Thread by @SethAbramson

I wonder if any Republicans understand that an impeachment is the equivalent of an indictment—which is returned by a grand jury without due process for the defendant. Due process comes into this equation at the trial phase. Yet these Republicans speak of due process being denied.

The defendant is not present at a grand jury proceeding. His or her attorney is not present. There is no cross-examination. There is no obligation for the prosecutor to present the defendant's case to the grand jury. The standard is probable cause, not beyond a reasonable doubt.

It's almost like the Republican Party has been demagoguing on the subject of criminal justice for the last 60 years purely as a dog whistle to white supremacists, rather than because they have any understanding whatsoever of how criminal justice is practiced in the United States.

I'd add that Republicans don't even have an interest in the normal operations of a criminal case at the trial phase. When Trump was impeached the first time, the GOP had no interest in witnesses, material evidence or examinations. Everything they're saying now is hypocritical BS.

The case they'd *argue*—if they understood criminal justice—is that there should be more time for investigation pre-indictment. But they *can't make that case*, because neither they nor anyone in America believes it. We have the facts we need already. So they shout "due process."

I've said before and will say again that no one in America discusses criminal justice issues more and understands them less—no one speaks more about the values undergirding the system while having no actual belief in them—than a Republican seeking election at the national level.