81 Comments
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Gary Gergen's avatar

I worry for this judge’s life.

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James Burnham's avatar

I worry for many many lives. But if any are killed it only reveals the very real danger we are all in. There will be blood before this madness is over. You can be sure of that.

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Patrice Curedale's avatar

I first read this as "wife." He and his wife are heroes for being on the side of everything that is truly compassionate and brave in our human hearts.

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VickieJo's avatar

I was worried about right wing media’s take on this -and they didn’t disappoint my low expectations

-they all continue to call him a MS13 gang member even though he’s not -and added that he abused his wife . And although right leaning nypost covered both sides -all the people on the chat were extreme MAGA saying she was paid off (misogynistic)

We have so many Americans with no moral compass

My German friend said that’s how WWII started -total Nazi mentality gaining respect of mainstream

The lies that Trump cabinet makes get reinforced & he gains followers

It is nauseating & I’m getting a migraine just writing it down

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Patrice Curedale's avatar

Yes, the nausea and palpitations and lack of sleep and brain fog have been going on for me for 10 years now, as I am a survivor several times over, and I saw this coup coming since Reagan won. The first time I voted.

But I am sorry that you also have migraines. That is so awful. We must take care of ourselves in any ways we can. We have to fight this coup for a long while now. It's of the most powerful nation in world history, but we fight for ourselves, and for the sake of our kids, and for All life on earth.

I'm with you. There is hope. Every little thing adds up, just like fucking plastic, but it works for the Good as well!

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Cheryl Harris's avatar

I'm just wondering what Jack Smith is up to these days, and whether he might have some spare time to be a court-appointed prosecutor?

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wesleygg's avatar

At this point, there is no "rule of law"...Impeachment has to be sooner than later....

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john@johnmdowd.com's avatar

Great idea.

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

I had hoped he would stick around, however, the circumstances might have precipitated a move back to The Hague Cheryl!

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

I do not have the legal mind that you and Steve possess but in layman’s terms, it is surely contempt and illegal. If so, then will the judge effectuate the imprisonment of the attorneys associated with the government? How? Lil’ Ms. BonDEI will not suffer consequences. It is a quagmire for the judge but I wish him the very best.

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SandyG's avatar

Criminal contempt citations can be appealed and certainly they will be. So they will land at SCOTUS. Take a look at this piece on how SCOTUS can deputize law enforcement responsible to the court alone: https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/if-the-marshals-go-rogue-courts-have-other-ways-to-enforce-their-orders/.

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Mary Snodderly's avatar

Trump can pardon any and all convictions, and no doubt will. The rule of law is slowly dying.

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MollyWhitebear's avatar

Not so slowly. I think it's already comatose and taking its last gasps right now.

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LinTheHunter's avatar

Donald will always do the easiest, criminal thing and he and Musk Rat are cut from the same cloth so they decided it was taking too long to find the actual BAD GUYS so they just started grabbing anyone who looked Hispanic and had tattoos of ANYTHING on their bodies…that was good enough for them to kidnap these people and traffic them to the President of El Salvador since Donald is PAYING HIM FOR THE WORST PRISON TREATMENT HE CAN DISH OUT ON A HUMAN BEING…with OUR TAX MONEY…

WELL LOCK THEM ALL UP STARTING WITH DONALD AND GOING RIGHT THROUGH HIS KITCHEN CABINET AND ON TO THE REPUGLICAN POLITICIANS WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO HAND OVER THEIR CONGRESSIONAL POWERS TO DONALD. They all SUCK!

P.S. Same process has been put to work by Musk Rat while supposedly ferreting out the fraud, waste and abuse (THEY ARE FWA themselves!) they are too lazy to actually look for the FWA they swear is there so they just started raping and pillaging ALL of our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES to get the billions they need so Donald can hand it out to his favorite billionaires AND so Musk Rat can destroy Federal Government agencies that HE WANTS TO CONTRACT TO HIMSELF….”so let it be written, so let it be done”….and here we are!!!

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Lyn's avatar

Good idea and Trump did whisper to the president of el Salvador that he. will need bigger or more prisons for the home grown criminals, he must have meant himself and his cabinet :)

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MollyWhitebear's avatar

Yup. They certainly are home grown and DEFINITELY they're criminals. All of them.

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Dennis McAtee's avatar

I can't wait to see who the government throws out as their "Fall Guy". Should be interesting. Probably some young lawyer who won't see it coming, but will be promised some large "something" and will never see it. Trump doesn't pay his debts!

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MollyWhitebear's avatar

I have a feeling it may be Little Marco.

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Dennis McAtee's avatar

I hope you are tight. He deserves to spend some time behind bars. Then maybe he won’t be so fast and loose with “Due Process “” in the future.

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Dennis McAtee's avatar

Right

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James Burnham's avatar

Trumpler can be stopped only by force. The constitution and the laws do not apply to him.

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Zoni's avatar

Sheesh. What happens next determines how a good chunk of our future will turn out. I find it interesting that e want the criminals out and our president is exactly that.

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Lyn's avatar

The absolute irony!

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Darla Kaiser's avatar

Yes 🙌🏽

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KAT's avatar

Is it true that Trump can pardon a criminal contempt, but not a civil contempt? Why file it if he’s just going to pardon it?

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Karen Mortensen's avatar

It wouldn't necessarily be on Trump directly. It could be on DHS Secretary Kristy Noem or border czar Tom Homan. Or perhaps others. But maybe Judge Boasberg would hold Trump in contempt - I really don't know. It will be interesting to see what happens, and "interesting" is putting it mildly.

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SandyG's avatar

I didn't get the impression from the judge's decision that he would cite Trump himself for criminal contempt. And I'm pretty sure Trump CAN pardon anyone so cited. I've asked AG to confirm that.

Kat's question is a good one. "Why file it if he’s just going to pardon it?"

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Kris's avatar

The opinion skips over arguably the best option, hold a further hearing with subpoenaed government witnesses, when they don’t appear or do appear, but give testimony that’s inadequate, Boasberg could find the government or witness in civil contempt and have court security apprehend the government representative on the spot and detain them in the courthouse jail until they purge the contempt. Even though the contemnor sits in jail it is nevertheless civil contempt because (it is said) the keys to jailhouse door are in the hands of the contemnor who can purge his contempt and be released at any time.

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Karen Mortensen's avatar

Ah, I think I was trying to read too fast! I totally agree with you. Kat has an excellent question. I hope AG gets back to you with an answer on that. It really would be a travesty if no one could be held accountable.

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Lyn's avatar

Principal, it maybe part of adding up to an impeachment once on the record it can't be denied later maybe??

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SandyG's avatar

OK. I suppose if he hurts enough Americans and his approval drops to the low 30s, that would break the hold he has on the House.

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KAT's avatar

He can’t pardon himself, but he can pardon others so hopefully it’s on him. Otherwise it will have no meaning To file contempt

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SandyG's avatar

In which case we go through due process to get SCOTUS to rule if he can pardon himself or not, something that's never been adjudicated.

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Lyn's avatar

But he already has immunity he doesn't need a pardon Judge Roberts saw to that

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SandyG's avatar

Meaning he can't even be cited for criminal contempt?

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Karen Mortensen's avatar

Yes, I see your point now! I didn't read your comment well enough. 😂

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Lyn's avatar
Apr 16Edited

It looked like it was aimed at plural numbers to me

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CJinAK's avatar

My greatest worry is that as the wait grows longer and longer by the day that Garcia and others who are packed into that torture prison don't make it back at all, or come back completely broken mentally, physically, or dead.

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Danny Piper's avatar

I have to wonder if the SCOTUS' Presidential Immunity Ruling laid the groundwork for this Constitutional Crisis. The President is immune, so contempt or any other charges mean nothing. He's doing his Presidential duties, so he's immune, according the SCOTUS.

I find this fascinating from a Constitutional perspective. We've got the whole Due Process issue. I think they should make Reality Show... Real Capitol Hill House Knives of DC.

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Dennis McAtee's avatar

I suggest all read this, authored by Joyce Vance-https://open.substack.com/pub/joycevance/p/legal-ethics-nerds-weigh-in?r=58ocxg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

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Amanda's avatar

High crimes, anyone? Congress, are you listening?

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MollyWhitebear's avatar

Unfortunately, in Congress the MAGAts are in charge.

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Becky Schnaufer's avatar

There’s just one small problem: Insofar as it authorizes such an appointment, Rule 42(a)(2) is almost certainly unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s current separation-of-powers jurisprudence. And current doctrine aside, I think that it’s also inconsistent with more fundamental separation-of-powers principles. I sympathize, deeply, with the idea that the government’s behavior in J.G.G. demands a remedy. But there are compelling reasons, grounded in other fact patterns, for why we should be wary of giving even the most principled and responsible federal judges the power to override DOJ decisions to not prosecute criminal contempts of court. I realize that this viewpoint will strike at least some readers the wrong way, especially at this moment and/or in this case. But especially as the proper scope of judicial power becomes more important by the day hour, it seems no less important to also articulate the proper limits on that power, too.

This came from Steve Vladeck. Substack

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alison copeland's avatar

My question is if they say it was trump who did it, and the court has already given him immunity from prostitution for official acts while president what happens next?

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Lance Khrome's avatar

Love Judge Boasberg use of the word "contumacious", which covers a lot of territory in describing the government's conduct in his courtroom...top marks all round!

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