emptywheel: Finally, Everyone Is Talking about Trump's Obstruction on January 6
https://www.emptywheel.net/2021/12/14/finally-everyone-is-talking-about-trumps-obstruction-on-january-6/Finally, Everyone Is Talking about Trump’s Obstruction on January 6
December 14, 2021/101 Comments/in 2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection /by emptywheel
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But for the moment, it seems that all three branches of government — prosecutors charging obstruction, judges affirming the viability of the application, and senior members of Congress invoking it as part of the January 6 investigation — agree that the events of the day may amount to obstruction.
Back when I begged TV lawyers to start focusing on this application, I laid out the things that Trump had or may have done, that might be proof of obstruction.
Encouraging the Proud Boys to believe they are his army
Personally sowing the Big Lie about voter fraud to lead supporters to believe Trump has been robbed of his rightful election win
Asking subordinates and Republican politicians to lie about the vote to encourage supporters to feel they were robbed
Encouraging surrogates and campaign staffers to fund buses to make travel to DC easier
Using the January 6 rally to encourage as many people as possible to come to DC
Applauding violence in advance of January 6 and tacitly encouraging it on the day
Recruiting members of Congress to raise challenges to the vote count
Asking members of Congress to delay evacuation even as the rioters entered the building, heightening the chance of direct physical threat (and likely contributing to Ashli Babbitt’s death)
Asking Mike Pence to do something unconstitutional, then targeting him after he refused, virtually ensuring he would be personally threatened
Possibly muddling the line of command on which civilian agency would coordinate response, ensuring there would be none
Possibly taking steps to delay any Guard response at the Capitol
Possibly ignoring immediate requests from help from leaders of Congress
The January 6 Committee has already collected evidence demonstrating many of these issues, for example, the efforts to sow the Big Lie, including coordination with Congress, reveling in the collecting mobs, directing Guard deployment in ways that would support the insurrection, the unbelievable pressure on Mike Pence to violate his oath to the Constitution. In the interim four months, the press and Committee have identified other potential means of obstruction, such as ordering Alex Jones to bring his mob to the Capitol.
This is not a guarantee that Trump will be prosecuted. But all three branches of government now agree on the framework with which he might be held accountable.
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Last edited Wed Dec 15, 2021, 11:38 AM - Edit history (1)
and I can't wait for the public hearings in the new year. Truth will out and there will be consequences 
And I plan on watching every bit that I can. Stocked up on popcorn, this is a five bag event!
wondered about. Think November 12th... How in the world did they know that it was the safest election ever. Just as a layman struck me as way too soon to make that determination. I mean I'm glad they said it but if I was the other side I would definitely say how would you know at that point. Shhh
“The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double-checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result,” the coordinating bodies on election infrastructure and security said in a joint statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).