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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMerrick Garland's DOJ leaks
Nothing leaked about the DOJ probe into Rudy Giuliani, until his home was raided. Nothing leaked about the DOJ probe
into Matt Gaetz, until Gaetz himself went public about it in order to fend off someone who was trying to extort him over
it. Nothing leaked about the DOJ targeting Roger Stone, until his driver cut a cooperating plea deal out of nowhere.
Nothing has leaked to explain why Paul Manafort was pulled off a plane. Nothing leaked in advance about the DOJs
arrest and indictment of the Oath Keepers leadership or the Proud Boys leadership.
If you stop listening to the pundits and look at the actual facts, it becomes very clear that this DOJ does not let anything
leak. It operates in total silence and secrecy until its probes reach a point where something like an arrest, or a raid, or a
court hearing for a cooperation deal, forces things to become public. Short of that kind of specific action, the public hasnt
been aware of any of these DOJ probes that were chugging along in secrecy.
And this is just what we can see from the outside of the most secretive criminal probe in modern history. Are we really
supposed to believe that other people havent also flipped? Cooperation deals are often kept secret for as long as
realistically possible, to keep the targets from knowing that the cooperator can no longer be trusted. Every time news
has surfaced about the DOJs January 6th probe, its been clear that weve all been three steps behind in terms of
knowing whats going on.So were just supposed to trust that Garland knows what hes doing? Many of you have
decided hes massively and depravedly incompetent, or suspiciously compromised, and youre basing it on nothing at all
beyond hearing opportunistic pundits constantly bash him in generic fashion.
God forbid any of these pundits tried to educate you on how the process actually works. Its easier to bash the DOJ for
how long its taking to indict Giuliani, for instance, than to explain that after the FBI seized all that evidence from his
home, the courts held up the DOJs receipt of much of that evidence for eight months for the sake of a privilege battle.
If you dont like that its taking so long for Giuliani to be arrested, and you want to be factually accurate about it,
blame the courts not the DOJ.
Entire article here, long read......
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/like-it-or-not-this-doj-doesnt-leak/44587/
After doing a google search on "Merrick Garland speeches at the Federalist Society", what I found was several
anti-Garland articles on their web site, plus he appears to have been nothing more than a moderator (or referee)
at several events, not endorsing any views.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/civpro/2016/03/judge-merrick-garland-was-a-repeat-moderator-for-federalist-society-events.html
Scrivener7
(50,773 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)Perhaps the article should claim no republican leaks, just the Dems'
Similar to their keeping mum on the investigation into Trump prior to the 2016 election.
comradebillyboy
(10,119 posts)yardwork
(61,408 posts)We know that the Republicans are desperate to distract from Jan 6, Putin, Trump - all they have is Hunter Biden. I think it's fake news. Jmo.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)A leak like that in this climate should have two independent levels of verification. Who from CNN reported it?
Celerity
(42,643 posts)agingdem
(7,754 posts)and access means right wing "sources" eager to spill their garbage..and then the reporters (more like stenographers) send that garbage out into the ether as Breaking News..MSNBC's Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell are pretty much the worst of the lot...Garland's DOJ does not leak...please remember there are many Trump low level appointees still working in various government departments...it's no coincidence on the day Trump appeals to Putin to help him destroy Hunter Biden, CNN goes all in on the Hunter Biden investigation, an investigation spearheaded by Bill Barr at the behest of Trump...
TheRealNorth
(9,435 posts)The reporters are eager to get played because there really isn't any penalty for spreading right-wing bull shit.
I thought it was tfg flapping is gums and telling putin to release info on HB and not DOJ. Like you say , republicons are desperate to distract. The closer the 1/6 committee gets to facts the more they try to distract.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)global1
(25,167 posts)I was reading it at my dentist office waiting room. I quickly scanned this article and it seemed very negative with respect to Hunter.
Maybe somebody could find it and post that here.
CrackityJones75
(2,403 posts)Why would we post that article here? For what purpose?
global1
(25,167 posts)I like to know what is coming from the other side so that I can "Be Prepared" to refute any false claims or statements. It's my way of fact checking and being ready to counteract the negative that the other side is spewing.
In that spirit here at DU - I thought others might want to do the same.
That was my reasoning. I'm sorry I offended you.
CrackityJones75
(2,403 posts)You read it. You are prepared.
GoCubsGo
(32,061 posts)As someone pointed out elsewhere in this thread, one of those still-embedded toadies is John Durham. I'm sure there are a number of other individuals, who, much like Durham, are in positions where its nearly impossible to fire them. One of the reasons they were embedded was to try to ratfuck Biden's administration by doing things like leaking misinformation. I have zero doubt Trump had Barr instigate all kinds of investigations into every aspect of Hunter Biden's life. This thing is going on for four years. If it's "gaining steam, " it's probably because they want to wrap up the damn thing and get it off the books. And, as with the the non-existent laptop, there is likely no "there" there. If there was actual "dirt" or an actual laptop, I guarantee you we all would have seen it years ago, when it could have damaged Joe Biden's campaign. Has anyone ever actually seen that laptop? Nope. And, why would Trump be begging Putin for dirt if a four-year-old investigation was actually turning up evidence? It's absolutely a distraction from everything, including 1/6, Putin, Trump, GOP cocaine sex orgies, and probably other stuff that's about to drop. And, most likely, it's a distorted portrayal of what's actually going on, as these things frequently are.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)A Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden's business activities has gained steam in recent months, ....The probe,
led by the US Attorney in Wilmington, Delaware,
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/hunter-biden-federal-investigation-heats-up/index.html
David C. Weiss (republicOn) is the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
He was sworn in on February 22, 2018 (rump nominee) and started his probe into Hunter Biden soon afterwards.
Merrick Garland had nothing to do with it.
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)Why werent these vermin purged?
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)Just kidding, I believe they are appointed for X number of years,
plus it's almost impossible to impeach them.
former9thward
(31,801 posts)US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. They can be fired at any time.
Bill Clinton fired all the US Attorneys on the same day.
President Bill Clinton fired all 93 U.S. attorneys on the same day in March 1993.
Trump fired all US Attorneys hired by Obama on the same day
All US Attorneys Appointed by Obama Told to Resign
https://www.courthousenews.com/us-attorneys-appointed-obama-told-resign/#:~:text=President%20Bill%20Clinton%20fired%20all,gradually%20phase%20out%20holdover%20prosecutors.
The US Attorney in question is there because Garland and Biden wants him there. He could be fired at any time if they didn't.
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)Thanks
summer_in_TX
(2,680 posts)iluvtennis
(19,756 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,784 posts)There is a grand jury in Delaware that seems to have leaked about it, but is that a DoJ grand jury or a Delaware state grand jury?
I have not read the article in detail, just skimmed, but I think the DoJ info is not leaks from the Garland DoJ, but either before or are not leaks but info that must be provided in warrants and other court filings.
I'll leave somebody to go through it point by point.
Bettie
(15,997 posts)are the ones that might damage a Democratic president. Nothing on the right wingers.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/hunter-biden-federal-investigation-heats-up/index.html
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)Mr. Evil
(2,746 posts)As special council he's still technically connected to the DoJ.
So, there's that.
NotHardly
(1,062 posts)... DOJ ... Doing Junk forever.
Blue Owl
(49,906 posts)carrowsboy
(2,095 posts)Glad to see Garland and the DOJ have their priorities in order in going after a private citizen versus a former President and his government service associates who brazenly broke numerous laws and tried to subvert the peaceful transition of power.
I swear, they WANT Trump back in there.
mobeau69
(11,074 posts)gab13by13
(20,864 posts)True Dough
(17,090 posts)Gaetz would be indicted already. It's gone on forever and that turd keeps flapping his yap about Hunter Biden and promoting Trump. Get rid of him already.
sop
(9,945 posts)during his questioning of an FBI cybersecurity witness at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. He held up the receipt from the computer repair guy who gave it to the FBI, waving it around like a modern-day Joe McCarthy, then held up what looked to be a thumb drive. WTF?
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)This whole Hunter Biden laptop scenario is nothing more than an extension of IQ4.5 wanting
dirt on Biden from Russia & Ukraine. When repugs can't find dirt, they manufacture it.
True Dough
(17,090 posts)a grandstanding looney tune!
onecaliberal
(32,478 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)CrispyQ
(36,224 posts)I personally think it is less about Trump, than that there is a reluctance in the upper echelons to go after a former president. At least on our side. Their side has thrown the rule book in the trash.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)An a carefully orchestrated effort to Hillary Hunter Biden.
ZellyCabMem
(49 posts)Sure seems like McConnell got his boy at DOJ.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)Gets lively around here at times doesn't it?
ZellyCabMem
(49 posts)It Sure Does.
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)quakerboy
(13,901 posts)or if you prefer, actions (or the lack of) speak louder than words (or the lack of).
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)to listen in on all their wiretaps and see who says what when they think they can talk over the phones again.
Yes, I jest, but my serious point is there too, there's been little mention of the fact that the facts we already know, based on just public information, justifies a lot of warrants for wiretaps, etc. No doubt the DoJ is gathering new evidence in real time, phone calls, texts, e-mails, .....
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)Why would the select committee interfere in an ongoing DOJ investigation?
Why has the select committee subpoenaed people involved in the fake elector scheme? Did not the Michigan AG refer this matter to DOJ? So I ask again, why is the select committee intervening in a DOJ investigation, it surely knows that DOJ was given the criminal referral? In the words of former FBI officials, DOJ policy is not to let Congress lead the way in criminal investigations, it makes zero sense.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)And you surely know better than to call that interference. For all we know, the DoJ is using every single testimony under oath by the committee as evidence not just of crimes but to get search warrants, tap phones, etc. The committee has to subpoena, the DoJ can just bet secret warrants, and they can use anything the committee produces in near real time.
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)The select committee is doing a fantastic job, is doing work that DOJ should be doing. I don't remember which former FBI official was on Nicolle yesterday, but he said there is no way that DOJ would allow the select committee to interfere in an investigation they were pursuing, DOJ always takes the lead.
quakerboy
(13,901 posts)Given the record of Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Shrub.. theres a LOT of doubt that anyone will seriously go after a former president for even the highest level misdeeds or crimes.
ananda
(28,782 posts)I've been a little quiet about this issue,
but I have also wanted a faster outcome
regarding Trump and all the others involved
in 1/6.
It's hard waiting.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)Plus a lot of people are growing impatient with the speed of our legal system. Some sure would like to return to
the old west days where if you found a horse thief they were hanged within minutes. But as years passed we
got "innocent until proven guilty" and allow multiple appeals against courts & Judges to where we are today,
The smallest infraction against a guilty party proves they're innocent and sets them free, see Miranda Rights,
plus they can't be charged for the same crime again because they were found innocent once.
IMO, that's why our justice system is so slow today, have to make an ironclad case with no loopholes that can
be exploited. And when you add in that the DOJ is investigating IQ4.5 for attempting to overthrow our
Government, the crime of the century, DOJ has a lot of steps on that ladder to climb to get to the head
insurrectionist.
Patience is difficult to come by when we need a ton of it, IQ4.5 will still be a free man the rest of this year.
Hope this helps your waiting.
ananda
(28,782 posts)I play a lot of bridge these days.
That's what helps right now.
But I still have hope that somehow the wheels of
justice will finish grinding.
Jon King
(1,910 posts)Gaetz was supposed to be done when his buddy got a plea deal and had given a ton of information. Yet a year later, nothing. So its true about no leaks but until we see actual indictments and actual trials and actual convictions, it is what it is.
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)Gartz wasn't the target of the investigation, Joel Greenberg was. The reason we didn't hear about Gaetz was because Greenberg ratted him out to prosecutors.
Bobstandard
(1,279 posts)This faith in a known conservative Attorney General may easily be horribly misplaced.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,059 posts)LONG prison sentences for both.
Oh wait. They didn't/haven't. My bad.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)In deference to the DU Terms of Use, I've been more polite with my remarks, but I am glad you posted this.
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)You are speaking about investigations that were leaked. You aren't speaking of indictments.
Matt Gaetz was not the target of a federal investigation, his pal Joel Greenberg was, his pal Greenberg was indicted and we are waiting to see what happens with Gaetz. Those are leaks. What are the time lines that you speak of? We have known for many months about Gaetz. We knew the same day when Manafort was stopped from flying, that is pretty damn fast.
Your thread kills your argument that DOJ doesn't leak. You just gave half a dozen examples of where investigations were leaked.
Has Rudy been charged with anything? Has Gaetz? Has Stone? Has Manafort?
The militias involve physical attacks on our Capitol, no one disputes that DOJ went after them.
Something we do know, there were people who committed crimes and DOJ declined to prosecute. Something else we do know from this DOJ, a president who is accused of slandering a woman who is accusing him of rape is considered an official duty of the president of the United Staes according to Merrick Garland.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)Just 4 paragraphs from a long article that stated Garland's DOJ does not leak, granted my title suggested that,
was trying to get people to read something positive about the DOJ with all the negative going around.
Glad you're one of the positive responses.
Jetheels
(991 posts)committing crimes, as president, and as former president, in our faces, every fuking day.
Not to mention a history of getting away with anything and everything.
Besides, wouldnt there most likely have been leaks by now, by witnesses, if there was anything going on with DOJ?
And the Alvin Bragg thing.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)GFO with that bullshit.
calimary
(80,693 posts)iemanja
(53,001 posts)Worthless since its only role is to make Democrats feel better, and the truth be damned. I remember when they were a pro-Hillary site, and as much as I supported Hillary, I could see they were unreliable.
Mr. Evil
(2,746 posts)we've come to expect them.
I sincerely hope President Biden had a lengthy interview with AG Garland before he nominated him to make sure he'd be on the up-and-up and prosecute all criminal activity according to the law.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)That's a new one to bash Garland with! Seven post so far in this thread alone. And even more to illustrate how spot on the conclusions in the linked article are.
Never mind that Garland is not investigating Hunter.
former9thward
(31,801 posts)Whether Garland himself is involved I don't know.
Prosecutors Advance Tax Probe of Hunter Biden
Grand jury heard witness in February about past drug use, spending habits of presidents son
A federal tax investigation into Hunter Biden is gaining momentum as prosecutors gather information from several of his associates about the sources of his foreign income, including from Ukraine, and examine President Bidens sons relationship with a company that handled some of his finances, according to people familiar with the matter.
In recent weeks, prosecutors from the U.S. attorneys office in Delaware have sought information and grand-jury testimony about the money Mr. Biden received several years ago from Ukrainian natural-gas company Burisma Holdings Ltd., and how he used that money to pay some obligations, one of those people said.
Last month, prosecutors also extensively questioned at least one other associate of Hunter Biden about Mr. Bidens drug and alcohol use, spending habits and state of mind in 2018, another person said, suggesting prosecutors are exploring whether such activity would present a defense against a potential criminal tax case.
Prosecutors often seek to get such testimony on the record to secure it before the defense gets a chance to present it more favorably at trial. It doesnt necessarily mean an indictment is imminent, but it is indicative of trying to lock in testimony with an eye towards a potential trial someday, said former federal tax prosecutor Matt Mueller, of the law firm Fogarty Mueller Harris, who isnt involved in the investigation.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-advance-tax-probe-of-hunter-biden-11648465200
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)It is, per your source, prosecutors from the U.S. attorneys office in Delaware
former9thward
(31,801 posts)Whether he is keeping arm's length away from the investigation I don't know.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)Garland is not involved, period.
former9thward
(31,801 posts)But they are wrong. There are no "independent" offices in the DOJ. Garland is the boss of everyone there.
Response to former9thward (Reply #85)
Beastly Boy This message was self-deleted by its author.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)The district attorneys generals are appointed by the President, just as the US Attorney General is. Biden is their boss, not Garland. The district AGs are not part of the US AG's office. They are part of the US Department of Justice, but not the US AG's office. The only connection these independent offices have to the US Attorney's office is the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, whose director is appointed by the US Attorney General. (https://www.justice.gov/usao/staff-profile/eousa-director-monty-wilkinson)
Now tell me where you are getting your theories, and how they are not wrong.
former9thward
(31,801 posts)You will notice US Attorneys are towards the bottom in the center. Their boss is AG Garland.
Beastly Boy
(9,059 posts)Are you telling me that Garland is involved in running federal prisons too?
Yes, I was wrong when I said US AGs are not under Garland's umbrella, but Garland is still not involved in running their investigations.
former9thward
(31,801 posts)And he does have knowledge of and supervises US Attorneys' investigations. But whatever gets you thru the day....
UCmeNdc
(9,589 posts)Typical DOJ
LudwigPastorius
(8,943 posts)be just as let down on Merricksgiving.
wryter2000
(46,016 posts)But why are they not enforcing subpoenas? Does this office suggest they're doing that in secret and we just don't know about it?
pecosbob
(7,502 posts)getagrip_already
(14,231 posts)Otherwise they stand on principle.
dchill
(38,320 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)getagrip_already
(14,231 posts)Secrecy around declination decisions frustrates me. I understand they have a policy of not revealing a decision to not prosecute (Clinton would be potus today if they did it then), but there should be some middle ground.
High profile cases should be publically closed, perhaps without detail, but it should be done. Then congress can hold closed hearings to get more specifics.
As it stands, we are left frustrated not even knowing if everything is shut down.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)DOJ is hiring more attorneys because of it and they are keeping their lips sealed about.
It is frustrating not knowing how far along they are..
getagrip_already
(14,231 posts)iemanja
(53,001 posts)That they made public.
getagrip_already
(14,231 posts)They started the investigation in 20¹9 and are only now in front of a grand jury.
Evidence and witnesses are probably all kgb sourced.
iemanja
(53,001 posts)resisting subpoenas? Are we supposed to believe they are going along with some super secret mumbo jumbo prosecution? You know, like they've done about with all the others we've read in the news.
Schiff says they are not prosecuting, and he knows what he's talking about, whereas the Palmer Report is one of those sites that's sole purpose is to appeal to the wishes and egos of Democrats.
Biden has also said that he doesn't want Trump prosecuted. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/president-elect-biden-wary-trump-focused-investigations-sources-say-n1247959
pecosbob
(7,502 posts)https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/03/30/jan-6-fbi-subpoena-justice/