1. Obstruction of justice.
2. Theft of government records
3. Espionage Act,
Donald Trump's lawyer told the FBI that all the government documents had been returned. The government knew that was not true and so did Trump. Obstruction.
Trump knew he had possession of records in contravention of the Presidential Records Act of 1978. Theft.
Trump disobeyed Section 793 of the Espionage Act that prohibits conveying non-public material relating to the national defense, or failure "to deliver it on demand to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it." Trump had it and the FBI found it. Espionage.Trump was openly flouting the law. Comments sent to me by Trump-friendly people argue that even if the boxes the FBI found contained secret and sensitive material, Trump had declared them non-secret. Therefore, this was just a dispute over storage location, not espionage. So the real issue is why are people picking on Trump, who maybe just wanted source material for writing his memoirs.
Jack Mullen had a different take on how this moment will be remembered, and how to think about Trump's claim of blanket declassification. His two older brothers had worked in the American intelligence field. He grew up in Medford and now lives in Washington, D.C. He read yesterday's guest post by his friend Larry Slesser and wanted to add this.
Guest Post by Jack Mullen
Trump: "I am so much behind you, you’re going say ‘Please, don’t give us so much backing, Mr. President, please, we don’t need that much backing’."
So said President Trump on his first full day in office on January 21, 2017, in front of the 117 stars representing the CIA individuals who gave their lives in service of this country.
I bristled then on Trump's first official day in office. I wonder how slighted my two older brothers might have felt. Both performed intelligence work for this country. I bristled again upon learning the ex-President took documents marked “classified” to his home at Mar-a-Lago. Yesterday’s Guest Post by Larry Slessler eloquently stated the outrage felt by the families of those who, like Larry, put their lives on the line to protect classified information. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
Mullen
American history is flush with instances of unsung heroes in the intelligence field who protected their comrades-in-arm and their country. These people go unnoticed and receive scant thanks. Most don’t want the thanks. Many can not get it. They are unsung because their work was secret.. They just do their job--much like so many others who serve our country. What they did not need is a Commander-in-Chief who makes a big self-serving show, saying he will give them so much backing that they will plead for him not to give him so much backing. What a blowhard.
“Daddy, what did you do in the War?” was a refrain of many Medford kids growing up in the 1950’s. I was one of them. Most of our fathers ignored our badgering, and said little about their war experiences. However, a few cracks appeared when Hollywood came out with war movies that smacked them in the face. My dad had no use for the sappy Van Johnson. Other fathers I knew chuckled that a so-called “tough guy” named Marion Robert Morrison evaded military service and changed his name to John Wayne. Marion Morrison, aka John Wayne, became a symbol of the taciturn, strong American War hero.
Those real vets--not the movie star vets--felt scorn for the likes of Van Johnson and John Wayne, the movie heroes who struck poses. Their rolled eyeballs were the clue we kids had to go on about how Daddy really felt about people who showed off about past deeds or great intentions. I now wonder how they would express themselves when Donald Trump claims to have declassified intelligence material, and done so on the fly, based not on the content but on the fact that he took it, so he needed to try to backdate its legality. How disrespectful to the people who put their trust in a process that put their lives at risk. Worse, he did whatever he did to mop up after his own behavior, and to cover his own ass. I suspect my father and brothers would have found that Larry Slessler spoke for them all. Scorn.
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24 comments:
So “bone spur” Trump is like John Wayne?
As Mr. Mullen reminds us, Trump gave a speech to the CIA in front of its Memorial Wall of Heroes. It’s their job to know the facts, but during that speech he lied to them, about the size of his inaugural crowd – as if daring them to contradict him. That was on his first full day as president and it went downhill from there.
Regarding those stolen documents, the president can classify or declassify almost anything he wants, but there’s a procedure. It includes identifying the specific documents, putting the order in writing (for bureaucratic and historical purposes) and having staff physically modify the classification markings on the document. We’ve seen no evidence Trump did any of that. I know he doesn’t think the rules apply to him, but we’ll see.
Gee, Trump doing morally reprehensible things.
The question before the DoJ is whether to indict Trump or let it slide. The facts and evidence are clear, largely because Trump committed his offenses in front of the cameras or openly in front of his fans and lackeys. Merrick Garland is gathering the evidence and laying the foundation for a trial. The facts available to the public are clear and unambiguous, Donald J Trump has openly and willfully violated statutes defined by criminal law. Trump deserves his day in court to face the allegations and mountains of evidence. The nation deserves to see our justice system functioning to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. Trump deserves a fair hearing in a court of law not the court of public opinion.
The shame to me is that so many of our fellow citizens are so willing to close their eyes and ears to his criminality. Whatever emotional needs they may have to believe his obvious lies must be awfully strong, as the evidence of his perfidy is so overwhelming.
Whether it is social media, Fox News, racism, economics…. All these are beside the point for they excuse the Trump believers of the responsibility of their self delusions.
Great post, but I wonder how predictable. My mother was born in 1925; passed away last year (age 95) while living in a famed 600-person retirement home for military officers and spouses in D.C. So, lots of WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans. And Mom was distressed to learn that she was practically the only resident who was NOT a rabid Trump fan! That all those loyal, brave, selfless Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force veterans would express such positive feelings for the dishonorable Trump baffled and upset her. Biden's victory gave her permission to, at last, move on. Those old guys were the same who dismissed Marion Morrison and Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton (even) for dishonor and immorality later turned to Trump and the full Fox saga; swallowed it whole. I would not have believed it. I know my father and father-in-law (both b. 1922 and academy graduates) would not have believed it (both passed before Trump emerged. Just terrible. Both those men would have hated Trump and seen him for the crude, dishonorable fraud that he is.
Jack's comments regarding our fathers taciturn ignoring of pleas rings a real bell for me. My dad enlisted in 5 days after his 15th birthday, the first week of 1944. The first week of January 1945 ge was a Gato class Submarine off the Coast of what is now Vietnam, trapped on the bottom in 140 feet of water for just over 23 hours while two Japanese Destroyers dropped 99 (or 100, accounts vary) depth charges on their boat. At last, out of air, the Skipper was able to rock the boat out of the mud and get to the surface, only to find the Japanese had given up and sailed off. Severely damaged the Sub got temporary repairs in the Phillipines, and returned to Mare Island for a major refit. With accomplished, the Sub returned to duty, and was about half way back to their duty port in Australia when President Truman did what Drumpf wanted to do, he used Nuclear weapons to thankfully end the War. My Dad suffered PTSD the rest if his life, which ended tragically at the age of 59 over 35 years ago. Only once did he ever mention his service in that Sub, when I badgered him to tell me some war stories, when I was about 10, and all he said was " We didn't do much , sank some ships, and rescued some airmen who had been shot down". Do I despise Trump, and Marion Morrison ? Bet your ass I do. Cowards, both if them, hiding behind the Flag, pretending to be Patriots, just like Dick Cheney, who had "other priorities" than joining his peers in that shithole of a war nit far from where my Dad and 89 other brave sailors suffered for 23 long hours in 1945.
BTW, I only learned of this incident some 12 years after Dad died, when I met online the last surviving member of that crew, and sent me copies of the Official after action reports.
Let's not forget a real soldier who became an actor, Audie Murphy.
Our military is now voluntary, which is in keeping with our values. It does ask for some sacrifices, not just on the battlefield, but also accepting the military lifestyle which can have some hardships as well. It is well mannered to thank them for this, but I think it shouldn't quite rise to an admiration over and above other professions that are dangerous and necessary for our safety and security.
War movies prior to Vietnam were to some extent propaganda, but also a recognizance of the bravery and resolve that enabled the Allies to defeat Germany and Japan.
One last thing, from what I know about Wayne, he would have been a Trump supporter.
There is a good bit of wishful certitude on the Left concerning some basic legal concepts relating to Trump's criminal liability. Obviously actual heavy hitters will predict and steer the outcome. As I've been able to observe, anyway, there is wide disagreement among qualified experts.
First and foremost, on the putative plenary or unilateral presidential power to declassify? It's not ever been litigated so as to nail down the nature and application of that power. Maybe now. What rules and procedures are generally accepted, however, apply to people OTHER than the President.
Second, on Trump himself what will prove dispositive is not the existence of a prima facie case but the daunting task of establishing the requisite culpable mental state, namely specific intent to "obstruct" a proceeding, to "steal" documents, and to handle classified materials unlawfully.
Recall James Comey declaring that no reasonable prosecutor would charge HRC under the Espionage Act et al because she lacked intent, despite having used BleachBit to wipe her server of classified docs under subpoena. She displayed "extreme carelessness", but somehow not even "gross negligence".
She as Sec. of State enjoyed far less legal wiggle room in relation to classified material under subpoena than a President. Her unsecured, unknown private server posed more of a general accessible threat to security and personnel and than known boxes under padlock in a basement.
On the other hand, she was an establishment politician, and a Democrat....
So, lots of WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans. And Mom was distressed to learn that she was practically the only resident who was NOT a rabid Trump fan! That all those loyal, brave, selfless Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force veterans would express such positive feelings for the dishonorable Trump baffled and upset her.
Ask yourself which party:
* paints all men with the brush of “toxic masculinity” and “patriarchy”
* denigrates patriotism and love of this country
* refuses to control the southern border
* sympathizes with “defund the police”
* accuses all white people of “systemic racism“
* supports discrimination in favor of particular favored races
* alters the physical fitness standards of the military so that more females can pass them
Trump raised a giant orange middle finger at all of this. He was orders of magnitude better at that than any previous politician. Trump’s negative personal attributes pale into insignificance next to the strength of this message for voters who resonate with it.
I represent what is probably small minority of the people who resonate with this message, in that I can’t support Trump himself due to his pathologies and incompetence. But I understand at a visceral why people support Trump. It continues to amaze me that so many of the commenters around here seem unwilling or unable to look in that direction.
Captain Bone Spurs and The Duke both chose to avoid Miltary Service, or as it's often called, Dodge the Draft, so they do have that in Common.
Let’s take just one item as an example: Which party “denigrates patriotism and love of this country.”
That would be the party that condones treason and excommunicates members such as Cheney who place country above party.
It’s always possible to purposely miss the point. You can lead a donkey to water… 🤷♂️
Here’s the point of my comment about patriotism, for the benefit of those with open minds:
“Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans, in fact, are highly likely to be proud to be Americans and highly likely to say they would still choose to live in America if they could choose to live anywhere in the world. In contrast, progressive activists are loathe to express these sentiments For example, just 34 percent of progressive activists say they are “proud to be American” compared to 62 percent of Asians, 70 percent of blacks, and 76 percent of Hispanics.
Patriotism is a fundamental American value that some parts of the Democratic party now seem reluctant to embrace. That’s a problem.”
link
As long as we're off topic:
For those who were born here, to boast of being an American is what's known as false pride. They had nothing to do with it.
The ones who deserve to be proud are those who struggled to get here from "shithole countries" and managed to become citizens.
I keep looking for Democrats flying Confederate Battle Flags and drfecating in the halls of Congress, but at this point, I haven't found a single one. And a lot of the "pride" I felt for my Country got dissolved during the 18 months I spent in Vietnam, so people like Dick Cheney could pursue "other objectives ". Don't you dare question my patriotism, M r. Trigoboff, not even a little tiny bit.
Not proud of being an American. Proud of and feeling an allegiance to America.
I don’t see how I could possibly have questioned the patriotism of someone who posts anonymously. Whoever you are, my comments were not directed at you personally.
I was talking about positions taken by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
A guy who lives about a mile down the road has a bumpersticker; Proud to be White" WTF does that even mean ?
I've not once posted anonymously on this blog since I started reading it, some 6 or 7 years ago. Anonymous postings are for people who are too weak to come out in public, left or right.
Very interesting. The progressive values I’m familiar with have more to do with affordable education and healthcare, clean air and water, reducing pollution and greenhouse gases, and liberty and justice for all. Of course, I’m just one a them there suckular humanist liberals.
Blogger edc.pers.home@gmail.com said...
I've not once posted anonymously on this blog since I started reading it, some 6 or 7 years ago. Anonymous postings are for people who are too weak to come out in public, left or right.
But we don’t know your name. That seems anonymous to me.
You also think "woke" is a scurrilous slander, and obviously don't think much of empathy, or caring for our fellow beings.
You're right in one thing, about the anonymity involved in only using my initials to post here. So, I changed it. Peter has known me for some time, and went to school with my brother. Now, go find another nit to pick.
Trigoboff, thanks for letting us see the “real you”
Wow. Just wow.
Great rebuttals, folks.
I guess I should be proud to be 6’6” tall. Worked hard for it hah ha. Same as I was supposedly proud to be a Texan, like many Texans are. But what did any of them do to be proud of? Born to Texas parents makes them proud Texans? “Pride is often considered a negative force in human existence—the opposite of humility and a source of social friction.”. Source unknown.
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