ShivaX
3553
Timex
3554
Congress needs to start forcing the Whitehouse to ACTUALLY income executive privilege, not just “we might invoke it, so don’t talk about anything”.
Any other sources indicate whether this is still Protective Executive Privilege, or a formal claim of Privilege?
Sharpe
3556
At this point, all the assertions of privilege regarding Mueller are hot air with no legal force or effect; the issue is to what extent Mueller himself is persuaded to testify or limit his testimony. In theory, if Mueller invoked these privileges and refused to answer questions, then Congress could try to compel him to testify with various methods that we have discussed, but those methods all have limitations, and in theory some of this fight could end up in court and a court could eventually rule on the privilege issue months or years in the future, but for practical purposes, the only real adjudicator of privilege this week is Mueller himself (as a practical matter).
Yeah, but previously they were claiming “Protective” Executive privilege to the Report and everything associated, which is effectively a pre-emptive claim until things can be evaluated and a formal Claim over specific items can be made.
The assertion of privilege is not an actual “conclusive” assertion of executive privilege; it is only a “protective” assertion. As the Department of Justice’s letter to the committee explained, “this protective assertion of executive privilege ensures the President’s ability to make a final decision whether to assert privilege following a full review of these materials.” In other words, the president has asserted executive privilege in order to be able to determine whether to assert executive privilege.
Based on the letter, it sounds like they are still claiming the blanket Protective EP:
Banzai
3559
Obstructors gonna obstruct.
Congress has a duty, which is what I expect Mueller to say yet again, even if it is not explicit.
I wonder how that plays to the Republican plan to make their time at the hearing about the FISA warrants.
I read that it prevents him from answering questions about it, as well as the Strzok/Page texts, etc. That doesn’t mean they won’t bloviate on TV about it until he says he can’t answer.
So - one must presume that Barr does not want those questions to be answered. For some reason.
Meanwhile:
The Justice Department objected to Zebley or any others testifying alongside Mueller because it wasn’t authorized, according to a person familiar with the matter. The department’s practice generally precludes line attorneys from testifying.
But the bottom line is that Zebley and many others who were on Mueller’s staff are private citizens now, and the Justice Department cannot do much other than object.
Democrats have pushed to hear from Zebley along with another Mueller deputy, James Quarles, behind closed doors after Mueller testified. But the Department of Justice also resisted that request, and Attorney General William Barr said he would oppose a subpoena if Congress tried to compel their testimony.
Trump has sued for injunctive relief to prevent the House from requesting his NY State tax returns, and to declare the enabling NY law unconstitutional. The arguments his lawyers make are apparently quite crazy. Read the whole thread.
I’m convinced that the reason why Trump is so terrified of his taxes being released is not because there is shady shit in there (or at least nothing more shady than average for people of wealth), but because it will prove he’s not nearly as rich as he pretends to be.
I feel pretty confident it is both. As we’ve seen first hand from his negotiating skills, he is completely subject to flattery, and he has no concept of strategy. The only way he is able to keep the Trump organization going is be engaging in cheating on taxes, and money laundering.
One of those mysteries that there is just no explainin’…
At which point he just says “I am super rich. We just mess with the numbers so I don’t have to pay taxes.” And everyone shrugs and moves along to the next thing that would destroy any other president.
Hell, he could say I evade taxes explicitly. Immune from prosecution, after all.
I like how you say that as if it’s a sure thing that it’ll ever happen. I want to believe we couldn’t fall so far.
Banzai
3572
It’s a real concern, but if we cross that bridge we truly will have passed the point of let them eat cake. I have to hope otherwise.
