So, is Trump siccing Barr on his political enemies?

[JohnnyRingo]

After watching Rachel Maddow last night I did some reading between the lines. First she did a piece on how Putin sent police out on 200 raids resulting in hundreds of arrests of members in the opposition.

Next was the story of Andrew McCabe and how every member of the Justice Dept from William Barr on down signed off on intent to prosecute but nothing has happened since. A couple lawyers have since resigned citing a flimsy case.

We know that evidence was taken to a grand jury, but we don't know the results. She had to stress that there could be a number of reasons for the apparent dead end including a secret indictment, but it's possible the GJ failed to find probable cause to take it to trial. We could be waiting for Barr to seat a more compliant jury of MAGAs.

What I'm wondering is whether Trump handed Barr an enemy list with instructions to find crimes and send them to prison no matter what it took. We already know Trump has made such threats against Hillary since day one, but how much is happening now behind the scenes with his loyal attack dog in the Attorney General position? Who's next?

Is this really happening, or am I reading too much into it?

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Yes.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. It would only surprise me if he weren't.

[Flaleftist]

3. Of course, he is.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. I was a little unclear

whether they are actually pursuing charges or *can* pursue charges. I guess we won't really know for sure until charges are *actually* filed. At that point, we should have a better idea on what's going on. I do wonder, though, how constrained Trump might be in terms of actually filing charges on his opponents due to the fact that a discovery process could open up the gates of hell on Trump and other weird stuff going on in the FBI, DOJ, etc.

[malaise]

5. Are their 16oz in a pound?

Get thee to the greatest page

[hlthe2b]

6. I believe so, which is why I was shocked that so many DUers were seemingly celebrating at the

prospect that McCabe was going to be indicted. I don't get it. When he was fired it seemed there was a consensus that he'd been a political victim and there was considerable sympathy for him.

[dalton99a]

7. The Attorney General is now the president's personal enforcer.

Everything is normal

[usaf-vet]

30. 21st century Nixon enemies list with a Putin touch?

We have to get rid of Putin's puppet and his band of grifters.

[ChicagoRonin]

8. Trump adjusted his playbook: Swapping lawsuits for prosecutions

I think you're onto something. I think Trump might be attempting, through Barr, to use the threat of investigations and prosecutions to silence his enemies. He might not even care if he could put anyone in prison, legally or not. I think for a lot of people in politics, just the threat or the pain of having to defend oneself from an investigation might be enough to keep them compliant. It's the political equivalent of Trump's lawsuits and countersuits against those who cross him in business: He doesn't care if he can win in court, since he can sometimes just torment his opponents by forcing them to expend time and money on defense.

[leftieNanner]

11. Especially for the IC

If they see McCabe being charged, they may hold back on pursuing any further investigation into The Orange One.

Scary stuff!

[2naSalit]

9. That's what appears to be the theme...nt

[RAB910]

10. Absolutely, under Barr the Justice Department has become Trump's SS

[ScratchCat]

12. I'm starting to wonder

If Republicans like McCabe and Comey, who clearly took steps to harm Hillary Clinton electoral chances, simply thought they'd prevent HC from becoming POTUS but that the GOP House&Senate would do the exact opposite of what they have done and remove Trump within a year and Pence would just be President.

When either speaks, they clearly seem to believe Trump shouldn't be President. But they had a chance to stop that before he became President - but they instead took actions they knew would harm HC. This leads me to that possible conclusion -"lets just stop Hillary from being President, and no worry about Trump, they'll just remove him since he hardly had 50% support to begin with". I think they were playing both sides of the game hoping they could stop HC prior to the election and then have Trump removed afterwards.

[world wide wally]

13. Typical Trump strategy.

First he makes an outrageous claim (3 million illegal votes)
Then he uses his power to appoint an investigative committee.
Then he loses because they find NOTHING, but he claims it has proven his point.
He wants all of his political opponents in jail. Watch his M.O.

[Takket]

14. yes....

but this is a dangerous game drumpf is playing. it is easy to tweet out to your foaming at the mouth followers that so and so should be in jail but bringing a case with basically no evidence that a crime was even committed to court means you actually have to PROVE something and if Mccabe came back with a suit of his own for malicious prosecution....... could get ugly especially if the House supprots him by putting Barr under oath and asking if there was any push on him to bring forward the charges.

[leftieNanner]

27. They can try to put Barr under oath

But he will refuse to testify, and will refuse to answer any questions if they do get him in to a hearing. Until some of these MFs are held accountable for their stonewalling and face actual fines and jail time, they will continue this behavior. Run out the clock. In other words, "So Make Me!" is their motto. It's worked so far.

[Wounded Bear]

15. Is the Pope a Catholic? nt

[moondust]

16. Follow the leader.

[maxsolomon]

17. I predicted show trials the night he was elected.

This is what Authoritarians do. Every institution corrupted to serve the leader's whims.

[sandensea]

18. Lawfare - a favorite tool of authoritarians since Tiberius at least.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/113324622

[samplegirl]

19. Yes and it

seems to be getting worse. Barr is the lapdog for sure!

[PhoenixDem]

20. Barr is a consigliere to the Trump crime family

and straight out of central casting

[GoCubsGo]

21. Obviously.

It's been obvious for some time now. The McCabe thing is going to blow up in their faces, now that they're going to have face an actual discovery process.

[The Wizard]

22. Mussolini did shit like this.

How'd that work out for him?

[usaf-vet]

31. How long did it take for it to "work out" for Mussolini?

[KPN]

23. No question in my mind. tRump has always been vindictive when it comes to anyone who opposes him,

or who represents a danger to his continued life of corrupt excess, or has disappointed him by not being loyal to him 100%.

This is absolutely happening!

[lame54]

24. Yes yes yes...

And it's damn scary

[Hekate]

25. Well, yeah. Trump has signaled his intent loud and clear at every turn. ...

I am absolutely not surprised -- this monster admires dictators, wants to be a dictator, and feels no reatraint on his behavior.

[justie18]

26. Exactly!

And worth a rewatch of Kamala Harris' questioning of Barr, asking those very questions. He squirmed, big time.

[gordianot]

28. I am tempted to say this is daycare to avoid tantrums.

Even then it may result in something far worse than placating the deranged orange oaf.

[H2O Man]

29. Recommended.

You are definitely NOT reading too much into it. A few months ago, I posted an essay here on DU:GD that detailed a series of meetings and phone conversations between Barr and Trump, that took place between the time Barr interviewed to be Trump's personal attorney, and his appointment as AG. In these meetings, the topic of Trump's "enemies list" was central. This is every bit as ugly and corrupt as you think.

[usaf-vet]

34. So that means the Republican party is compliant

So that means the Republican party is compliant with going after folks on the enemies list?

They do realize that any one of them could be added to Trump's enemies list via a midnight Twitter rant.

One mistake can move you from the friend to foe list with the click of a button from the deranged vindictive person in the White House.

Don't believe it just look at NOAA employes who became the enemies while doing their jobs of reporting ACCURATE weather reports.

Or Bolton friend to foe overnight.

Trump is unstable and he has an enforcer willing to do his bidding. Barr is a dangerous man who is willing to ignore his Constitutional duties to serve the unstable president.

[H2O Man]

35. Right.

They are. They know the deal, but don't say a word.

[spanone]

32. K&R...

Bullies always seek revenge. trump is the bully's bully.

[lsewpershad]

33. Yes

[ElementaryPenguin]

36. Yes, and I think he sicced him on Michael Avenatti also!

Not that Avenatti is any saint - but I doubt it was a coincidence.