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My new piece (with the great @jgeltzer)
As we discussed with one of the authors of book, How Democracies Die, #FridayNightMassacre purges fit an ominous path followed by elected autocrats.
We trace the broader pattern in which this fits...
justsecurity.org/68585/the-frid…
My new piece (with the great @jgeltzer)
As we discussed with one of the authors of book, How Democracies Die, #FridayNightMassacre purges fit an ominous path followed by elected autocrats.
We trace the broader pattern in which this fits...
justsecurity.org/68585/the-frid…
2. Fits within Ukraine scheme itself.
“At the heart of the Ukraine extortion scheme was Trump and his personal lawyer’s appropriation of [formal state] mechanisms for political benefit ...”
The purges are an extension of that broader project.
“At the heart of the Ukraine extortion scheme was Trump and his personal lawyer’s appropriation of [formal state] mechanisms for political benefit ...”
The purges are an extension of that broader project.
3. Part of campaign against whistleblowers:
“It would be a dangerous mistake to miss the connection [with]…intimidating the original whistleblower and suggesting the death penalty was appropriate for other officials who provided info to the whistleblower and Inspector General”
“It would be a dangerous mistake to miss the connection [with]…intimidating the original whistleblower and suggesting the death penalty was appropriate for other officials who provided info to the whistleblower and Inspector General”
4. Other US officials — truth tellers — who have left their posts in course of Ukraine scandal.
America’s top diplomats in Ukraine: Maria Yovanovitch and Bill Taylor
Vice presidential aide Jennifer Williams
America’s top diplomats in Ukraine: Maria Yovanovitch and Bill Taylor
Vice presidential aide Jennifer Williams
5. Broader pattern of expecting loyalty from top FBI officials:
Asked for pledge of loyalty from then-FBI Director James Comey
Asked Comey’s immediate successor as Acting Director, Andy McCabe who he voted for in 2016 presidential election
Asked for pledge of loyalty from then-FBI Director James Comey
Asked Comey’s immediate successor as Acting Director, Andy McCabe who he voted for in 2016 presidential election
6. Pattern of expecting personal loyalty from senior Justice Department officials:
Trump's fury at then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his recusal from the Russia investigation as mandated by ethical rules. (“Where’s my Roy Cohn?” Trump reportedly said.)
Trump's fury at then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his recusal from the Russia investigation as mandated by ethical rules. (“Where’s my Roy Cohn?” Trump reportedly said.)
7. Part of the assault on DOJ:
Trump held onto a Sessions' resignation letter for days at one point. Priebus warned Sessions this would function as a kind of "shock collar" that Trump could use any time he wanted; Priebus said Trump had "DOJ by the throat.” (Mueller report)
Trump held onto a Sessions' resignation letter for days at one point. Priebus warned Sessions this would function as a kind of "shock collar" that Trump could use any time he wanted; Priebus said Trump had "DOJ by the throat.” (Mueller report)
8. Completion of assault on Justice Department:
Replaced sessions with the pliable Matt Whitaker (who said his job was to “jump on a grenade” for Trump if needed) and now Bill Barr (Trump got his Roy Cohn).
Replaced sessions with the pliable Matt Whitaker (who said his job was to “jump on a grenade” for Trump if needed) and now Bill Barr (Trump got his Roy Cohn).
9. Broader pattern of hollowing out of the type of expertise that can serve the nation rather than Trump himself.
Recent developments include this report about our embassies seeing career foreign service officials pushed out (@RobbieGramer reporting)
foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/05/us-…
Recent developments include this report about our embassies seeing career foreign service officials pushed out (@RobbieGramer reporting)
foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/05/us-…
10. Part of broader pattern:
Trump’s self-avowed preference for acting officials even in vital, cabinet-level national security posts because of the control it gives him.
Read analysis by @carriecordero and @jgeltzer:
justsecurity.org/64197/trumps-p…
Trump’s self-avowed preference for acting officials even in vital, cabinet-level national security posts because of the control it gives him.
Read analysis by @carriecordero and @jgeltzer:
justsecurity.org/64197/trumps-p…
@carriecordero @jgeltzer 11. Broader pattern: Removing officials who insist on adherence to rule of law.
Example:
Trump appointee, DHS General Counsel "abruptly fired after telling the White House that proposals such as releasing undocumented immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities were unlawful.”
Example:
Trump appointee, DHS General Counsel "abruptly fired after telling the White House that proposals such as releasing undocumented immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities were unlawful.”
12. Latest part of pattern: Hovering threat to fire Inspector General of Intelligence Community, #Atkinson
As we explain, “even if a rumored firing never in fact comes to pass, news reports anticipating it can be enough to spread the intimidation and fear Trump intends to stoke"
As we explain, “even if a rumored firing never in fact comes to pass, news reports anticipating it can be enough to spread the intimidation and fear Trump intends to stoke"
13. I'll end with unlucky no. 13.
This ominous quote from @Harvard's Steven Levitsky (co-author of How Democracies Die).👇
We shared our list of data points connected to #FridayNightMassacre with him.
Here's what he had to say about the trajectory.
justsecurity.org/68585/the-frid…
This ominous quote from @Harvard's Steven Levitsky (co-author of How Democracies Die).👇
We shared our list of data points connected to #FridayNightMassacre with him.
Here's what he had to say about the trajectory.
justsecurity.org/68585/the-frid…
14. Within 48hrs of @jgeltzer and my writing about Trump’s pattern and plan to coopt state institutions for personal benefit ...
U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh is now in charge of intake of Giuliani Ukraine dirt.
(@devlinbarrett @mattzap reporting)
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh is now in charge of intake of Giuliani Ukraine dirt.
(@devlinbarrett @mattzap reporting)
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
15. #TuesdayNightMassacre
4 DOJ lawyers quit Roger Stone case, Deputy chief of public corruption section in DC resigns—after DOJ abruptly reverses sentencing request within hours of Trump tweet demanding it.
Stone’s case implicated Trump himself in wrongdoing in 2016 election.
4 DOJ lawyers quit Roger Stone case, Deputy chief of public corruption section in DC resigns—after DOJ abruptly reverses sentencing request within hours of Trump tweet demanding it.
Stone’s case implicated Trump himself in wrongdoing in 2016 election.
16. Add to the list: The shock removal of Jessie Liu, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., as a danger sign.
17. Add to the list, Trump’s appointing Stephen Miller ally, Chad Mizelle as acting General Counsel for DHS.👇
Widely viewed as unqualified and a Trump loyalist.
Widely viewed as unqualified and a Trump loyalist.
18. “Trump has become more insistent that Durham finish his work soon, according to people familiar with the discussions. Trump, these people said, wants to be able to use whatever Durham finds as a cudgel in his reelection campaign.”
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
19. Looks like this may fit the post-impeachment pattern:
“A top Defense Department official who advised against cutting off US military aid to Ukraine has resigned under pressure from some of President Donald Trump’s associates”
@JenniferJJacobs reports
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
“A top Defense Department official who advised against cutting off US military aid to Ukraine has resigned under pressure from some of President Donald Trump’s associates”
@JenniferJJacobs reports
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
