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Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

You can’t love your country only when you win.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Found liable for massive fraud, is required to post a massive bond, gets a break, then files a *fraudulent* bond!

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

It’s a doggy dog world.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

I really should read my own blog.

Another missed opportunity for Jamie Dimon to just shut the fuck up.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

“Loving your country does not mean lying about it’s history.”

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / AG Garland to speak at approx. 2:30 PM ET

AG Garland to speak at approx. 2:30 PM ET

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This post is in: 

AG Garland is expected to make a statement, topic unannounced, around 2:30 PM ET today — as I post this we’re already 15 minutes behind that time and Garland has not started, yet. This C-SPAN link works for me, and below is a CNBC live view on YouTube:

 

I may not be around to watch/monitor thread, but given recent developments thought this worthy of a Front Page.

Open Thread!

Reader Interactions

102Comments

  1. 1.

    Jerry

    Approximately, is right. Sheesh! Is George Jones his idol? Is Garland getting too shitfaced drunk to be able to get on stage?

  4. 4.

    Jerry

    He was supposed to go on at 2:30, so I’m attempting to make a humorous comparison to George “No Show” Jones

  7. 7.

    Jerry

    @JPL: He’s awaiting news that they have trump in hand cuffs.

    That was going to be my second attempt at humor. That evidence is still piling in and he’s waiting for it all to speak on it

  12. 12.

    Old School

    The Justice Department, and Garland, have a longstanding policy about not commenting on criminal investigations before charges are filed.

    People are going to be disappointed if this is non-Trump related.

  13. 13.

    CaseyL

    He’ll probably talk about the previous efforts (subpoenas) to get the documents back, and how Trump ignored them, and then reveal what he can of the warrant (leaving out descriptions of the more sensitive documents).

    Garland has a history of taking to the airwaves to explain, yet again for the folks in the back of the room, that no one is above the law.  He might or might not comment on the fact that Trump keeps flouting the law.

  14. 14.

    Elizabelle

    Buckwheat Zydeco too.  Could not get that man out of his dressing room at one show I attended.  Left about 2 hours after he was due on because enough was enough.

  17. 17.

    SpaceUnit

    I hope Garland brings out some muppets to help explain to the DC press corps that what the FBI retrieved at MAL were classified documents and so he can’t reveal their specific nature.

  19. 19.

    oldgold

    “A jest’s prosperity lies in the ear of him that hears it; never in the tongue of him that makes it.” ― William Shakespeare,

  21. 21.

    MazeDancer

    Actually hope he doesn’t say too much. Otherwise, feels a little James Comey.

    Though, Andrew Weissnann noted Trump revealed the search. So not as Comey-esque.

  23. 23.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @SpaceUnit: They try to keep titles unclassified, though my understanding is that in the case of some of the more sensitive stuff a lot of the titles were in fact classified.

    And from what I hear (just the same internet rumors everybody else is hearing) there was a LOT of VERY sensitive stuff.

  29. 29.

    Jerzy Russian

    Someone from the Justice Department could at least go up there and either explain the delay (for example the AG inadvertently looked looked at an image of Trump’s mug and has the dry heaves) or give an ETA.

  30. 30.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    For me, the “waiting for the star to appear” throws me, oddly enough, back to the Apollo 11 moon landings. They landed, then we all watched the lander on our screens for two hours while we were being told the astronauts were dressing. Apparently putting on a 1969 lunar space suit is more complicated than just pulling on a pair of jeans.

    I was 11 years old and it was past my bedtime, and I could not keep my eyes open. I THINK I managed to wake up enough to see it when Armstrong finally came out, but that may be a false memory and I might be remembering recorded video instead.

  31. 31.

    Ken

    @Old School: People are going to be disappointed if this is non-Trump related.

    “The DOJ is announcing a change to the 17.2481.3(c) rule whereby administrators category 8 and above must report expenses not exceeding $125 on their quarterly form D2093-6…”

  34. 34.

    Betty Cracker

    @Elizabelle: The PBS documentary on country music was awesome, but my favorite line in the whole thing was when one dude said Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn sang about each other’s lives.

  35. 35.

    Jerry

    @Elizabelle:Poor guy.  Poor Tammy Wynette.  Stand by your … bottle.

    He was addicted to drugs as well. A real country music tradition. But thankfully he was able to put those demons at bay later on in life and finish his career strongly. I saw him in the early aughts at the NC State Fair and not only was he on time for his set, but he put on an incredible show.

  38. 38.

    trollhattan

    @Betty Cracker: Began watching with [checks notes] zero expectations but got hooked quickly and happily devoured the entire series. Love it when that happens.

    Willie Nelson walks out of the bar, lays down in the middle of the street and hopes for somebody to run him over.

  39. 39.

    MisterForkbeard

    @MazeDancer: Honestly? He should just say “Mr. Trump has stated repeatedly that the warrant was problematic and demanded we share information about it. To that end, we’re going to be showing that to you today as we take that to mean we his permission to make that public. ”

    And then show that Trump was holding valuable national security information that he’d lied about having.

  51. 51.

    Elizabelle

    @Jerry:  Wiki informs that one of his nicknames was No Show Jones.

    Good that you got to see an excellent show, though.

    ==

    Garland personally approved seeking the search warrant.  DOJ does not take those actions lightly.  Now , for the unfounded attacks on DOJ and FBI professionals …

  54. 54.

    Elizabelle

    And, the tight ship sails off.  No questions from the press.  All he can say at this time.

  55. 55.

    catfishncod

    AG Garland is spitting fire, but is holding back whatever he feels is inappropriate. But he really wants the attacks to stop.

    Apparently it was the motion filing in Florida that was the holdup?

  56. 56.

    trollhattan

    @Ken: Heh.

    “Henceforth, DOJ per diem, while still based on the promulgated GSA rate schedule, will be prorated for the last travel day of any Agency-approved trip reaching or exceeding six consecutive days. Trips less than six consecutive days will be reimbursed for the entirety of that trip, including the last day regardless of whether said travel spanned an entire 24-hour period that final day.

    “There being no questions, this concludes today’s briefing. Thank you.”

  60. 60.

    JPL

    @Leto:  You should watch on the link provided above.   They are going to release the warrant and the list of items taken.

    His job is to protect the integrity of the employees.

    He’s a little pissed about trump’s language

    A judge has to unseal.

  61. 61.

    Betty Cracker

    Garland says he personally approved it, so the Newsweek story was wrong about that.

  62. 62.

    West of the Rockies

    Between Garland and Chuck Rosenberg, a very Vulcan-like declaration.   Informative if not very edifying.

  63. 63.

    Ken

    @Origuy: That’s the government’s request to unseal the warrant. Has the warrant been released too? I see you edited while I was posting.

    I do not speak legal, but it looks like whether or not it’s unsealed is now up to Trump? Which is delightful.

    That said, the former President should have an opportunity to respond to this Motion and lodge objections, including with regards to any “legitimate privacy interests” or the potential for other “injury” if these materials are made public. Romero, 480 F.3d at 1246.

  64. 64.

    Elizabelle

    So.  Trump is in the “fuck around and find out” portion of his miserable life.

    Refused to answer NYS AG Letitia James’s questions yesterday.  Took the Fifth repeatedly.

    And today, the nation’s Attorney General files a motion to unseal the warrant, and take the air out of Trump’s high decibel whining.

  68. 68.

    Origuy

    @Ken: Yes, I edited my comment. Sorry for the confusion.

    Trump will probably drag this out as long as possible. He’d rather whine than let the truth come out.

  72. 72.

    CaseyL

    You have to read the order to get the full impact: DoJ will release the warrant and the list of items (redacted) unless Trump files a motion to protest their doing so.

    I wonder how long his gang has to respond.  I wonder if a non-response will be considered consent.

    This is like watching a “coming attractions” teaser.

  73. 73.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I thought I missed only the first couple of seconds, because I thought what I saw was a big nothingburger. But going by y’all’s comments, there was more to be seen. Off to watch Garland’s statement from the get go now.

  74. 74.

    JPL

    Garland also stated he was the one to approve, and I wonder if that was to take the heat off of the judge who approved the search warrant.

  75. 75.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Betty Cracker: Pretty much, yeah. We’re showing the warrant. He confirmed that he personally approved it because of the seriousness of the search, and that it was approved judicially after showing probable cause. And he’s super angry at Republicans who are attacking law enforcement because their god-king is being investigated.

    Lots of other good recent news too: We’ve had confirmation that Trump was subpoenaed and ignored it. Two sources have said the documents were so secret and related to national security they had no choice but to act.

  76. 76.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    Merrick Garland’s statement was absolutely pitch perfect!  He was clearly Biden’s best cabinet appointment and a big fuck you to that scumbag Mitch McConnell for blocking his SCOTUS nomination.

  77. 77.

    zhena gogolia

    It makes me very happy that people like Garland are in positions of authority, rather than people like Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions.

  78. 78.

    zhena gogolia

    @JPL: There was a bullshit anonymous source article in Newsweek that said Wray made the decision and Garland didn’t even know about it. I knew it was bullshit.

  79. 79.

    MisterForkbeard

    @JPL: Garland would have approved it on the FBI side – the judge is still going to be in the crosshairs because they’re the judicial reviewer.

  80. 80.

    Ken

    Any guesses which pundits will not understand (or pretend to not understand) that the only person now preventing us from seeing that warrant is Trump?

  82. 82.

    Ken

    @zhena gogolia: I really do think that news organizations* should have a policy: if an anonymous source lies to them, they will publish the name, and will have nothing to do with that source in the future.

    * We can separately debate whether Newsweek qualifies as either news or an organization.

  84. 84.

    PAM Dirac

    @Wyatt Salamanca:

     

    Merrick Garland’s statement was absolutely pitch perfect!

    I thought so too. Clear, precise, with a very strong vibe of “You want to keep fucking around, we will make damn sure you keep finding out”.

  87. 87.

    artem1s

    Garland handled the Oklahoma City FBI bombing investigation. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to deal with those families and reviewing the evidence. Don’t think for one minute he doesn’t understand the ramifications of TFG and media calling out the MAGAt Mob on the judge and FBI and what that kind of violence that can lead to. Wouldn’t surprise me if this morning’s attack on the Cincinnati office is part of what has him so pissed off.

  88. 88.

    hilts

    @zhena gogolia:

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    About a year ago, William Arkin, the author of this Newsweek article, posted a message on one of his social media accounts in which he trashed MSNBC and CNN for their coverage of Trump claiming they were obsessed with him and were ignoring other more important news just for the sake of Nielsen ratings. Given the sentiments Arkin expressed in that screed, I’d be highly skeptical of anything he writes about Trump.

  89. 89.

    Sean

    @SiubhanDuinne: Newsweek was where I first read about global warming and its impacts as a young teen. I went to my dad after reading it like “what are we going to do about this?” wherein he told me it was a hoax, and it’s all seasonal, yadda yadda. That was 1993-ish. That article and subsequent chat with my dad had more to do with my evolving mind than anything I else I can remember at that age. It was the first time I realized that my dad wasn’t right about some things and that I didn’t agree.  So it makes me really sad to see a publication that once galvanized me turn to garbage.

  90. 90.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @PAM Dirac:

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Talk about your polar opposites.

    On the one hand, you have Merrick Garland you projects immense gravitas and nose to the grindstone competence.

    On the other hand, you have a profusely sweaty, foaming at the mouth, Donald Trump who does not possess a single, solitary atom of gravitas.

    I look forward to Trump finally getting his totalitarian ass dragged into a courtroom.

  92. 92.

    Betty Cracker

    @hilts: I didn’t see Arkin’s rant, but from your summary, I’m not sure he’s completely wrong. Lots of reasonable folks here and elsewhere have complained that the media is obsessed with Trump and ignoring more important stories in favor of chasing the Trump circus.

    Personally, I’m ambivalent about the level of coverage Trump deserves. He’s reinvigorated fascism in this country to a scary degree, and that merits tons of coverage. On the other hand, some folks say covering Trump’s antics just spreads the message.

    It’s obviously dumb and egregious to aim cameras at an empty lectern as CNN used to do in 2016, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to draw the line on coverage.

  93. 93.

    TriassicSands-

    OMG, rogue AG tramples the rights of all Americans by applying the law even-handedly to the greatest victim in human history, Donald J. Trump. This must not stand!

    Trump’s regurgitating the 5th Amendment — a trumpillion [sic] times in NY — on Wednesday, is just more proof of his universal innocence of any and all wrongdoing. As we all know, only guilty people with everything to hide answer questions under oath. Innocent angels, like Trump, understand that only by impeding, disrupting, and ultimately perverting justice can Donald J. Trump’s “truth” be revealed.

    Note to AG Garland: Stop persecuting this delicate flower of a man.

    Over the years, Trump has made it abundantly clear that he isn’t very bright, but is he really stupid enough to keep incriminating evidence in his own, personal possession? Nixon, who was a lot smarter than Trump, did. But wouldn’t that example have been warning enough to a professional criminal like Trump? Only someone living in a fantasy world where s/he is beyond the reach of the law could fail to get the message.

    Fantasy world. Beyond the reach of the law. Yep, Trump in a nutshell. Let’s just hope he is that profoundly stupid.

  94. 94.

    Ken

    @JPL: Is Fox talking about Hunter?

    I saw some screencaps on Twitter, it looks like they’re talking about how this is good news for Trump.

  95. 95.

    misterpuff

    @Betty Cracker: That PBS doc series was awesome. I’m not a country music fan, but it is deep in our culture. I was surprised how many of the songs featured that I actually knew. Some from the blues and early rock and roll and their influence on rock, but some that were just in the “air”, radio and “not really watching” the Porter Wagonner show and Hee-haw as a kid.

  96. 96.

    Betty Cracker

    @misterpuff: It was a great documentary. I am very fond of blue grass and the classic country stuff: Willie, Waylon, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, etc. Most of the newer stuff is crap. Now get off my lawn; I’ve got clouds to shout at!

  98. 98.

    J R in WV

    @Betty Cracker: ​
     

    Garland says he personally approved it, so the Newsweek story was wrong about that.

    Newsweek was once a great news reporting org. Now it is a propaganda outlet for the billionaire who bought the name long after the original news organization went broke. We shouldn’t give Newsweek the time of day.

  99. 99.

    Wanderer

    While waiting to hear Merrick Garland’s comments I was so tired of hearing NBC on air presenters refer to tfg as the President I emailed NBC providing appropriate things to call tfg and explained it was sloppy and their people need training.

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