Drawing the Line
Huge victory for the DOJ and the rule of law! After a 7 week trial and 3 days of deliberations, the jury found the Oath Keepers founder and leader, Stewart Rhodes, guilty of Seditious Conspiracy along with other crimes. Seditious Conspiracy is a Civil War era statute and is one of the worst crimes anyone can be charged with. Rhodes could go to jail for the rest of his life. It’s rare that people get charged with it because it’s so hard to prove. Another Oath Keepers leader, Kelly Meggs, was found guilty of Seditious Conspiracy too. Three other Oath Keepers were tried along with them and they were found guilty on several counts. All 5 were found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, and aiding and abetting. There are two more trials that begin next month; one for some more Oath Keepers who were part of a stacked military formation that breached the Capitol and the other will be for the Proud Boys including their leader, Enrique Tarrio (who is already an FBI informant). They face Seditious Conspiracy charges so they might want to cut some deals with the government and plead guilty so they don’t spend the rest of their lives in jail.
The government made its case. The gates are open for more convictions now that they got the head of snake. The ripple effect will be far and wide, and deep. There are a lot more people in line for trials and many who have yet to be arrested. Members of Congress? They conspired to take over the government from inside the White House. Roger Stone? Rudy Giuliani? Mark Meadows? The Secret Service? Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife, Ginni Thomas?
Militia group members may get cold feet if they rethink acting out their fantasies about starting another civil war. Prison time for conspiracy to obstruct is 20 years. All of the tough guys who have fallen in line behind the likes of Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Enrique Tarrio, and Trump might want to try reality for a change. Taking on the government is not a game.
The DOJ’s 100% conviction record for jury trials for January 6 still stands.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered Mark Meadows to comply with the Fulton County grand jury demand for his testimony.
If Lindsey Graham didn’t plead the 5th after fighting the subpoena from Fulton County, what deal did he make?
Trump’s ally in the Secret Service, Tony Ornato, testified in front of the Select Committee. Kellyanne Conway testified for 5 hours. The Select Committee is starting to wrap it up. They have to get their final report out next month before the Republicans take control of the House and put an end to all legitimate investigations so they can start investigating the investigators and put the country through another 2 years of hell with political theater and no legislation. Jamie Raskin is in charge of taking care of any outstanding issues and recommending possible criminal and civil charges.
Mike Pence has announced that he is “closing the door” on testifying before the Select Committee because he doesn’t have to. “Congress has no right to my testimony.”
DOJ’s Special Counsel Jack Smith wants to question Mike Pence regarding January 6. Jack worked on Thanksgiving. Mike Pence will have to testify if Jack tells him to.
Jack Smith has been charged with prosecuting Trump and the top dogs. The little dogs will be prosecuted by the same people who are already on the case. His appointment will expedite things because he’ll only be focused on Trump and most of that work is already done.
Stephen Miller testified before the grand jury.
For the first time in US history, the top ranks of House leadership for the Democrats won’t include any white men. Hakeem Jeffries is set to be Speaker, Katherine Clark is already assistant speaker, and Pete Aguilar is set to be Whip. They come from very different backgrounds. House Democrats are building institutional power by giving more Blacks, Latinos, and women a place at the head table. They all earned their place in line. The Democrats are progressing and moving forward as the stewards of the institution, defenders of democracy, and representatives of the real (diverse) America. Meanwhile, the Republicans refuse to let go of a past that never really was and are becoming more “Christian”, more racist, more homophobic, more sexist, more anti-Semitic, and more authoritarian because they’re scared to death that the “others” are going to take over and take from them what they never really earned — their guaranteed place at the front of the line.
Hakeem Jeffries fun fact: Hakeem Jeffries isn’t afraid to go after Clarence Thomas. He already has.
Hey media! Gen Z, LGBTQ, POCs don’t hang out in diners in the Midwest. Time to move the a-holes of the a-rolls at the diner to the b-rolls. There are, and always have been, other people in line.
