Not long ago, Steve Bannon horrified (and terrified) people when we learned he was trying to move Trump-Coup supporters into positions administering elections.
#2 on my list is "get involved with local elections."
(No surprise: The committee's brief is written and argued well.)
1/
Here is how Trump's brief presented the issue ⤵️
His argument is that the select committee's request was unconstitutional, therefore, he should have gotten a preliminary injunction. He wants the Court to decide whether the request was constitutional.
Here's the problem . . . 2/
To get a preliminary injunction, Trump had to show with clear evidence each of these four criteria⤵️
The likelihood of succeeding on the merits is only one element.
So far, there has not actually been a trial on the merits of whether the request was Constitutional.
Trump filed a supplemental brief with the Supreme Court (in his executive privilege case) arguing that the committee is considering criminal referrals, therefore, the request for documents exceeds Congress's legislative powers.
Given the fact that the committee is studying a crime to find out what legislation can prevent future crimes, it's hard to say that they shouldn't make criminal referrals where appropriate.
Trump's argument comes down to "they're picking on me!"
Notice specifically what Thompson says. First, he says if a criminal referral would be warranted, there would be no reluctance on the part of the committee to do that.
Earlier, @emptywheel quoted from the letter the committee sent to Jim Jordan (Screenshot #1)
See how the language echoes the language of 18. U.S. 1505? (Screenshot #2)
2/
One of the things that goes wrong on social media is confusing speculation (this must be happening because) or (we know it isn't happening because) versus following what is reported as facts.
Yes, we all know that Trump delayed and tried to obstruct the proceedings. . .
3/
There is a Twitter consensus that the purpose of all these lawsuits (like the one Flynn filed seeking an injunction against the select committee) is to "run out the clock."
This makes no sense because the clock runs until at least 2024 and the cases are moving quickly.
1/
The work of the committee will be done in 2022 but the select committee is a truth-finding panel. The prosecutors have until at least 2024.
People similarly said that the election fraud lawsuits were to “run out the clock.”
Those cases also went fast.
2/
The election fraud cases were to feed the right-wing propaganda network.
Trump and pals also lost 60 of the 61 election fraud lawsuits (and the "win" was a minor one that didn't help much.)
3/