Garland Memo Doubles Down On Barr Policy On Investigating Candidates - Rachel Maddow - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Rachel Maddow shares a newly obtained May 25, 2022 memorandum from Attorney General Merrick Garland to Department of Justice employees about "policies with respect to political activities" that doubles down on Bill Barr's policy against investigating candidates without approval. Aired on 07/18/2022.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. A nothingburger

Nobody in Trump’s orbit who was involved in January 6 is celebrating tonight.

[elleng]

2. Doug Jones: Lots of chatter about the leaked May 25th Garland memo to DOJ personnel. Here's my take.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216942463

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Thanks so much! Doug Jones is always on top of things, one of our best and brightest!

[elleng]

4. Happy to see it.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. About a month ago, Bill Maher's panel discussion was comprised of Doug Jones and Ali Velshi

They also joined up for the Overtime segment, answering viewer questions. I don't even remember which one the question was for, but they both joined in answering the question in such depth that Bill finally cut them off which was a disappointment to me. Two of the most impressive minds to appear on that show - Malcolm Nance was the third.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Barr's memo was in response to Comey's being pond scum and helping to elect TFG

Part of Barr's memo was due to the extraordinary and insubordinate actions of James Comey. Comey helped elect TFG. Barr was in part responding to the fact that Comey violated DOJ procedures in both his July press conference and the reopening of this investigation just before the election violated DOJ guidelines and were extraordinary and insubordinate

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/ig-report-clinton-email-investigation/index.html

The Justice Department’s internal watchdog found that former FBI Director James Comey’s actions in the Hillary Clinton email investigation were “extraordinary and insubordinate” and flouted the department’s norms but that Comey was not motivated by political bias.

The inspector general released a sweeping report Thursday detailing a series of failures by the top federal officials in charge of the investigation ahead of the election, concluding that the FBI’s actions ultimately “cast a cloud” over the bureau and senior leaders did lasting damage to the FBI’s reputation.

The damage caused by these employees’ actions extends far beyond the scope of the Midyear (Clinton) investigation and goes to the heart of the FBI’s reputation for neutral factfinding and political independence,” the report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz states.

A key finding: Comey erred in his decision not to coordinate with his superiors at the Justice Department at critical moments. Horowitz said that Comey was “extraordinary and insubordinate,” and did not agree with any of his reasons for deviating from “well-established Department policies.”

But Horowitz concluded that the prosecutorial decisions in the Clinton case were “consistent” with precedent and not affected by bias or other improper actions.

The report is likely to reopen wounds left festering since the 2016 election and breathe new life into the debate over the extent to which Comey’s actions secured Trump’s victory.

Barr's memo is trying to correct the actions of Comey

Lets be real. The DOJ is not going to indict TFG without the approval of Attorney General Garland. I was nt really upset at Rachel's report tonight

[Rhiannon12866]

7. You're right and this makes perfect sense

My only issue is why TFG is still free to hold "rallies" to grift and lie when those who answered his call to storm the Capitol are already doing time. And I also agree with a post made yesterday that said there ought to be a rule that someone who attempted to overthrow the government should be ineligible to run to lead that same government.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Read the memo & it reads like a standard HR policy reminder

Link to tweet

[Rhiannon12866]

9. That's also what Doug Jones said. Thanks!

[onetexan]

14. Perfect!

[orleans]

6. oh god! thanks & let's add this one to the mix

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Thanks! He absolutely nailed it!

It makes sense that DOJ wouldn't want to repeat the mistakes made during the 2016 election by adding a political issue, but he is completely right that "reupping" any Bill Barr policy would be a mistake.

[Kablooie]

10. So we should wait until Trump is president again before dealing with it.

Garland is playing heavy duty Republican partisan politics if he allows the coup leaders to go unpunished for fear Republicans might be displeased.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Former Senator Doug Jones had a calming take on this:

Link to tweet