit into soundbites. Explaining Fourth Amendment jurisprudence and when evidence is inadmissible is complicated and will not make for theatrical hearings.
Liars and distorters have an advantage: They can make the story compelling.
Liars and distorters have an advantage: They can make the story compelling.
8/ The Deep State defense resonates on the far right.
"Deep state" is code for what the GOP has been trying for decades to destroy: regulatory agencies, because those regulations stop white men from cheating and grabbing what they want.
See:
"Deep state" is code for what the GOP has been trying for decades to destroy: regulatory agencies, because those regulations stop white men from cheating and grabbing what they want.
See:
9/ In 1980s Libertarian Party VP candidate,David Koch advocated abolishing (among other things) the FBI, CIA, and IRS.
nytimes.com/1984/10/16/art…
When Collins told Mueller during the hearing that he wants to make sure the FBI never spies on another American again, take it literally.
nytimes.com/1984/10/16/art…
When Collins told Mueller during the hearing that he wants to make sure the FBI never spies on another American again, take it literally.
10/ They don't want the FBI to exist.
Defense #3: “We Are Victims," defense, which goes like this:
The investigation was driven by people who hate Trump and his party. Look at Strzok, Page, Steele, and more!
This overlaps with Defense #2 (The Deep State is out to get Trump.)
Defense #3: “We Are Victims," defense, which goes like this:
The investigation was driven by people who hate Trump and his party. Look at Strzok, Page, Steele, and more!
This overlaps with Defense #2 (The Deep State is out to get Trump.)
11/ In a sense, it's true.
Regulatory agencies are about rule of law.
The GOP prefers Trump (what Max Weber calls a Charismatic Leader) to Rule of Law
"Deep State (FBI/ Mueller) v. Trump" is another way to say:
Rule of Law v. Cult of Leadership.
Regulatory agencies are about rule of law.
The GOP prefers Trump (what Max Weber calls a Charismatic Leader) to Rule of Law
"Deep State (FBI/ Mueller) v. Trump" is another way to say:
Rule of Law v. Cult of Leadership.
12/ As part of the Victimization defense, the House GOP advanced the theory that Trump was the victim of a Russian disinformation plot.
According to this theory, the Russians planted the false information in the Steele Dossier to undermine confidence in an elected president.
According to this theory, the Russians planted the false information in the Steele Dossier to undermine confidence in an elected president.
13/ Of course it makes no sense. It doesn’t have to.
It just needs emotional resonance,
If it has emotional resonance, Trump's supporters will gleefully spread the lie.
If you missed my Slate article on why Trump supporters embrace his lies, see:
slate.com/news-and-polit…
It just needs emotional resonance,
If it has emotional resonance, Trump's supporters will gleefully spread the lie.
If you missed my Slate article on why Trump supporters embrace his lies, see:
slate.com/news-and-polit…
14/ I have threads on why the older white males of the GOP view themselves as victims. See:
Part of “victimization” is “whataboutism”:
"What about when Clinton (or Obama) did it?"
If Clinton (or Obama) did it, going after Trump is purely political.
Part of “victimization” is “whataboutism”:
"What about when Clinton (or Obama) did it?"
If Clinton (or Obama) did it, going after Trump is purely political.
15/ Defense #4: The “Unfair Cloud” defense, goes like this:
If there’s no indictment, a prosecutor mustn't divulge negative information about the person. Without an indictment and an opportunity to defend himself in court, a “cloud” hangs over the uncharged person’s head.
If there’s no indictment, a prosecutor mustn't divulge negative information about the person. Without an indictment and an opportunity to defend himself in court, a “cloud” hangs over the uncharged person’s head.
16/ According to this theory, by not charging Trump and not exonerating him, Mueller violated the ethics governing prosecutors and shifted the burden of proof to the accused.
The problem of course, is that GOP also claims that a sitting president cannot be indicted.
The problem of course, is that GOP also claims that a sitting president cannot be indicted.
17/ But, remember, none of these defenses have to be true or logical.
If I were coordinating a bot campaign to destroy democracy, here's what I would do:
💠Make sure that Democrats have unrealistic expectations of what can come out of impeachment hearings, like this:
If I were coordinating a bot campaign to destroy democracy, here's what I would do:
💠Make sure that Democrats have unrealistic expectations of what can come out of impeachment hearings, like this:
18/
"We must stop Trump's lawbreaking! Impeach him now!"
or
"Once hearings begin, the people will see the truth!"
Remember, this is not the Nixon era.
Most American in the Nixon era got their news from networks. (I remember Walter Cronkite)
"We must stop Trump's lawbreaking! Impeach him now!"
or
"Once hearings begin, the people will see the truth!"
Remember, this is not the Nixon era.
Most American in the Nixon era got their news from networks. (I remember Walter Cronkite)
19/ The GOP in Nixon’s era had not yet fully evolved into an authoritarian party.
Next—if I were trying to destroy democracy through a bot campaign—I would make sure that people blamed the Democrats when these unrealistic expectations are not met.
Next—if I were trying to destroy democracy through a bot campaign—I would make sure that people blamed the Democrats when these unrealistic expectations are not met.
20/ I'd have my bots saying things like:
💠"It's all the Democrats' fault for not fighting harder!" and
💠"the Democrats are as corrupt as the Republicans," and
💠"It's all useless! There's nothing that can be done! We're all doomed!"
So what do we do?
💠"It's all the Democrats' fault for not fighting harder!" and
💠"the Democrats are as corrupt as the Republicans," and
💠"It's all useless! There's nothing that can be done! We're all doomed!"
So what do we do?
21/
💠We lower our expectations for what impeachment can accomplish,
💠we prepare ourselves for the onslaught of lies,
💠we prepare the public for the onslaught of lies,
💠we keep in mind WHY the GOP is engaging in such destructive and desperate measures:
💠We lower our expectations for what impeachment can accomplish,
💠we prepare ourselves for the onslaught of lies,
💠we prepare the public for the onslaught of lies,
💠we keep in mind WHY the GOP is engaging in such destructive and desperate measures:
22/ From Harvard Prof. Levitsky ⤵️
The GOP base is shrinking, so their medium and long-term prospects are not good. For example:
In 1994, white Christians were 74% of the electorate.
In 2014, they were 57%.
By 2024, they’re projected to be less than 50%.
The GOP base is shrinking, so their medium and long-term prospects are not good. For example:
In 1994, white Christians were 74% of the electorate.
In 2014, they were 57%.
By 2024, they’re projected to be less than 50%.
23/ Levitsky says to treat Trump’s lawbreaking like an earthquake. The way to respond to an earthquake is to move quickly to strengthen the weakened structures.
A young, diverse population owns the future . . .
A young, diverse population owns the future . . .
24/ So our task is to take steps to strengthen the democratic institutions that now being battered.
The more we can strengthen them now, during the shaking, the less rebuilding later.
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
The more we can strengthen them now, during the shaking, the less rebuilding later.
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
I forgot to type: end/
I may keep adding comments and questions.
This is true⤵️ I probably shouldn't have said 'large' percentage.
Personally, I think 30 percent abandoning truth is a lot, but more to the point: they're dangerous and well organized.
I may keep adding comments and questions.
This is true⤵️ I probably shouldn't have said 'large' percentage.
Personally, I think 30 percent abandoning truth is a lot, but more to the point: they're dangerous and well organized.
Yes!⤵️
I am still seeing people saying that we have to stop the atrocities at the border by impeaching Trump, or some such thing.
And I see lots of this: "While Trump keeps breaking the law Democrats do nothing," which shifts the blame.
I am still seeing people saying that we have to stop the atrocities at the border by impeaching Trump, or some such thing.
And I see lots of this: "While Trump keeps breaking the law Democrats do nothing," which shifts the blame.
Someone asked⤵️
They're called a Search Warrant, and they're tightly regulated.
For decades the GOP was in favor of easier access to search warrants, but of course, that's because the perceived targets were black men.
They're called a Search Warrant, and they're tightly regulated.
For decades the GOP was in favor of easier access to search warrants, but of course, that's because the perceived targets were black men.
I retyped that last tweet three times, and still ended up with an error.
I will resist the temptation to delete and fix.
I will resist the temptation to delete and fix.
The simplest solutions are often the best,
All my threads are also blog posts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/trumps-legal-d…
