If You Were Merrick Garland

[gab13by13]

What Donald Trump did with classified documents is the crime of the century, most likely worse than that. Trump is still out there at rallies fueling the insurrection, gathering momentum. Trump could be indicted for numerous crimes, some are complicated, some are pretty cut and dried. If I were AG and watching what Trump has done to our national security and what he continues to do, I would pick a cut and dried charge, obstruction of justice re: the classified documents he stole. It carries a 20 year sentence.

I would not wait until after the election, Trump is not waiting, he is not on the ballot and he continues to pose a threat to our country with his incendiary rhetoric. If I were Merrick Garland, I would send a message to Trump and his insurrectionists, I would indict Donald Trump within the next 2 weeks.

Indicting Trump would also send a message to Magats who hold positions to certify elections that they will be held accountable for fudging the results.

This country may not survive waiting until after the election. I am sick and tired of hearing about patience and ducks in a row. There comes a time when traitors to our democracy need to be held accountable. The time for waiting is over, the time is now. Justice delayed is justice denied. How many years would it take to actually bring Trump before a jury? 2 years? 3 years?

I refuse to turn on TV and watch Steve Kornacki for 2 months, doing so is sweeping what Trump did under the carpet. We can do 2 things at once, GOTV and indict Trump.

[Brainfodder]

1. Held as flight risk sounds about right?

The charges if listed out, probably way past 1,000 items?

[SheltieLover]

5. Not to mention a clear & present danger!

On many levels!

Lock him up!

[Blue Owl]

2. K&R

I fail to see the wisdom in letting this MAGA disease continue to fester and spread -- let's deal with it now!

[brush]

8. This. He's starting with the rallies again to excites the sycophants

We've already seen the trumper nut try to invade an FBI office with a nail gun then die in a corn field. Yesterday one stole a plane (didn't know how to land it) and threaten to crash it into a Walmart. He lost is nerve and had to be instructed down by an actual pilot.

My point being there are plenty of crazies out there who are going to start acting out more and more as trump keeps turning up the heat. Time to stop it. Hope Garland throws the book at him soon so he gets the idea that he'll never be president again.

[brooklynite]

3. If I were Merrick Garland...

Last edited Sun Sep 4, 2022, 06:02 PM - Edit history (1)

I'd be ignoring angry bloggers and preparing an ironclad case that would convince a jury without simply saying "we know he's guilty; the prosecution rests".

[gab13by13]

14. I think there are more than a handful of Democrats who feel the way that I do.

Go on liberal radio and listen to the callers. Trump's rally got more MSM coverage than our president's national address.

They are sweeping this under the rug and people who say keep waiting are falling into the Magat trap.

How long would it take to get Trump before a grand jury? Then how long before a jury? 2024? 2025?

Meanwhile our intelligence assets have been compromised, to put it nicely.

[brooklynite]

38. I don't care what callers on liberal radio say, any more than callers on right wing radio...

I want the job done properly.

If you believe they are actually "sweeping this under the rug", your duty would be to contact President Biden and demand that he replace Garland.

As for "how long would it take"....the serious Watergate prosecutions took about two years to come to trial.

[BlackSkimmer]

42. Tfg's rally got more threads on DU than Biden's speech too.

Go figure.

[LakeArenal]

23. Check!

[onecaliberal]

4. Letting him continue while America lies on the ground bleeding out is senseless.

[CrispyQ]

6. The Friday before a three-day weekend would have been a great time to arrest him.

Our allies are watching & IMO the longer we delay in shutting him up, the weaker we look. They're already worried we might re-elect the asshole.

Our side has too much reverence for the office of the president along with fear of being cast as partisan by the media. No one can demoralize the dem base better than the dems. If we lose the House Biden will spend the next two years dealing with investigations & impeachment hearings.

[gab13by13]

15. Yes, why would our foreign allies share intelligence with us?

Trump installed his traitors all over government. One of them is judge Cannon, who I bet grants the Special Master just to slow everything down.

[tikka]

33. How many MAGAtS would give up a holiday for Traitor 45?

Would they really do anything to spoil their holiday plans? They would complain and whine at their BBQs, fishing trips, or whatever. I imagine that a few die-hards would protest as they did after the MAL search.

[Takket]

7. waiting until after the election is bullshit

we should not be playing politics with national security.

besides the election is two months away. it isn't like it is next week.

and the DOJ has known about the documents for MONTHS before they seized them. So don't tell me that after months of trying to let drumpf do the right thing on his own, that now that DOJ has forced the issue, it is too close to the election to do anything about it.

[Chainfire]

9. If I were Garland, I might have to grow a beard.

Looking at my face in the mirror might be too painful. Lock him up, lock him up now.

[relayerbob]

10. Fortunately, you are not Garland

You have exactly ZERO clue about what is happening with these investigations. We all want instant gratification, but he wants to see justive served, whatever charges stick and to take down the organization.

[gab13by13]

16. Define instant? 2 years? 3 years?

How many more of our foreign assets have to die before Trump is held accountable?

[LakeArenal]

24. Yep.

[Joinfortmill]

32. 👍

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. If I were Garland? I'd do this:

I wouldn’t indict Trump before the election, as it would likely energize the MAGA base and increase turnout for Republicans.

I would mostly cede the public arena to the J6 committee, other than continuing to issue subpoenas for the grand juries for both J6 and MAL espionage.

I would tell my teams to prepare to indict at least some of the coup architects, fraudulent electors and espionage enablers ASAP after Election Day, with the expectation that one or more defendants would flip, cut a plea deal, and provide critical testimony facilitating the indictment of Trump in early 2023.

Also, if I was Garland, I wouldn’t GAFF about what anyone on DU thought or felt about what I did or didn’t do, or when I did or didn’t do it.

[gab13by13]

17. It was proven in the 2020 election

that taking on Trump increased Magat turnout, but it increased Biden turnout more. President Biden got a much larger turnout than Hillary, and yes, Trump also got a larger turnout.

[Fiendish Thingy]

22. Not suggesting ignoring Trump

Dems should follow up on Biden’s speech and make November a referendum not only on Trump, but on democracy.

But Garland shouldn’t be a tool in Dems’ November toolbox.

[gab13by13]

25. I get what you are saying

but to me our national security and our democracy take precedence over politics.

When Democrats took Trump on it inspired his base to turn out, I agree, but it inspired more Democrats to turn out than Trump voters.

[Joinfortmill]

34. 👍

[kentuck]

12. It seems he can beat the system when there is only one charge.

As he did with the 2nd Impeachment. That was a cut and dried case and the Senate voted to acquit.

Perhaps it might be wise to charge him with every crime he has committed and let a jury sort out each of them individually? That way, he would have a difficult time defeating them with his PR skills.

[bluestarone]

13. I'm glad i'm NOT Merrick Garland, for sure

We sit here hoping and wondering WHY he hasn't gone after TFG yet. Number one I do not know the WHOLE story of this investigation, BUT hell there MAY be even BIGGER fish than TFG himself! I just gotta trust the type and speed of this investigation! I AM 100% sure (in my mind) that the DOJ wants TFG GONE! Looks are very deceiving from our advantage point! I have NO alternative but to trust this man, and investigation!

[gab13by13]

19. It has nothing to do with Merrick Garland's character

he is an honorable patriotic American. It has to do with pulling the trigger on deciding whether to indict Trump or not. The argument that DOJ needs more time to gather evidence just doesn't cut it, time is up. I do not believe that Merrick Garland has decided yet whether he will or won't indict Trump. It is a momentous decision, I do not begrudge him what he is up against.

[empedocles]

20. Every week shows progress. Meadows, a very key player, just released stilll more emails.

The case against trump and trumpers seems to be getting stronger by the week. Good signs

[Generic Brad]

27. He is facing decisions way more complicated than a Trump indictment

Trump cannot be tried like anyone in history. Jury members would be subjected to top secret information they are not authorized to hear. And then if they were allowed to hear it, their lives and the lives of their families and associates would be in permanent mortal danger. How does innocent until proven guilty work when the accused may have the ability to destroy all of us?

We have a hole in our legal system that never envisioned a president being the biggest criminal in the country's history. They may just have to arrest him and hold him indefinitely in custody with no rights. But that violates everything the DOJ is sworn to uphold. We are not supposed to throw political prisoners in jail. We can never really have a trial on this.

Justice and the law are two very different things.

[bluestarone]

36. True for sure!

Decisions may have to be made on Just which way to prosecute this FAMILY! (i do mean family) It's HUGE, what has taken place the last five and half years. I'd settle for whichever way would be the best to deal with this type of UNAMERICAN family, plus RETHUGLICON congress people. The BIGGEST thing right now is to win in 22 and 24, or it's over! (my personal belief)

[Joinfortmill]

35. 👍

[EndlessWire]

18. I think Merrick Garland should

go after the two attorneys who stated all the docs were given back, when they were not. This might tend to cause a test of the search warrant, which is going to occur, anyway.

Also, it might turn the attorneys. Unlike MAGA, these two can think a little clearer, and will be searching for a way out that doesn't involve them going to jail. They might shed some light on the whole episode. Punishment? Sure, just not near as much.

[gab13by13]

21. DOJ has already gone after the attorneys.

There was discussion that one of the attorneys may be a witness, but it was not confirmed.

Goodness gracious, the search warrant has already been validated a thousand times over.

[EndlessWire]

26. Done without filing?

You always get something in writing. Cooperation may be offered in advance, but you never know if they will stick with it without something looming over their heads.

The search warrant has not been validated in court. Yes, they have a valid warrant based on the affidavit. But, that's tricky. Invalidate the affidavit, invalidate the search warrant. They have stated as much that they intend to file against the warrant, and DOJ is definitely expecting that. It doesn't matter that their chances are slim to none. The point is, they will do it.

The attorneys don't deserve anything better than their own day in court. You can't obstruct justice and lie to the FBI. Everything that Trump touches dies. They are looking at their careers dying, all because DJT wants to play fast and loose with the PRA rules, and found someone dumb enough to trust him.

[Ohio Joe]

28. Don't you think he should finish the investigation?

Their filings make it clear they are not done… Seems to me they should finish first.

It’s not like an indictment will shut him up and the old ‘trial now, evidence later’ thing often fails… It’s TFG’s way of doing things. I do not support such nonsense.

[stopdiggin]

41. +1. well put.

all signs indicate that this thing is steaming along at a very solid pace ...
The media is providing extensive and solid coverage on legal bombshells and shoe-drops (which was the big hue and cry 3-4 weeks ago) ...

And we still seem to want to tell Garland how to do the job.
Have to say that I am reasonable satisfied with the way things are unfolding - and the job performance.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

29. I think that brooklynite put it well above.

Garland should proceed when he feels he has an ironclad case.

I'd prefer a broader array of charges to a limited indictment (all things considered) in the interest of justice, but if the strategic judgement was to nail TFG on narrow charges based on very high odds of getting a conviction, I'd live with that as well.

Going into court and losing because a case was incomplete would be a disaster that must be avoided.

I fully trust Garland's judgement.

[Treefrog]

30. Maybe contact him with your advice?

I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

[stopdiggin]

43. Snort! (I think you're suppose to add the little 'sarcasm' thingee)

[Joinfortmill]

31. I think Biden's speech is a prelude to indictments.

[kentuck]

37. If it is only one charge, no matter how "ironclad", he will probably beat it.

He needs to be charged for all his crimes.

IN a couple of more weeks, he will have many people believing that stealing classified secrets is no worse than a late library book and certainly no worse than what Hillary done. The media will re-enforce his message.

In my opinion, he needs to be charged with a minimum of four crimes. Obstruction of the Electoral Votes process, seditious conspiracy, election fraud, and espionage with willful intent to obstruct FBI investigation.

I'm sure there is more.

[Meowmee]

39. Fortunately I am not MG

And I don't have specific knowledge of what is going on. Nor can I tell which is the best time to proceed or if it will even precede. I do feel this has all taken too long to come to this point.

I do know that we look crazy, unreliable and weak to the world that that monster is walking free continuing selling our secrets, I believe he already did that while prez and maybe before, with fascists in our government still supporting him while he spews his crap all over the media.

[JanMichael]

40. I wouldn't wear white after Labor Day?