What is happening with the January 6th hearings, and with the latest upcoming release of

[JohnSJ]

Woodward’s new book, is there anything that trump can be charged with?

[DonViejo]

1. The only thing the book can do is be informative...

and lead to further investigations

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Looking forward to Kevin's testimony. Nt

[Loge23]

3. Probably not

I wrote a piece about this recently here.

There are (or so I thought) many legal proceeding aimed at the former game show host, but nothing seems to be getting any traction.
We all know he was "Individual #1" in the Michael Cohen case, but POOF! that disappeared, seemingly along with the sexual misconduct allegations from a dozen or so women.
Obstruction of Justice? Sure seems so, but alas, not enough for the DOJ.
OK then, what about the Georgia case - tampering with the election down there? Nah, nothing to see there either apparently.
Well then, surely there's the tax fraud thing - doesn't Congress have the returns? Well yeah, they do, but maybe they saw some of the same things they get away with in those returns, so, no.

In the meantime, he's still out there, still stirring up shit, still lying, still inciting his idiot base.
AND NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!

The latest Woodward book continues with the outrages detailed in Woodward's previous books on this horrendous administration. Nothing was done about any of that either, so don't expect anything out of this.

Is anyone else getting the feeling that the political establishment is protecting itself, however odious the consequences or crimes?

[Bettie]

4. Yep.

I do get that impression along with that feeling when you hope you are dead wrong, but have that gut punch feeling of knowing that is probably not the case.

[StarfishSaver]

5. I don't think so

Because criminal charges, especially in extremely high profile, high stakes situations like this, take a long time to build.

It's not true that "no one is doing anything about any of this." Grand juries have been convened, prosecutors in New York are preparing charges, numerous investigations are going on at the federal and state level, dozens of lawsuits have been filed, etc.

FYI, none of the sexual misconduct allegations you reference are legally actionable - either criminal or civilly - at this point.

The fact that Trump hasn't been indicted yet is not alarming to me given the nature of his wrongdoing and the importance of getting it right. I'd rather wait while they get it right than enjoy the brief satisfaction of a quick indictment only to be let down by quick dismissals or acquittals

[empedocles]

8. Thank you

[Loge23]

12. Appreciated

I appreciate your optimism and respect your opinion.
Actually, the Summer Zervos defamation suit is still, as far as I know, ongoing. It is a civil case.
Similarly, the E Jean Carroll defamation suits grinds on as well, no thanks to the DOJ that is arguing in favor of the defendant, claiming immunity due to the Federal Torts Claim Act.
And that is my biggest fear in these and the other dozen or so issues still unsettled; that the game show host will announce his candidacy and all of these matter will stall again. After all, we don't want interfere with an election, do we? Hillary, please don't answer that!
I'm not a legal professional but some of these issues have been grinding along since the election in 2020, some before that. It's difficult to believe that this will lead somewhere other than the circular file bin.
American's must have the answers before more damage to credibility is done, and as soon as he declares, all bets are off.
I do agree - whole-heartedly - with you that solid indictments will be worth the wait, if we make it that long.

[StarfishSaver]

13. Thanks for this

A few thoughts -

The Summer Zervos and E. Jean Carroll cases are, as you noted, defamation cases, not sexual misconduct lawsuits.

The election was less than a year ago and Biden has been in control of the government for just eight months. Criminal investigations can take years, if done right. I don't think this will take that long, but I think it's unrealistic for people to expect a matter as complicated as this to have been wrapped up by now.

We also need to be mindful of the fact that when charges are brought against Trump, they need to be done all in one fell swoop. I doubt that the prosecutors have any intention of charging him in drips and drabs - it will be in one large and comprehensive indictment. So, it's very possible that they have enough to charge him on one thing or another, but are waiting to be able to pull everything together at one time and some investigations take much longer than others.

And while I understand people's frustrations, I am also frustrated with the "Absolutely nothing is happening because I can't see it happening and nothing is ever going to happen because it's not happening now because I can't see it happening" lamentations. Not only are they based on erroneous assumptions, they also imply that the Biden Administration and, by definition, Biden himself, are somehow complicit in or indifferent to Trump's wrongdoing.

[doc03]

6. I get the feeling the House is dragging their feet

to delay any hearings on January 6th until the 2022 campaign season. It took the Republicans 2 weeks to have their showboat hearings on Afganistan. It's been 8 months since Jan 6th.

[JohnSJ]

7. I think those Afghanistan hearings you are referencing are by Democrats, specifically Menendez

[StarfishSaver]

9. The hearing on Afghanistan was convened by the Democrats

Last edited Tue Sep 14, 2021, 07:39 PM - Edit history (2)

And it was convened by a different committee exercising different jurisdiction then the committees looking into January 6th. Oversight is very different than investigation. The House Foreign Affairs committee, which held the Afghanistan hearing, is conducting oversight and such hearings are much easier to move very quickly. Committee investigations are much more complicated and involve considerably more than just having hearings

[Sneederbunk]

10. Does not matter. Trump will never be charged with anything.

[StarfishSaver]

14. Of course

Just like Democrats were never going to impeach Trump and DOJ was never going to do anything about the new Texas abortion lawsuit law.