THU-FRI 3/3-4/22

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky: “We are a nation that broke the enemy’s plans in one week.” (Axios) 

Words of the Day: Conspiracy to Defraud – …This is a key potential charge against then-President Donald J. Trump over an alleged attempt to overturn the presidential election listed in a brief that the attorney for the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection has filed in a California federal court.

The brief challenges lawyer John Eastman’s refusal to turn over thousands of emails the House committee had requested that the panel believes reveals his role in trying to persuade Vice President Mike Pence to reject electors from states now-President Joe Biden won. (The Washington Post and NPR)

Eastman cited attorney-client privileges as a shield against releasing the emails. The House panel has questioned whether Trump was in fact an Eastman client, and the panel’s attorney also argues that Eastman’s claim is a potential violation of the “crime/fraud” exception.

A statement released by House panel Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) says in part; “The facts we’ve gathered strongly suggest that Dr. Eastman’s emails may show that he helped Donald Trump advance a corrupt scheme to obstruct the counting of electoral college ballots and a conspiracy to impede the transfer of power.”

Known Knowns: It has been nearly 13 months since most of us witnessed the obvious in coverage of the attack that disrupted Congress’ certification of the electors from the November 2020 presidential election, and it will likely take additional time for Attorney General Merrick Garland to decide whether and of what, exactly, to charge Donald J. Trump. As long as we still have a democracy, the ex-president can thank our judicial system for that much.

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More Words: Seditious Conspiracy – That’s what Oath Keeper Joshua James pleaded guilty to in a Washington, D.C., federal district court for his participation in the January 6 Capitol insurrection (per Newsweek). To be exact, it contains one count of seditious conspiracy and one count of obstructing an official proceeding (the electoral count certification). James’ attorney filed a separate statement of offense in the plea in return for dropping all other charges, according to the Newsweek report. 

James is expected to “fully co-operate” with the Justice Department during its investigation of Oath Keepers’ role in the riot. Sentencing, at a later date, is expected to be 87 to 108 months.

Known Knowns: The big Oath Keeper catch in this investigation is organization founder Stewart Rhodes. When District Judge Amit Mehta asked whether he entered the Capitol to prevent certification of Biden as president, James replied, “Yes sir.”

Masks are a violation of liberties, but not government interference with one’s self? — Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who allow their children to medically transition genders for possible crimes. According to The Washington Post, a Texas judge has granted a temporary restraining order against those covered by the plaintiffs who brought the suit, not others.

Note: Abbott initiated bans on mask mandates. According to the Centers for Disease Control “Masking is a critical public health tool and is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.”

Yet Abbott said no!

And now here is Abbott, going after parents as criminals with regard to their children who may undergo medical procedures. 

Last year it was an abortion law that bars the procedure after six weeks.

This is really quite remarkable.

Somehow the man believes that when it comes to personal medical decisions, if it is politically popular it is good. Otherwise, no one is going to mess with the political freedom of Texans.

--Edited by Todd Lassa, Gary S. Vasilash and Charles Dervarics