In a special election today, voters reelected Tennessee state representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, whom the Republican supermajority in the state house voted on April 6 to expel for their participation in a demonstration in favor of gun safety. “Well, Mr. Speaker, the People have spoken,” Jones tweeted. The Tennessee legislature will convene on August 21 for a special session.
Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke during a stop at the Indiana State Fair, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Indianapolis:
“I don’t know if the government can meet the standard, the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt for criminal charges,” he said. “But the American people deserve to know that President Trump and his advisers didn’t just ask me to pause. They asked me to reject votes, return votes, essentially to overturn the election.”
He and his lawyers are already polluting the jury pool by trying out their potential defense arguments in public, so see which ones "resonate" with people. His lawyers and other supporters are speaking about the arguments, not him, so he's not "breaking the law."
The 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, was arraigned on criminal charges.
‘He is charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.’
‘He is also charged with conspiring to take away “the free exercise and enjoyment of a right and privilege secured…by the Constitution and laws of the United States…the right to vote, and to have one’s vote counted,” as he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election and install himself in office over the wishes of the American people.’ (Letter)
Can the United States of America bring this man to justice? Can the United States defend its democracy? Can the American people come together as a society or remain a mass of contradictions and of hatred?
[American Citizenship] captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.
"Yale history professor Timothy Snyder noted: 'That Trump will be tried for his coup attempt is not a violation of his rights. It is a fulfillment of his rights. It is the grace of the American republic...'"
How common is it for someone to be under indictment in four jurisdictions simultaneously? I doubt if Trump would be setting a record, but it seems to me that it's got to be a rather small group.
Yeah for the Justin’s! And yeah for justice being done. We need to keep the heat on high. And force the truth out on social media and elsewhere. I’m commenting to articles in the WaPo when they both sides something or give something a slant. Just the facts ma’am. Thank you Heather because you provide that so well!
Dr. Richardson, Thanks for staying up so late to bring us this information. To this information, I need to vent my anger at PBS’s broadcast of the interview between Geoff Bennett and the former AG, William Barr. Barr used his book release touting to dismiss the need for cameras in the federal court house during what will be a historic trial of the former guy and defend Barr’s interference and reversal in the Flynn prosecution. Geoff Bennett let Barr skate instead of pushing back on numerous occasions when Barr lied about how he got the job of DJT’s compliance and supportive AG helping DJT commit his crimes against the American people. Although it will not happen because lawyers seldom prosecute any of the brotherhood although we all know that prosecution of the DJT pile of cannot get work in the private sector attorneys is where the prosecutions should start. , Barr should be investigated and if possible indicted for his part in enabling the whole Trump POS cabinet’s part in their non-oversight of DJT and failure to uphold their oaths of office. These embarrassments make the Watergate plumbers look like legal scholars. If there is a Hall of Shame for scumbags, Barr should be inducted into it right beside Haldeman, Erlickman, Mitchell, now Leonard Leo and many of those whom I have thankfully forgotten.
Such a delightful end to a long day. The “Justin’s” are reinstated in the legislature of TN; no one can attest to wrong doing by the Biden non-crime family; and Mr. Trump is instructed to abide by the law. I will have to parse Dr. Snyder’s comment more fully. Bless you, Heather. Sleep well!😴
"It is the grace of the American republic. In other systems, when your coup attempt fails, what follows is not a trial."
For we who wish to keep our democracy, this is why how we conduct ourselves over the next months matters so greatly. We absolutely cannot beat them by joining them. We cannot allow our words and actions to come from a place of fear, anger, or cynicism. The baddies wish to degrade our Republic, and if we emulate them in their inability to rise above the ugliest base impulses the human race has yet to outgrow, then we will have become accomplices to that degredation. Never. We must beat their dirty tricks and endless lies with integrity, patience, optimism, and commitment to the truth. If we truly believe in these higher values, we must also believe that they can and will prevail when it really counts. It may seem exhausting, it may seem the burden is unfair, but we not only can and will accomplish what we seek, but will be able to look at ourselves in the mirror. Our nation will not end its battle with this internal darkness by succumbing to the historical cycle of retribution, it will end it with a reaffirmation of the virtues and goals of our system, and a determination to learn and grow. I remain a proud member of this nation, despite its flaws and continuing bumps in the road to progress, and I refuse to have it any other way.
I am astounded that there is an assumption in the indictment that we (Trump) have a protected right to lie when the truth is so self evident. This is not just like lying about your height in a dating app.
Is lying really protected? As far as I know, lying to Congress or the court while under oath is a jailable offense. Should we start asking all candidates to vow to only tell the truth during campaigns? (Don't laugh. I'm being serious. Really. )
I am 76 and for as long as I can remember the South has been trying to re-fight the civil war. Now and for the past few years they are actually doing it. As in the original. Civil War, the North has had a series of ineffective generals and success has looked bleak. As in the previous Civil War, we have finally found our U.S. Grant. Dress Jack Smith up a bit and he actually looks like Grant. The March to the Sea begins in Atlanta soon and the Union will soon be victorious.
Odd the GOP is arguing lying to be a "First Amendment Right" at the same time they are trying to require all Americans to be of a religion whose one-of-ten commandments says, "Thou Shalt Not"
Much appreciated, Heather. From the two Justins' reinstatement in Tennessee, to the Archer transcript being released, and the arraignment in the Prettyman courthouse, it was a great day for democracy yesterday!
I think cameras at the trial of the coup plotter is particularly appropriate seeing as how it was We, the People, All of Us This Time, whose votes were targeted to be disenfranchised. Surely, we have more than a vested interest in seeing firsthand the wheels of justice carrying democracy back toward front and center where it belongs.
"voters reelected Tennessee state representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones" It is worth noting that, Gloria Johnson, the third state rep in the Tennessee controversy, has announced her candidacy for the US Senate against Marsha Blackburn. Her website is not yet ready to accept donations. http://www.votegloriajohnson.com As soon as it is, help her out.
“The judge warned him that one of the conditions of his release was that he must not commit new crimes.”
Given his past record, I will safely bet he can’t resist the impulse…
UPDATE, And less than 24 hours later:
“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!”
Thank you.
Maggie Haberman of The New York Times:
Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke during a stop at the Indiana State Fair, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Indianapolis:
“I don’t know if the government can meet the standard, the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt for criminal charges,” he said. “But the American people deserve to know that President Trump and his advisers didn’t just ask me to pause. They asked me to reject votes, return votes, essentially to overturn the election.”
He and his lawyers are already polluting the jury pool by trying out their potential defense arguments in public, so see which ones "resonate" with people. His lawyers and other supporters are speaking about the arguments, not him, so he's not "breaking the law."
Trump joins the other autocrats who have attempted “self-coups”:
Guatemala: President Jorge Serrano Elías (May 25–June 5, 1993)[30]
Indonesia: President Abdurrahman Wahid (July 1–25, 2001)[31]
Malaysia: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (February 23–March 1, 2020)[32]
United States: President Donald Trump (January 6, 2021)[33]
Peru: President Pedro Castillo (December 7, 2022)[34]
Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ongoing events, since he assumed office on December 29, 2022)
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup
The 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, was arraigned on criminal charges.
‘He is charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.’
‘He is also charged with conspiring to take away “the free exercise and enjoyment of a right and privilege secured…by the Constitution and laws of the United States…the right to vote, and to have one’s vote counted,” as he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election and install himself in office over the wishes of the American people.’ (Letter)
Can the United States of America bring this man to justice? Can the United States defend its democracy? Can the American people come together as a society or remain a mass of contradictions and of hatred?
[American Citizenship] captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.
____Barack Obama
“The American dream belongs to all of us.”
___Vice President Kamala Harris
"Yale history professor Timothy Snyder noted: 'That Trump will be tried for his coup attempt is not a violation of his rights. It is a fulfillment of his rights. It is the grace of the American republic...'"
Truth.
How common is it for someone to be under indictment in four jurisdictions simultaneously? I doubt if Trump would be setting a record, but it seems to me that it's got to be a rather small group.
Yeah for the Justin’s! And yeah for justice being done. We need to keep the heat on high. And force the truth out on social media and elsewhere. I’m commenting to articles in the WaPo when they both sides something or give something a slant. Just the facts ma’am. Thank you Heather because you provide that so well!
Dr. Richardson, Thanks for staying up so late to bring us this information. To this information, I need to vent my anger at PBS’s broadcast of the interview between Geoff Bennett and the former AG, William Barr. Barr used his book release touting to dismiss the need for cameras in the federal court house during what will be a historic trial of the former guy and defend Barr’s interference and reversal in the Flynn prosecution. Geoff Bennett let Barr skate instead of pushing back on numerous occasions when Barr lied about how he got the job of DJT’s compliance and supportive AG helping DJT commit his crimes against the American people. Although it will not happen because lawyers seldom prosecute any of the brotherhood although we all know that prosecution of the DJT pile of cannot get work in the private sector attorneys is where the prosecutions should start. , Barr should be investigated and if possible indicted for his part in enabling the whole Trump POS cabinet’s part in their non-oversight of DJT and failure to uphold their oaths of office. These embarrassments make the Watergate plumbers look like legal scholars. If there is a Hall of Shame for scumbags, Barr should be inducted into it right beside Haldeman, Erlickman, Mitchell, now Leonard Leo and many of those whom I have thankfully forgotten.
Such a delightful end to a long day. The “Justin’s” are reinstated in the legislature of TN; no one can attest to wrong doing by the Biden non-crime family; and Mr. Trump is instructed to abide by the law. I will have to parse Dr. Snyder’s comment more fully. Bless you, Heather. Sleep well!😴
"It is the grace of the American republic. In other systems, when your coup attempt fails, what follows is not a trial."
For we who wish to keep our democracy, this is why how we conduct ourselves over the next months matters so greatly. We absolutely cannot beat them by joining them. We cannot allow our words and actions to come from a place of fear, anger, or cynicism. The baddies wish to degrade our Republic, and if we emulate them in their inability to rise above the ugliest base impulses the human race has yet to outgrow, then we will have become accomplices to that degredation. Never. We must beat their dirty tricks and endless lies with integrity, patience, optimism, and commitment to the truth. If we truly believe in these higher values, we must also believe that they can and will prevail when it really counts. It may seem exhausting, it may seem the burden is unfair, but we not only can and will accomplish what we seek, but will be able to look at ourselves in the mirror. Our nation will not end its battle with this internal darkness by succumbing to the historical cycle of retribution, it will end it with a reaffirmation of the virtues and goals of our system, and a determination to learn and grow. I remain a proud member of this nation, despite its flaws and continuing bumps in the road to progress, and I refuse to have it any other way.
I am astounded that there is an assumption in the indictment that we (Trump) have a protected right to lie when the truth is so self evident. This is not just like lying about your height in a dating app.
Is lying really protected? As far as I know, lying to Congress or the court while under oath is a jailable offense. Should we start asking all candidates to vow to only tell the truth during campaigns? (Don't laugh. I'm being serious. Really. )
I am 76 and for as long as I can remember the South has been trying to re-fight the civil war. Now and for the past few years they are actually doing it. As in the original. Civil War, the North has had a series of ineffective generals and success has looked bleak. As in the previous Civil War, we have finally found our U.S. Grant. Dress Jack Smith up a bit and he actually looks like Grant. The March to the Sea begins in Atlanta soon and the Union will soon be victorious.
Odd the GOP is arguing lying to be a "First Amendment Right" at the same time they are trying to require all Americans to be of a religion whose one-of-ten commandments says, "Thou Shalt Not"
Much appreciated, Heather. From the two Justins' reinstatement in Tennessee, to the Archer transcript being released, and the arraignment in the Prettyman courthouse, it was a great day for democracy yesterday!
I think cameras at the trial of the coup plotter is particularly appropriate seeing as how it was We, the People, All of Us This Time, whose votes were targeted to be disenfranchised. Surely, we have more than a vested interest in seeing firsthand the wheels of justice carrying democracy back toward front and center where it belongs.
"voters reelected Tennessee state representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones" It is worth noting that, Gloria Johnson, the third state rep in the Tennessee controversy, has announced her candidacy for the US Senate against Marsha Blackburn. Her website is not yet ready to accept donations. http://www.votegloriajohnson.com As soon as it is, help her out.