Reading the Senate Report now on Trump's months-long attempts to subvert the election: cnn.com/2021/10/07/pol…
The attempts involve repeated abuses of presidential power and violations of "longstanding policies" intended to prevent a president from weaponizing the DOJ.
1/
The attempts involve repeated abuses of presidential power and violations of "longstanding policies" intended to prevent a president from weaponizing the DOJ.
1/
Finding #1: Trump repeatedly asked DOJ leadership to endorse false claims about the election and to assist his efforts to overturn the election.
I seem to recall @RepAdamSchiff warning Congress that if Trump wasn't impeached and removed he'd keep abusing his power.
2/
I seem to recall @RepAdamSchiff warning Congress that if Trump wasn't impeached and removed he'd keep abusing his power.
2/
Finding #2: Mark Meadows similarly "violated longstanding restrictions on White House-DOJ communications about specific law enforcement matters."
Why it matters: In an autocracy, the autocrat decides who to prosecute. Independent prosecutors are a safeguard of democracy.
3/
Why it matters: In an autocracy, the autocrat decides who to prosecute. Independent prosecutors are a safeguard of democracy.
3/
Finding #3, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, among other things, pushed for the DOJ to tell swing state legislatures (including GA) that they should appoint alternate slates of electors.
The evidence for all of this: The DOJ complied with the committee's request for documents.
4/
The evidence for all of this: The DOJ complied with the committee's request for documents.
4/
The NARA hasn't yet complied, “given the gravity of the public record of Trump’s efforts to compromise DOJ’s independence” the committee is making their findings so far public."
Finding #4 links all of this to the Stop the Steal rally, which has interesting implications.
5/
Finding #4 links all of this to the Stop the Steal rally, which has interesting implications.
5/
Here are the findings about Rep. Scott Perry and Doug Mastriano.
Why it matters: Proving intent is difficult. Evidence like this goes to intent.
6/
Why it matters: Proving intent is difficult. Evidence like this goes to intent.
6/
The report connects Trump's efforts before the election to lay the foundation for his plans to set aside the results.
The backup plan (if weaponizing the DOJ didn't work) was to pressure Pence to set aside the electoral votes of contested states . . .
7/
The backup plan (if weaponizing the DOJ didn't work) was to pressure Pence to set aside the electoral votes of contested states . . .
7/
. . . which of course Pence didn't have the legal authority to do. (See my analysis of the Eastman Memo: There's also a transcript on my blog.)
The report ties all of this to the "disinformation ecosystem" that led to the insurrection.
8/
The report ties all of this to the "disinformation ecosystem" that led to the insurrection.
8/
#1: The goal appears to have been creating chaos, or what Dick Durban, called a "constitutional crisis."
#2: This one is a doozy. I've seen part of this before, but not the "can't and won't flip a switch" part.
Doesn't look good for the "[Republican] Congressmen."
9/
#2: This one is a doozy. I've seen part of this before, but not the "can't and won't flip a switch" part.
Doesn't look good for the "[Republican] Congressmen."
9/
As far as Trump is concerned, probably the most damning piece of evidence is what he said here⤵️
A word about evidence. Trump will probably deny he said it and some of his enablers from the meeting back him up.
So who decides? (this question is worth 10 points)
10/
A word about evidence. Trump will probably deny he said it and some of his enablers from the meeting back him up.
So who decides? (this question is worth 10 points)
10/
We have a winner.
What's going on here?
I know the inclination people feel is to ask "where are the criminal consequences?"
There may be a Hatch Act violation, or political coercion under 18 USC §610.
h/t @clarkkathleen and Dennis Aftergut.
11/
https://twitter.com/professorshawnc/status/1446241912793538562
What's going on here?
I know the inclination people feel is to ask "where are the criminal consequences?"
There may be a Hatch Act violation, or political coercion under 18 USC §610.
h/t @clarkkathleen and Dennis Aftergut.
11/
law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18…
What's really going on is something much more serious than any of these code violations can capture.
What you can see in this report is a blueprint for how modern-day fascists seize power.
12/
What's really going on is something much more serious than any of these code violations can capture.
What you can see in this report is a blueprint for how modern-day fascists seize power.
12/
Pinochet-style military coups when you go to sleep in a democracy and wake up in a dictatorship are very 20th century.
Modern autocrats come to power through legal means, usually an election, and then, once in power they abuse their power to subvert democratic processes.
13/
Modern autocrats come to power through legal means, usually an election, and then, once in power they abuse their power to subvert democratic processes.
13/
Much of this report concerns how Trump (and Barr and others) violated longstanding democratic procedures in order to do what modern autocrats do: Once in power they figure out how to stay there.
It didn't work.
14/
It didn't work.
14/
The solution is not to elect would-be autocrats to the White House. Did Americans learn their lesson?
The jury on that one is still out.
Based on the findings in this report, the committee recommends:
15
The jury on that one is still out.
Based on the findings in this report, the committee recommends:
15
Guessing on the timetable: They are racing the clock to finish this by the midterms.
I would be shocked given #4 if there aren't criminal referrals.
16/
I would be shocked given #4 if there aren't criminal referrals.
16/
I'll turn this Twitter talking point on its head.
An autocrat trying to stay in power won't be deterred by possible criminal liability if he fails. Therefore, none of this will matter if Americans elect would-be autocrats and autocrat enablers in 2022 and 2024.
So don't.
17/
An autocrat trying to stay in power won't be deterred by possible criminal liability if he fails. Therefore, none of this will matter if Americans elect would-be autocrats and autocrat enablers in 2022 and 2024.
So don't.
17/
Well goodness, I must have needed a longer break. In Tweet #10 I mentioned the most damning piece of evidence and then didn't attach it to the tweet.
This goes to intent (including in the GA matter).
Here it is:
This goes to intent (including in the GA matter).
Here it is:
He didn't say "look into allegations of fraud" or any of the other weasel words he used when pressuring Raffensperger (SOS GA).
He made his intentions clear. Overturn.
(He'll deny he said it, no doubt, and so will his enablers at the meeting.)
He made his intentions clear. Overturn.
(He'll deny he said it, no doubt, and so will his enablers at the meeting.)
Here's the Senate minority report, which basically argues that:
"Trump didn't use the DOJ to overturn the election."
(They didn't add that this was because the DOJ refused to do it.)
judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…
"Trump didn't use the DOJ to overturn the election."
(They didn't add that this was because the DOJ refused to do it.)
judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…
The minority committee argues that "Trump did not exert improper influence on the DOJ" because his concerns about election fraud were "not unreasonable."
In legal terms, "reasonable" means "rational, appropriate, or usual the circumstances."
In legal terms, "reasonable" means "rational, appropriate, or usual the circumstances."
Those were the two best defenses offered by the minority report, and they were lame.
But remember what we're dealing with: Trump defenders don't have to make sense. They don't care if they don't make sense.
When you have a well-oiled propaganda loop, who cares about facts?
But remember what we're dealing with: Trump defenders don't have to make sense. They don't care if they don't make sense.
When you have a well-oiled propaganda loop, who cares about facts?
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
