![]() ![]()
The Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct vigorous oversight of these matters. The information revealed by this story raises deeply troubling questions regarding the Justice Department’s role in Trump’s scheme to overturn the election. These efforts culminated on January 6, when Trump incited a violent mob that attacked Congress as it counted the electoral votes and prepared to affirm President Biden’s victory. On January 22, The New York Times reported astonishing details about an alleged plot between then-President Donald Trump and then-Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division Jeffrey Bossert Clark to use the Department of Justice to further Trump’s efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election. The day after Benner’s January 22 story, the holdover members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to DOJ citing the story and asking for documents behind it. FORMER ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TESTIFIES SUBVERT TRIALCapitol building on January 6.On January 22 - after Jeffrey Rosen was no longer Acting Attorney General but before Trump’s second impeachment trial - Katie Benner published a story describing Trump’s efforts to get Jeffrey Bossert Clark to undermine those at DOJ, including Rosen and Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, who refused to endorse Trump’s lies about the election.Īs I noted the other day, that story included all the details that have been dribbling out from the House Oversight Committee in recent weeks: Trump’s efforts to get DOJ to intervene in Georgia, Rosen and Donoghue’s refusal, followed by Trump’s effort to put Clark in charge at DOJ on January 3. ![]() None were successful, but the committee notes the president’s efforts “created the disinformation ecosystem necessary for Trump” to allegedly “incite” the violent attack on the U.S. (Barr later went on to say there was no evidence of widespread election fraud before leaving his position and being replaced by Rosen in December 2020.) Trump’s pressure campaign on the DOJ was one part of a broader failed strategy to overturn the election results, which also included efforts like an unsuccessful legal campaign, pressuring state officials directly and attempting to get Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the election results after Congress approved them. Attorney General William Barr drew scrutiny when he issued a directive right after the election giving officials permission to investigate election fraud before the results were certified. The Justice Department was criticized throughout Trump’s presidency for how the president appeared to politicize it for his own personal gain, and former U.S. The Senate committee’s investigation is still ongoing and the committee said they’re still seeking additional witness testimony and Trump White House records. FORMER ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TESTIFIES SUBVERT PROFESSIONALBar should “scrutinize” Clark’s law license, which follows a separate ethics complaint filed against the ex-DOJ official with the Bar by attorneys who allege Clark violated professional rules of conduct with his attempt to overturn the election results. The report recommends Congress and the Justice Department should take steps to strengthen their policies to ensure similar attempts to politicize the department can’t happen in the future. ![]() ![]() Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee released their own report Thursday disputing the Democratic-led committee’s findings, which claims “the facts differed sharply from the narrative that the Democrats attempted to create.” “The documentary evidence and witness testimony currently available shows that throughout President Trump’s interactions with DOJ officials concerning election matters, he did not abuse his constitutional authority with respect to his conduct toward DOJ,” the Republicans wrote, claiming Trump merely “expressed concern with ensuring that DOJ was doing its job of fully investigating allegations of election fraud.” What To Watch For Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said in a statement, noting while Trump was ultimately “unable to bend the to his will,” that “was not due to a lack of effort.” “Donald Trump would have shredded the Constitution to stay in power.” Chief Critic “Today’s report shows the American people just how close we came to a constitutional crisis,” Senate Judiciary Committee chair Sen. The Judiciary Committee said Thursday it is waiting until the investigation is complete to make recommendations about any potential criminal referrals. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |