My nose is twitching . . . . why are so many TFG loyalists suddenly testifying?

[Stinky The Clown]

I can't imagine it is out of any sense of duty or because they're friends of justice and the rule of law.

Today's name is Stephen Miller.

What's up with that?

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Rats.

Sinking ship.

They trying to find a way off.

[Joinfortmill]

25. Yup

[calimary]

26. That was my first thought.

They're seeing the writing on the wall, and hoping to prevent it from being for them.

[Traildogbob]

41. The ship

Is abandoning the sinking rats.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Deals?

[hlthe2b]

3. The arrogance of thinking they can outsmart the committee and everyone else?

I too hope they are seeing the risk building for at least some of them to face charges and they are trying to get ahead of that.

But for a figure like Stephen Miller, I'd have to think an ample dose of arrogance is at least partially at play.

[exboyfil]

8. It worked for Mueller

Don't put it past them to skate on this one too.

[musclecar6]

16. Yeah

If anybody thinks he's smarter than anyone else, it's him. Problem is, that commitee along with the democrats probably won't get anywhere, as the republican party ( with a few notable exceptions) are as bad as TFFG.

[agingdem]

19. the J6 committee is not dealing with the best and the brightest...

they're talking to arrogant, evil, and stupid..."yes, we did it and if it wasn't for XYZ, we would have pulled it off"...

[TheBlackAdder]

4. Trying to get the better deals before shit is revealed that's even more damning?

[Carlitos Brigante]

5. The pessimist in me tells me they're just gonna make a really big,

really stupid performance show for their cult leader.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. Because they were kept distanced from the Pig's insurrection planning and can't say anything harmful

[agingdem]

21. and like porcine Billy Barr

they are attempting to rebrand themselves as victims and saviors... "Trump was a delusional idiot"...never liked the guy"..."I stood up to the Trump..I threaten to resign"..

[Mz Pip]

45. But will vote for him again

I don’t think much will come of this.

Miller is an arrogant little prick and probably thinks he can shine it on. I don’t put it past him lying.

[agingdem]

48. Liars for Trump..

Shit-stain Miller will more than likely claim executive privilege but if he does deign to speak whatever he spews will not be blockbuster...the committee has the receipts..they want the little prick to lie...

[JHB]

7. Basic "cover your a**" stuff.

Whether it's performance art for the fog machine or actual bailing to save themselves, it's all covering their backsides in one way or another.

[SmallFry]

9. I'm going to guess that one thing they have a slightly better idea of than we do...

Is where Garland is at in his investigation. Garland has made his intentions clear, he is working from the ground up. We know he looking at politicians and the people around them. Garlands investigation has hit that mark and these people know it. I'd be willing to be the two are connected.

[Joinfortmill]

24. Agree

[ShazzieB]

47. Makes sense.

[Native]

10. After Javanka testified for so many hours, I'm thinking they are thinking it's their best option.

[Nevilledog]

46. Agreed

[Hoyt]

11. Suspect most of them have nothing to offer, so why not testify? Unless one of them personally

directed the storming of the Capitol or saw trump sketch out a Sharpie of where Proud Boyz, etc., should enter the Capitol, they don't have anything that will hurt themselves or trump.

[Achilleaze]

12. Plunking the magic twanger?

[Backseat Driver]

34. LOL - that's what I say when I push Mr. Coffee's button in the A.M.

In just minutes - presto-chango! and Ka-Ching! - the magic elixir of life's in the pot!

[LonePirate]

13. Is it really testifying if they are not under oath and have no penalty for perjury?

[Scrivener7]

14. Nose is twitching is right. Perhaps something is up. I dearly hope so.

But, as I have always said, I will believe it when I see it.

[bottrott]

15. Spinning a counter-narrative is in line with what they do

With all the news of hesitation on the part of the committee to make a criminal referral, why not throw more mud at the issue and widen the gap that wedge has already created? The evil folks the dimwitted coiffed one surrounded himself with weren't all as dumb as he. Rat F*ckers gonna f*ck rats and you can bet if they see an opportunity to cause chaos in that committee, they will. Miller I see as attempting to get a shot at being a live witness for public hearings where he'll pull some nonsense a la Gym and the rest of the sedition caucus.

[barbtries]

17. my guess is

their covering their own asses. by now there are people who have suffered some consequences for their blind loyalty to whats his face.

[2naSalit]

18. At face value...

It's a form of delaying tactic to keep the Comte from going public as long as possible.

[BigOleDummy]

29. Yep

Exactly. My first thoughts also

[Sneederbunk]

20. If you are not under oath, what do you have to lose?

[Blue Owl]

22. Junior's nose is twitching too -- but for a different reason...

[Joinfortmill]

23. Public hearings will be show of century

[gaskinite]

32. Like I've said before

I hope the committee hires some Hollywood production pros. This thing is too big for simplistic hearings and testimony.

[True Blue American]

42. I read yesterday

The committee might start public hearings in May.

[bucolic_frolic]

27. They believe they got their story straight

So yes be suspicious

[Raven123]

28. Are we sure they are testifying? Interview does not equal testimony.

If they aren’t under oath, it doesn’t count.

[H2O Man]

30. Respectfully disagree.

Knowingly lying to Congress, even if one is not under oath, is indeed a federal crime, per Section 1001 of title 18 of the United States Code.

[Raven123]

35. Yes, but NYT, reported no transcripts of interviews with Trump lawyers

[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/us/politics/trump-lawyers-jan-6.html|

I’m just not sure these interviews are as significant as we would like to believe.

[H2O Man]

36. Here is the answer:

https://www.mololamken.com/knowledge-Is-It-a-Crime-To-Lie-to-the-Government-Even-If-You-Are-Not-Under-Oath

[H2O Man]

38. PS:

I am unable to access the NYT article, but will look for a similar report.

[H2O Man]

40. Here is one I found,

from before they testified. It is from before the two testified, and so there is no mention of a transcript. Still, I would note a couple of important factors for consideration. First, they were White House lawyers, not Trump's lawyers, a distinction that was made important as a result of Richard Nixon. I will agree that this distinction has not always been respected by lawyers in the Trump misadministration, with Attorney General William Barr being a prime example.

However, both Cipollone and Philbin were strongly opposed to the attempt by Trump & Co to overturn the election results. They made clear to Trump that they and others would resign in protest if Trump attempted to place a cooperative Trumpite in charge of the DOJ. Thus, their converstions with the Committee were informal, and very likely to be followed up with formal, transcribed testimony if the Committee determines that is needed. Indeed, that will certainly happen if others -- like the scumbag who is the topic of the OP -- lies to the Committee.

[Skittles]

31. self preservation

remember the caliber of people they have to be to support Trump in the first place

[H2O Man]

33. +1

[lastlib]

37. D'ya s'pose Merrick Garland is offering them immunity to squeal on TFG?

[plimsoll]

39. Think Oliver North.

I think they believe that if they testify to the committee they can muddy their legal jeopardy enough to evade actual incarceration. Sure it's technicality, but they were innocent doncha know.

[dchill]

43. I think it comes down to having seen...

...a list of people who have already testified. Time to make a move.

[speak easy]

44. ...