'Merrick Garland shivering under his desk': Former officials slam DOJ for lack of action

[samsingh]

on ‘criminal’ Trump

Several former U.S. government officials are expressing concern and outrage over what they see as the Dept. of Justice and the Biden administration's lack of action to protect the fundamentals of American democracy, including the lack of prosecution of the former president, Donald Trump, and those who supported and engaged in the planning of the January 6 insurrection.


Former Clinton White House press secretary Joe Lockhart on Monday pointed to Donald Trump's apparent admission Sunday night that he intentionally obstructed justice by firing then-FBI Director Jim Comey. Lockhart, now a CNN political analyst, lamented the Dept. of Justice having "no interest in bringing [Trump] to justice."

"Why should anyone have confidence in our system of Justice where lawyers lie to get on SCOTUS and criminals walk free," he asked.

https://www.rawstory.com/merrick-garland-shivering-under-his-desk-former-us-govt-officials-slam-doj-for-lack-of-action-on-criminal-trump/
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What does trump have to do before the Justice Department takes concrete action? 2022 - everything shuts down and we can begin to wave good-bye to Democracy. Where is the public outrage from our leaders? Do they care?

[FreepFryer]

1. Rawstory pushing a story that perpetuates a false image of Democratic weakness? I'm shocked

And stunned

[samsingh]

2. Have any charges been levied against Republican leaders? Shit flynn is preaching treason

and nothing has been done. His brother is still a senior general and apparently held back the national guard.

Who in Congress has been charged?

[Evolve Dammit]

23. correct

[Progressive Jones]

22. Nothing has been done so far except to hand out probation to fucking traitors

who attacked the United States.

No charges against Trump yet? Huge failure.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. Joe Lockhart doesn't know shit.

Garland isn’t going to send Lockhart, or any other Democrat who thinks they are important, a personalized daily bulletin on the status of ongoing investigations.

[George II]

10. Exactly. Didn't Lockhart watch what happened in Michigan last week? The DA announced charges and....

....the Crumbleys went into hiding and might have tried to get into Canada.

Maybe Lockhart wants Merrick Garland to invest in a Bat Signal or hire a skywriter to let everyone know what he's doing minute to minute.

[Budi]

7. No it doesn't

"Get ready to be lambasted. DU welcomes only Garland apologists"

[BigmanPigman]

9. The two main offenders are no longer allowed on DU.

[sheshe2]

14. Perhaps you wish me to be gone as well.

I supported and appreciated the knowledge that they both gave light to here. I knew them on and off DU.

I do not agree with the bashing of AG Garland.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. And rightfully so!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

24. BINGO!!

[George II]

33. Who might those "two main offenders" be? Surely you know since it's "rightful", right?

[sheshe2]

38. Crickets.

[George II]

71. Again, who are you folks talking about, did I miss something?

[Autumn]

46. They were just one person is what Earl G said.

[revmclaren]

65. Can you post the link to EarlGs post saying this

or even better, if EarlG is reading this thread, can you let me know what happened?

Thank you.

[Rob H.]

67. Here it is

…in this OP. EarlG explains everything.

[revmclaren]

68. Thank you.

[George II]

31. As you put it, "DU welcomes" those who objectively look at the accomplishments....

....of Democratic public figures and don't pre-judge what they're doing based on uninformed media reports. Surely we all know that Garland is doing a lot more than he's telling the general public AND those his department is investigating.

[Budi]

5. Rawstory & the US AG armchair quarterbacks!

Not one of them has the data that AG Garland has in front of him, the missing pieces, nor the mucked up mess Bill Barr left for Garland to somehow fix before beginning to build an airtight case against Trump & everyone that he reached in protecting himself 1st.

Rawstory for the clicks!

[PortTack]

44. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

Imagine what would happen if charges were brought and they didn’t stick!

[Haggard Celine]

6. It's now or never...

[msfiddlestix]

75. Sort of looking like never....

when the moon turns to cheese? when hell freezes over?

or maybe we'll get the JFK assassination investigation reports treatment.

"To Be Released in the year 2121? or sometime when it won't matter anymore,.. cuz things changed and no one alive now will be around to give a shit.

[Haggard Celine]

78. It feels like that, for sure.

This year has been frustrating as hell. I'm giving them until early January. I can understand not doing anything over the holidays, but something's got to give after that's over.

[BlueJac]

8. What has he accomplished?

Why not publish the Mueller report, the Kennedy documents, and everything else that they are hiding. Doing this does nothin g to expose the truths everyone is looking for.

[mjvpi]

30. I agree, the Mueller Report should be released as un-redacted as possible.

It is a historical document. He should be challenging gerrymandering and voter suppression now. I believe that DOJ just did in Texas.

I’m willing to be patient on Trump and 1/6. This summer will be a perfect time to watch it hit th fan

[PortTack]

47. The DOJ has sued GA over their voter suppression law, and just today announced they are suing

TX over Redistricting maps

Justice Department to Announce Voting Rights Enforcement Action

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216118957

[George II]

72. BuT wHaT iS hE dOiNg?

[msfiddlestix]

77. well that is something.

now we can watch these die a slow death as time marches on and we have a system in place to make sure this kind of thing gets slow walked into the next decade. initially hanging on to hope that things will be sorted out correctly in time before that last nail is hammered.

[Girard442]

11. I'm so old I remember everyone promising that Robert Muelller would rain down fire and brimstone.

We didn't even get cayenne and jalapenos.

[madville]

18. I'm so old I remember when Dick Cheney and GW Bush were gonna be tried

for war crimes! And Dick Cheney was gonna be prosecuted for the Plame affair! And Bill Clinton was going to federal prison for perjury!

[Evolve Dammit]

25. Nothin' Absolutely nothin' Rich white guys own this place

[onecaliberal]

19. 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Celerity]

27. Mueller was clearly well past his expiry date, and I recall so many on here being attacked when they

voiced legitimate concern and scepticism. It was often done in the same fashion and manner as some are now attacking anyone who dares utter even the most mild of concerns in regards to the J6 investigations.

I have hardy been a 'hair on fire' poster in regards to Garland or the overall investigations. In fact I have not often commented on it much at all, but I do see similarities in some of the responses here.

[Autumn]

34. Fitzmas was better. And that one fizzeled out on us.

[Beachnutt]

12. Meanwhile

the midterm clock is ticking..

[mcar]

13. Garbage

[sheshe2]

15. Bazinga.

[TeamProg]

17. As long as the charges STICK when they're presented. n/t

[MerryBlooms]

32. Lindsey Graham was also neck deep in

Pressuring Georgia along with Trump, seems he's been completely forgotten.

[doc03]

56. That is one that I have been wondering about, not one damn word about

Lindsey. WHY! So far Garland has been a huge disappointment.

[MerryBlooms]

57. I think Garland came in to DOJ with a mess

Bigger than anyone anticipated. I have been disappointed in the Jan 6 charges, same as some judges. I just don't what to think right now. I am hanging onto hope for serious charges against big players...

I was going to check tonight for an update on that perv, Gaetz is going. I've been working a lot, but haven't seen any headlines when I check major outlets.

[wnylib]

37. When did Dem bashing get removed from the tos?

[sheshe2]

43. You noticed that too.

SMH.

[wnylib]

50. Some are beginning to sound like

RW trolls, trying to divide Dems.

[sheshe2]

52. Yes.

[SoCalDavidS]

58. Exactly! Let's At Least Wait Until After. nt

[sheshe2]

53. You noticed that too.

SMH.

[msfiddlestix]

76. Where is the Dem bashing going on in this thread?

Is Garland a Democrat? I'm not sure I recall him declaring party affiliation.

and when did expressing calls for justice become associated with party bashing in context and meaning?

[wnylib]

84. According to a Q & A at quora,

Garland is a Democrat. He has worked a few times in private practice, but his entire public career has been associated with Democrats, from speech writer for an Illinois Dem Congressman to clerking for SC Justice Brennan and receiving judicial appointments from Carter, Clinton, and Obama.

I have read on other threads a ridiculous claim that Garland is a Federalist. There is nothing wrong with stating specific disagreements about a Dem elected official or appointee. But I am reading a relentless flow of complaints that Garland is not competent, that he is not doing anything, that he can't handle the current situation, and that Garland is single-handedly dooming us to a fascist takeover. All of it is based on nothing more substantial than anxiety over the fact that Trump is not in prison yet. No one offers any substance to back up their hand-wringing condemnation of Garland.

The complaints look like a huge emotional pile on, aka bashing.

[yaesu]

21. In normal times Garland would have been a perfect choice for AG, fair, balanced, trustworthy

but these aren't normal times, enemies are at the gates, we are fighting for what is left of our beaten up fragile democracy. We shouldn't have a republican compromise in that office, we need a firebrand progressive defender of democracy & the rule of law. Unlike the Rolling Stones song we don't always get what we need.

[Meadowoak]

39. We need a pit bull, not a poodle!

[wnylib]

40. Well, it's not like he has experience

with investigating and prosecuting terrorists to know how to proceed.

Oh wait ... What happened to that McVeigh guy and his friend Nichols?

[Poiuyt]

45. I'd rather see Garland as a SC Justice than where he is now

[Evolve Dammit]

26. We are watching democracy slide through our memories each day indictments are not brought.

[paleotn]

28. How long must we wait for obvious...ADMITTED...crimes to be prosecuted? How long? Seriously?

I understand building a case that will stand up in court, but freaking Jebus on a stick, this guy builds the goddamn cases for you. Just run video and audio of his admissions. Done. The prosecution rests. Ugh. How long? Can someone tell me how long it will be??????

[wnylib]

48. There is more to saving democracy than

prosecuting the 1/6 terrorist attack.

I am guessing here since, unlike some posters who appear to have inside knowledge of what Garland is or is not doing, I don't have such contacts.

But here is something to think about. Timing and public support versus public rebellion matter in holding the country together. The public Congressional hearings that Liz Cheney has promised will bring out the dirty details on TV for the general public. Most people do not follow details the way we do on DU.

Prosecution after the details are publicly known would go more smoothly. The RW attempt to turn trials into a circus will be cut right out from under them. Plus, the Select Committee is providing evidence and witnesses through their investigation that can be used in grand jury presentations and in prosecutions. Showing TV film of Trump admitting to obstruction of justice in firing Comey is not strong evidence. A defense lawyer can poke holes in it.

Besides, the most immportant crime to be prosecuted is the insurrection which, done successfully, will pull down several people with Trump, including members of Congress. Like the walls of Jericho, they will all come tumbling down. Afterward, the lesser crimes can be prosecuted as an extra bonus.

All just before the midterms.

[hadEnuf]

29. It's been said before

Garland is a consigliere, but apparently not a wartime consigliere. And that's what we need right now.

[Fullduplexxx]

35. Justice Department Closes Emmett Till Investigation Without Charges

See garland IS doing something

[George II]

41. Point?

[Fullduplexxx]

42. The doj is doing stuff

[mainer]

36. If only Sally Yates were in charge.

I bet we’d see more action.

[AverageOldGuy]

49. The Jan 6 coup attempt was a dry-run for the 2024 coup -- which will succeed

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/january-6-insurrection-trump-coup-2024-election/620843/

[kentuck]

51. My thoughts on this...

Sometimes I have wondered if the DOJ is going too slow?

Sometimes I have wondered if it would not be better to put pressure on them to act?

Naturally, the MAGAs would love to see the liberals attacking Garland, but they would not want to see Trump charged.

After much thought, I have concluded that the political reality is such that it is best to pick off all the "accomplices" around Trump before going after him. His "base" doesn't really care about Bannon, Mark Meadows, or any other of the criminals that surround the former criminal-in-chief.

But, in my opinion, it will not take that long. Someone will break the silence and the secrecy and spill the beans. So long as Garland and the DOJ are charging the associates of Trump, then I believe they are on the right track.

[ecstatic]

54. I hate to say this (again), but Pres Biden will be 100% responsible

when this country is attacked and overrun by magat terrorists. He appointed Garland as a token of appreciation (I guess) and now it's becoming more clear by the day that Garland isn't up for the task. MAGAT organizing and radicalizing should be taken just as (if not MORE) seriously as any other threat this country faces. These trump loving assholes are armed to the teeth and have a presence in all levels of the government and law enforcement, including in the military.

I am a super loyal Democrat and I support Biden, but since the election I've already lost the right to have my vote counted and now it looks like my right to control my uterus will be next. At a certain point, silence and complacency is no longer an option. I can't shut up and wait. This is all happening while Democrats control the White House, the House, and the Senate. I'm tired of excuses and I need them to do something NOW, while we still have the chance. Change the fucking Supreme Court. Get rid of the filibuster. Do WHATEVER IT TAKES, FFS!!!

[leftstreet]

59. +1

[Silent3]

60. Agreed! n/t

[traitorsgalore]

63. Agreed

It's why Biden's approval numbers are so low too.

[Grasswire2]

66. Did you have a chance to see David Plouffe on 11th Hour tonight?

I'm sorry, I don't know if Plouffe is considered IN or NOT IN the niche on which many DU-ers hang their hats these days -- I don't keep up with personality favoritism of centrists.

But Plouffe, who was campaign manager for Obama, stepped down pretty hard on the priorities of the Biden administration tonight, ending with the fact that bridges and airports can wait, but protecting the VOTE must take priority over the BBB and all the rest of the economic agenda.

Soon, Biden will be blamed for the progress tfg and his criminal gang are making toward violent authoritarian rule. I'm not at that point. But the populace is increasingly agitated about the silence and perceived complacency. Ron Klain can't keep a lid on that tension forever.

[Beachnutt]

69. +1

[Paladin]

73. Well said! My sentiments, exactly.

Democrats can no longer afford this Goody-Two-Shoes behavior. We're surrendering what's left of our democracy to the trump goons.

[Texaswitchy]

74. Time to kick ass.

Garland was picked because of the Supreme Court.

[MerryBlooms]

55. I think it's BS drawing President Biden into

This criticism. President Biden has Zero to do with what cases DOJ and/or Garland are investigating or bringing forth. President Biden has been hands-off DOJ, unlike traitor Trump. The negative saturation from the media on President Biden needs to stop, and stop being supported by folks who are supposed supporters of our President.

[Ohio Joe]

61. Oh yay... We are back to bashing Garland...

Sheesh...

[revmclaren]

62. And Biden it seems according to some up post.

How things have changed on DU. Freedumb to bash Democratic leaders.

[iemanja]

64. I don't think the DOJ will ever prosecute Trump

I don't think Biden wants them to either. I've said for a while that the only chance is from NY state, though that seems to have fizzled out.

[msfiddlestix]

83. It feels to me you are likely correct. I don't think he has the appetite or desire, so we are

going to have fight for our rights as if we are in the minority on permanent basis.

Maybe that's the way we have to look at the struggle. we have to be our own leaders on every front. Which isn't new. But it is exhausting. Requiring young blood to carry on.

But the younger generation of activist have their own agenda which will supersede ours, cuz it's the nature of the beast. And we already are seeing that play out in Congress. How do we bridge young bloods with us older folks who get that without our democracy, we won't be building bridges where they're actually needed, just whatever the wealthy class will deem to be suitable for their own agenda.

this is where we are, because this is where we have been.

Only now it's more heightened, more extreme, and more dangerous.

[maxrandb]

70. Raw Story cutting and pasting Politico

It's the literary equivalent of mutual masturbation.

Once this story hits Faux and Hate Radio, it will be like The Human Centipede