Dear Attorney General Garland:
I recently read your bio. I am impressed with your service over the years. You have been an outstanding example of a public official and a role model for our kids. Please don’t disappoint us now.
Modern Americans are an impatient bunch. We do think it stunning that we …
I recently read your bio. I am impressed with your service over the years. You have been an outstanding example of a public official and a role model for our kids. Please don’t disappoint us now.
Modern Americans are an impatient bunch. We do think it stunning that we are approaching the one year mark from when our government suffered a violent attempted coup. By now it is obvious that this was NOT just a random group of protesters turned rioters. We know now that they were organized and aided by several Individuals who were assistants to or advisors of the former president - as well as members of Congress.
There was a complex plot with alternate options to overthrow the government – to deny a duly elected president-elect his peaceful transition to the White House.
Should I be confident that you and your staff are vigorously pursuing your own investigation and preparing to file charges – and about to arrest those who were attempting that coup? Should I feel that the House Committee investigation the events of January 6 is a compliment to your own efforts – not a substitute?
American patience is running thin. Time is not on our side. Democracy in America is becoming a sadly dark and ironic joke on the international stage. Please act.
Thanks for the link. I just sent the Attorney General the following message:
Dear Attorney General:
A nation turns it's weary eyes towards you. We are desperate to see the perpetrators of January 6 face some consequences. Frankly we want to see people arrested and put in jail. Your continued delay in doing this is frightening and frustrating.
Our enemies grow more brazen and loud with each passing day while you pour over law books.
Stop delaying. Do your Constitutional duty to protect and defend this Country. Act now.
Thanks I am looking for where to send an email requesting action, not to see all the details of the insurrection itself. Using Bill's letter as a template, I want to know where to send a similar letter of "complaint " and urgency
Totally agree, Richard. I worry about voting rights so much, and hope DOJ will play a part in securing them. Hopefully DOJ’s working hard on checking out the legality of all the new state legislation restricting voting rights, giving powers to state legislatures to decide which votes to count, etc etc.
Dan, I would note that when, in 2013, the Roberts Court removed Section 5 (Pre-Clearance) from The 1965 Voting Rights Act, DOJ’s influence was severely diminished. Hence, a few weeks back, when A.G. Garland was concluding a press conference about suing Texas for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, he closed with a plea to Congress to pass new Federal voting rights legislation, making clear that DOJ will do whatever it can (translation: go to court to protect voting rights), while imploring Congress to do what it alone can do (pass legislation that also protects election integrity and thus democracy itself), Were I to have any power, I would prevail upon journalists to air Garland’s plea to Congress again and again, especially since repeatedly hearing that neither Manchin nor Sinema is willing to amend the 60-vote Senate filibuster rule threshold aimed at blocking an up or down vote on voter protection legislation.
They are not the only ones, only the ones talked about. Tonight on Rachel Maddow, Maggie Hassan - a moderate Democratic Senator who also has resisted changes to the filibuster - publicly stated that she now sees the urgency of taking action on voting rights so now supports a 'carve out'. There are others though I don't know who they are but may they hear and join her. It quite literally is Now or Never.
Judith, Thanks for your note. You might also be aware that this past Wednesday NAACP President Derrick Johnson spoke with 6 Senators including Sinema, who, unlike the others, was silent. Moderate Democrat John Hickenlooper emerged from the conversation as supporting any rule change that would allow for an up or down vote. As I understand, though all 50 Senators support both bills, just 2—Manchin and Sinema—refuse, without support from Republicans, to pass either measure, even while GOP controlled state legislatures continue, unilaterally, to pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes.
Just sent a message too- thanks for the link- don't know whether it will help but it feels good to let the AG know that there is strong support out there to hold those who would use violence to subvert democracy accountable.
While looking @ the DOJ site, I found listings of those charged and case status info regarding the Capitol Breach. In the DOJ search bar, type in "Capitol Breach Cases." I found the info re the Shaman Chansley. Sentenced for 41 months.
Me also, with my promised determination to daily pester the man until America becomes satisfied that the consequences that are truly deserved by ALL PARTICIPANTS are actually adjudicated guilty and ALL those treasonists' insurrectionists are in prison for a very long time being daily subjected to their wonderful new society's surprises!
Thank you, Maia. It is important for citizens and other interested parties to learn where to go if they're worried about not knowing what's going on. Many if not most governmental issues require that the citizenry be informed. There are situations, however, for which up-to-date info needs to be kept under wraps for security and or legal reasons. When in doubt, have a list of government sources to contact for info, questions and complaints. Sometimes and too often, it is a matter of seek and, hopefully, you'll find.
Painfully, I think we will discover more. Even the most alert among us, was 'it' in their minds and nightmares? We are still brave and determined and very glad to gather here together.
Thank you so much for putting that link on. It is pretty standard practice and a major widespread investigation to work your way up to the top. That takes some time, some patience, and a good deal of thoroughness.
What I want to see are Jim Jordan, Mark Meadow, Steve Bannon etc. dealt with. It appears that they are literally walking all over the American and no one is doing anything. Garland must speak to the American people.
Thank you so much for that link. It is indeed heartening, and we need to access it regularly. We haven't been abandoned. (And what we see about the insurrection on 6 January is still as sharply disgusting).
Wonderful. And, with no sarcasm, good luck with it.
MG is either overwhelmed with the job, too scrupulous by half, or fearful. I have suspected that much was amiss in the DOJ for months now. And sadly, in this mess all roads run through it.
I would love to see that there was a level of public accountability from the head of this office so that citizens could have a sense what actually is going. This is, as has been said ad nauseam, the government *of the people*.
I have a thousand times heard that prosecutors do not speak publicly about their investigations lest they accidentally blow them up.
Surely though, Garland could make a public statement with reporters present, say quarterly as long as this emergency persists.
In it he could safely state general directions as to what their focus is, remind people of progress made, and in general give us a sense as to how this area of government is behaving.
Bill Barr was certainly not remiss in commenting about specifics in ways that left no doubt as to which direction he was going.
I don’t commend his interpretation of the role, but for some time now I have been just as skeptical, but in a different way about Merrick Garland.
Please Merrick - step out into the sunshine. The sky won’t collapse on you.
Good letter. I am going to write to see if AG Garland is familiar with Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean, Yale historian. We are not facing a possible civil war, we are IN a civil war, between those who want power to reside with the people, versus those who want to limit power to those with wealth and property (oligarchy).. MacClean shows, step by step, the agenda of this group since the l950s, funded by the likes of Koch, but many many other big time donors.
These are the same people who tried to stop control of Big Tobacco - and they disseminated misinformation and outright lies to protect big tobacco interests. They engendered suspicions about public health and science that we are living with today re vaccines and climate change. So much in this book. I have to stop. But I hope if you have not read this book, you will. I would love to have a conversation with the readers of Heather Richardson regarding the implications of MacClean's words.
Thank you for the tip. I will add her book to my list. It sounds alarmist to say that we are in in a "Civil War". But that is the whole point. To ring the alarm. Most of America is asleep. Most are worn down by the pandemic. And many are simply exhausted by the fire hose of outrages. If TFG were to actually shoot someone on 5th Avenue - as he suggested, he would still have huge support. There is a tyranny of numbness. And the press is not doing it's job.
We need to speak up. Sent just now:
Dear Attorney General Garland:
I recently read your bio. I am impressed with your service over the years. You have been an outstanding example of a public official and a role model for our kids. Please don’t disappoint us now.
Modern Americans are an impatient bunch. We do think it stunning that we are approaching the one year mark from when our government suffered a violent attempted coup. By now it is obvious that this was NOT just a random group of protesters turned rioters. We know now that they were organized and aided by several Individuals who were assistants to or advisors of the former president - as well as members of Congress.
There was a complex plot with alternate options to overthrow the government – to deny a duly elected president-elect his peaceful transition to the White House.
Should I be confident that you and your staff are vigorously pursuing your own investigation and preparing to file charges – and about to arrest those who were attempting that coup? Should I feel that the House Committee investigation the events of January 6 is a compliment to your own efforts – not a substitute?
American patience is running thin. Time is not on our side. Democracy in America is becoming a sadly dark and ironic joke on the international stage. Please act.
With deep respect and admiration,
Bill Alstrom
Acton, MA
Thanks for the link. I just sent the Attorney General the following message:
Dear Attorney General:
A nation turns it's weary eyes towards you. We are desperate to see the perpetrators of January 6 face some consequences. Frankly we want to see people arrested and put in jail. Your continued delay in doing this is frightening and frustrating.
Our enemies grow more brazen and loud with each passing day while you pour over law books.
Stop delaying. Do your Constitutional duty to protect and defend this Country. Act now.
Barbara would you post the link? I don't see where to send to Garland
Look at Maia Simon post below yours.
Thanks I am looking for where to send an email requesting action, not to see all the details of the insurrection itself. Using Bill's letter as a template, I want to know where to send a similar letter of "complaint " and urgency
FYI a group of HCR Substackers has formed to turn talk into action, just like this! For more info, email:
heathersherd@gmail.com
Making sure you got it:
Maia Simon PA, USA Dec 16
Go to https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice and choose message to the attorney general
Yes- I would like to know that there is as much passion to protect democracy as there is to overthrow it- maybe even more.
Thanks!
Totally agree, Richard. I worry about voting rights so much, and hope DOJ will play a part in securing them. Hopefully DOJ’s working hard on checking out the legality of all the new state legislation restricting voting rights, giving powers to state legislatures to decide which votes to count, etc etc.
Dan, I would note that when, in 2013, the Roberts Court removed Section 5 (Pre-Clearance) from The 1965 Voting Rights Act, DOJ’s influence was severely diminished. Hence, a few weeks back, when A.G. Garland was concluding a press conference about suing Texas for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, he closed with a plea to Congress to pass new Federal voting rights legislation, making clear that DOJ will do whatever it can (translation: go to court to protect voting rights), while imploring Congress to do what it alone can do (pass legislation that also protects election integrity and thus democracy itself), Were I to have any power, I would prevail upon journalists to air Garland’s plea to Congress again and again, especially since repeatedly hearing that neither Manchin nor Sinema is willing to amend the 60-vote Senate filibuster rule threshold aimed at blocking an up or down vote on voter protection legislation.
They are not the only ones, only the ones talked about. Tonight on Rachel Maddow, Maggie Hassan - a moderate Democratic Senator who also has resisted changes to the filibuster - publicly stated that she now sees the urgency of taking action on voting rights so now supports a 'carve out'. There are others though I don't know who they are but may they hear and join her. It quite literally is Now or Never.
Judith, Thanks for your note. You might also be aware that this past Wednesday NAACP President Derrick Johnson spoke with 6 Senators including Sinema, who, unlike the others, was silent. Moderate Democrat John Hickenlooper emerged from the conversation as supporting any rule change that would allow for an up or down vote. As I understand, though all 50 Senators support both bills, just 2—Manchin and Sinema—refuse, without support from Republicans, to pass either measure, even while GOP controlled state legislatures continue, unilaterally, to pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes.
Thanks so much for this.
Go to https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice and choose message to the attorney general
Just sent a message too- thanks for the link- don't know whether it will help but it feels good to let the AG know that there is strong support out there to hold those who would use violence to subvert democracy accountable.
Thanks. I have sent Garland a message.
I have submitted a letter also.
While looking @ the DOJ site, I found listings of those charged and case status info regarding the Capitol Breach. In the DOJ search bar, type in "Capitol Breach Cases." I found the info re the Shaman Chansley. Sentenced for 41 months.
Me also, with my promised determination to daily pester the man until America becomes satisfied that the consequences that are truly deserved by ALL PARTICIPANTS are actually adjudicated guilty and ALL those treasonists' insurrectionists are in prison for a very long time being daily subjected to their wonderful new society's surprises!
Thank you. My letter was just now submitted.
here is the portal for the DOJ's public information about the insurrections. Long list of photos and another long list of arrests. Take heart. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/capitol-violence#Overview
Thank you, Maia. It is important for citizens and other interested parties to learn where to go if they're worried about not knowing what's going on. Many if not most governmental issues require that the citizenry be informed. There are situations, however, for which up-to-date info needs to be kept under wraps for security and or legal reasons. When in doubt, have a list of government sources to contact for info, questions and complaints. Sometimes and too often, it is a matter of seek and, hopefully, you'll find.
Those four years of betrayal have damaged us in ways we hadn't even considered. So much to be healed.
Painfully, I think we will discover more. Even the most alert among us, was 'it' in their minds and nightmares? We are still brave and determined and very glad to gather here together.
Yes. We are.
Thank you so much for putting that link on. It is pretty standard practice and a major widespread investigation to work your way up to the top. That takes some time, some patience, and a good deal of thoroughness.
What I want to see are Jim Jordan, Mark Meadow, Steve Bannon etc. dealt with. It appears that they are literally walking all over the American and no one is doing anything. Garland must speak to the American people.
Thank you. Wow. I just posted the link on my FB page.
Good move!
Thank you so much for that link. It is indeed heartening, and we need to access it regularly. We haven't been abandoned. (And what we see about the insurrection on 6 January is still as sharply disgusting).
Wonderful. And, with no sarcasm, good luck with it.
MG is either overwhelmed with the job, too scrupulous by half, or fearful. I have suspected that much was amiss in the DOJ for months now. And sadly, in this mess all roads run through it.
I would love to see that there was a level of public accountability from the head of this office so that citizens could have a sense what actually is going. This is, as has been said ad nauseam, the government *of the people*.
I have a thousand times heard that prosecutors do not speak publicly about their investigations lest they accidentally blow them up.
Surely though, Garland could make a public statement with reporters present, say quarterly as long as this emergency persists.
In it he could safely state general directions as to what their focus is, remind people of progress made, and in general give us a sense as to how this area of government is behaving.
Bill Barr was certainly not remiss in commenting about specifics in ways that left no doubt as to which direction he was going.
I don’t commend his interpretation of the role, but for some time now I have been just as skeptical, but in a different way about Merrick Garland.
Please Merrick - step out into the sunshine. The sky won’t collapse on you.
May I also share your letter with AG Garland? You stated the concern very well
David
Yes, please!
Me too! Thank you Bill!
Good letter. I am going to write to see if AG Garland is familiar with Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean, Yale historian. We are not facing a possible civil war, we are IN a civil war, between those who want power to reside with the people, versus those who want to limit power to those with wealth and property (oligarchy).. MacClean shows, step by step, the agenda of this group since the l950s, funded by the likes of Koch, but many many other big time donors.
These are the same people who tried to stop control of Big Tobacco - and they disseminated misinformation and outright lies to protect big tobacco interests. They engendered suspicions about public health and science that we are living with today re vaccines and climate change. So much in this book. I have to stop. But I hope if you have not read this book, you will. I would love to have a conversation with the readers of Heather Richardson regarding the implications of MacClean's words.
Thank you for the tip. I will add her book to my list. It sounds alarmist to say that we are in in a "Civil War". But that is the whole point. To ring the alarm. Most of America is asleep. Most are worn down by the pandemic. And many are simply exhausted by the fire hose of outrages. If TFG were to actually shoot someone on 5th Avenue - as he suggested, he would still have huge support. There is a tyranny of numbness. And the press is not doing it's job.
Bill where did you send this? What email address?
https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice
Choose message to the attorney general
Thank you!