DOJ will not charge Meadows, Scavino for refusal in Jan. 6 committee probe: report

[William769]

Source: The Hill

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will not be charging former Trump White House officials Mark Meadows and Dan Scavino for refusing to cooperate with the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, The New York Times reported, which cited a letter it reviewed on the matter as well as people familiar with the prosecutors’ decision.

The Friday letter that the Times reviewed was communication between U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and House General Counsel Douglas Letter, the latter of whom was told about officials’ decision, according to the newspaper.

“Based on the individual facts and circumstances of their alleged contempt, my office will not be initiating prosecutions for criminal contempt as requested in the referral against Messrs. Meadows and Scavino,” Graves wrote in his message to Letter, according to the Times. “My office’s review of each of the contempt referrals arising from the Jan. 6 committee’s investigation is complete.”

It is a huge development given that former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier on Friday, and had been voted to be held in contempt of Congress alongside Scavino, a former deputy chief of staff for communications for former President Trump, in April.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/doj-will-not-charge-meadows-scavino-for-refusal-in-jan-6-committee-probe-report/ar-AAY3Zjq?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=5336dec0cef44549b36dff096ccf2c4a

---

[Mz Pip]

1. This

is why we can’t have nice things.

White collar criminals get aways with their crimes.

[JohnSJ]

2. Someone suggested that perhaps they won't be charged with contempt because they have agreed or given

give testimony

[William769]

3. That would take some of the sting away if true.

[JohnSJ]

5. I would like to think that is the reason

[Frasier Balzov]

13. Meadows turned over a cornucopia of helpful (i.e. damaging) stuff.

The Committee wouldn't have made nearly the progress it has peeling the onion without what he gave them.

[former9thward]

26. You don't know any of that.

[Frasier Balzov]

30. Maybe you're right.

Just the text messages which told them where else to look.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/mark-meadows-texts-2319/index.html

[Scrivener7]

33. The committee wants him held in contempt. They are less impressed with his

contribution than you, and they know what his contribution is, while you don't.

[Frasier Balzov]

41. They crave his testimony.

But the U.S. Attorney has made a determination which takes into account Meadows's level of cooperation to date.

And, presumably, its value to the work of Committee in uncovering the truth.

[Scrivener7]

43. Trust the plan!

[Warpy]

4. Charging him with contempt of Congress was a chump change charge

I think they've got enough on the guy to put him away for years.

Plus, he did turn over his documents and other materials, which sort of puts him into the "cooperating" category.

I suppose he thought he'd come up with an unbreakable code for his messages. Oops.

[William769]

7. I think they have enough to imprison the majority of that administration.

Including TFG.

[LonePirate]

14. DoJ will never indict, let alone arrest, a former president.

Could underlings like Meadows go down for crimes besides contempt? Maybe. However, there is no way DoJ will ever file charges against a president, be it a former or current one.

[William769]

16. Then that is a sad day For Democracy.

That will let more Jan 6's happen.

[dchill]

17. I don't see why not.

[Frasier Balzov]

31. Who commences the case to disqualify Trump from the ballot?

The Democratic National Committee?

[Lonestarblue]

35. Unfortunately, at this stage I agree with you.

The DOJ should have been doing a simultaneous investigation independent of what Congress is doing. While they have finally called a grand jury for some aspects, there has been no indication so far that they’re going after the top people. I truly hope to be wrong.

As for Meadows, he did turn over some papers but refused to testify any further or to turn over remaining documents. The refusal of DOJ to prosecute for contempt just means that people like Jordan and others will also refuse to testify.

[Warpy]

39. Not a DOJ with an AG appointed by an incoming administration

People are going to have to wait a very long time to see TFG charged with treason, which is what he actually did, levying war against the US by inciting violence to overturn an election he didn't like.

No, Meadows, if he cooperates (and he'd be a complete fool not to) will put most of TFG's inner circle behind bars, isolating TFG from his support network. Even if he manages to ricochet from golf course to pep rally and back to golf for a few more years, it will be worse than prison.

He'll be a prison god, the crook who pulled off the biggest con of all time. I don't want that. I want him old and broken when he goes in.

[former9thward]

27. And when are they going to arrest him?

To put him away for years?

[Scrivener7]

34. Sure. No matter what the DOJ does, there is some Q-ish explanation for

why we should just keep believing that something Yuuuuge is about to happen to bring the criminals to justice.

He broke the law publicly. Congress asked that he be indicted. The DOJ let him skate. In a way that assures everyone else that shows contempt for Congress that this is a okey dokey thing to do.

[Magoo48]

6. They should be charged if for no other reason than they did ignore the subpoenas.

[LudwigPastorius]

25. Exactly.

This weakens Congress' ability to investigate wrongdoing by the executive branch.

Prosecutors can always opt to dismiss the indictments later if a judge agrees to it.

[Orrex]

8. Wow! Garland is certainly holding them accountable!

I should have listened to all the cheerleaders who've scolded me for my lack of faith in The System. Look how well The System is working!

I'll bet these traitors will think twice before doing any more insurrections, yessir!

[William769]

9. I love your sarcasm. Although I hate the reason why.

[Grasswire2]

10. crickets!

I hear crickets!

[LonePirate]

15. To think we could have had a fighter and a defender of justice like Doug Jones in the position.

[NullTuples]

44. The first THREE sets of crimes by Trump have already run out the clock.

By that I mean the statute of limitations has already run out; Trump is likely now untouchable on those crimes.

I wouldn't hold your breath for holding any of the accountable, given that the AG has his own Federalist Society listing.

https://fedsoc.org/contributors/merrick-garland

Granted, there's a disclaimer:

A person listed as a contributor has spoken or otherwise participated in Federalist Society events, publications, or multimedia presentations. A person's appearance on this list does not imply any other endorsement or relationship between the person and the Federalist Society. In most cases, the biographical information on a person's "contributor" page is provided directly by the person, and the Federalist Society does not edit or otherwise endorse that information. The Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues. All expressions of opinion by a contributor are those of the contributor.

But it still means he is or has been a contributor to their efforts. Specifically, at the very least a repeat moderator for their events.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/civpro/2016/03/judge-merrick-garland-was-a-repeat-moderator-for-federalist-society-events.html

We can only hope that he's merely naïve and is willing to moderate anybody's events.

[RockRaven]

11. The executive branch likes to preserve the privileges of the executive branch when it comes to

conflicts with Congress. Navarro is a fringe figure (despite his omnipresence on cable "news" channels) compared to the WH chief of staff or deputy.

[William769]

12. Whatever happened to no one is above the law?

[dchill]

18. Nothing. People still say it all the time.

[William769]

19. Saying it is one thing...

[dchill]

20. Well YEAH, I know THAT! 😃

[RockRaven]

23. It remains a polite fiction amongst half the country,

while the other half doesn't even bother paying lip service to it anymore.

[CaptainTruth]

21. And when someone says "they never face any consequences" remind them that...

...all of us, as Americans, have the right to impose consequences that affect them for the rest of their lives.

It's not difficult to find out the kinds of things you can legally do, there are lengthy books published about it (hint), all it takes is a bit of effort.

[gab13by13]

22. The select committee is not happy.

Our democracy is slipping away.

[LudwigPastorius]

24. The executive branch eroding and undermining the subpoena power of Congress...

I know the three branches like to fuck with each other, but c'mon! This really is a situation in which our country and its democratic institutions are at stake.

[dalton99a]

28. Maybe the DOJ has a rule that no one is to touch Trump's capos

[Steve Canuck]

32. This is a complete failure at the hands of Garland.

While I predicted this for awhile, the fact that they came out and said it really has some mixed feelings for me.

While I'm impressed the DOJ was at least honest about it, I'm disgusted by the fact that Garland knows he can pull this shit, and still know that there will be supporters of him, hopeful that he'll one day take down Trump.

[Owl]

37. +1

[Deminpenn]

36. DoJ is methodically working its way up the chain

Meadows and Scavino, to a lesser extent, are only 1 step from the top. There is no point in DoJ charging either of them with what amounts to a misdemeanor charge when there are much more serious crimes being investigated by the current GJ.

There is nothing preventing a chief of staff from being charged with a crime. Remember Haldeman and Erhlichman went to jail.

[msfiddlestix]

40. Yesterday, a little slice of hope was restored, today that has been shattered...

perceptions confirmed with a gut punch.

Ok. well that experience isn't new. Kind of a lifer when it comes to these outcomes.

Only political optimism I have is for my state of California, ballot cast a couple of weeks ago, ballottrax emailed, called and texted that my ballot has been received/counted. I read fabulous early reports and it's looking very very strong for Dems.

I'll just savor that and hope that we can isolate ourselves from the ramifications of christian fascists take over of SCOTUS, the barking mad socio/psychopaths in the house and senate.

DOJ is what it always was, pretty much.

[Eyeball_Kid]

42. A person brimming with optimism would likely react

to this news by saying that the DOJ's decision is "strategic", that it's likely laying the groundwork for future prosecutions by using Meadows and Scavino as credible witnesses in future trials.

But who knows?

[Jilly_in_VA]

45. OK, I was willing to cut Garland some slack

because I figured he was being methodical. No more. FIRE MERRICK GARLAND!

[kentuck]

46. We are now left with only two options:

Either they will be charged with a bigger crime or they will not be charged at all.

Both had access to information coming out of the White House. There is the chance they are turning over that information.