Former Pres. & Minions Threaten FBI, AG, Judge, others

What will it take to make this monstrous man “go away” from our consciousness? When will he stop dominating the media for his never-ending misdeeds? Those in the media tossed the word ‘unprecedented’ around a lot these past few days. I guess they are correct. Never before have we seen a former president refuse to answer questions in a civil case and take the Fifth Amendment over 400 times. We have never seen a former president refuse to respond appropriately to a valid subpoena. Nor have we ever seen a search warrant served on a former president for misuse or improper possession of top-secret and classified documents.

The National Archives notified the FBI earlier this year that classified documents were among those records seized previously (after DJT had ignored a year-long request), from the residence at Mar-a-Largo and informed the agency, after a review, that others were still missing. According to news reports, the FBI and a special terrorism agent met with the former president and his attorneys and received some more documents; they were told that there were no others. The Archive insisted that there were others, so a Grand Jury issued a subpoena for additional documents; they ignored this request. As the last step, the FBI requested a judge approve a search warrant. They executed this warrant without notice this past Monday.

Once the search finished, in an attempt to create anger against a legitimate government search warrant, DJT falsely claimed that he had no classified documents and that the search warrant was a fishing expedition. He stirred up his followers with rants against the “out-of-control government” that set the FBI after him illegally on a “raid of his residence” when he had already given them documents. Fellow Republicans shouted outrage at these actions and called for the defunding of the FBI for an overreach of its powers. (Gee, this is from the Law-and-Order Republicans who berated the Democrats when some spoke about out-of-control police after the murder of George Floyd.) Congressman Kevin McCarthy warned Attorney General (AG) Merritt Garland that as soon as the Republicans took charge of the House that he would demand hearings on this matter and that Garland needed to get ready and clear his calendar. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (who has little to do these days) indicated that she would institute articles of impeachment against AG Garland. Senator Rand Paul suggested that the Espionage Act should be repealed.

And, of course, appeals for funds to help him fight this “out-of-control witch hunt” soon hit the airwaves and internet. Right-wing media soon took up the show of support and railed against “Biden’s overreach”. Fox has continued, even today, to beat the “president as victim” drum. President Biden and the Democrats in Congress have said little or nothing about this matter and are allowing it to play out. The President’s office stated that he had no warning about this action.

MAGA followers and others bombarded Internet sites with threats to government offices and calls to arm and prepare for war. A former military man who had been at the Capitol during the January 6^th Insurrection attacked an FBI office in Cincinnati, Ohio, was repelled and eventually killed in a police action. This weekend a man drove his car into barriers at the Capitol, jumped out, fired into the air, and then killed himself. Related activity, who can say? DJT lies-people die; it has happened before. Senators called for a release of the Search Warrant and a list of what was taken. However, as was later pointed out, the FBI gave copies of both to the former president and one of his attorneys, who was present at the home in Florida on the day of the search. But releasing them was not in his best interests, was it?

In an unusual step, AG Garland subsequently held a press conference and stated that he had approved the request for the search warrant and had asked the Florida judge who issued it to release the Search Warrant and the list of documents taken if the former president did not object. He called a bluff against the former president, noting that he had the documents himself and could have released them; the FBI could not do this unless permitted by the judge who issued it. The AG also spoke up in defense of the members of the FBI across the country who serve nobly and well and were not deserving of the condemnations they have been receiving. They released the search warrant and list on Friday and the results shocked many Americans.

The list noted several layers of classified information among the 11 records found in the dozen boxes removed according to the Washington Post: Confidential, Secret and Top-Secret, and Top-Secret Sensitive-Compartmented, the highest level of documents, that are only supposed to be viewed in a secure facility from which electronic devices are banned. Such documents may contain information about secret operations or moles in other countries that would harm U.S. foreign interests if released. There have been some reports that information gleaned from electronic intercepts or about foreign leaders, including French President Macron, was in the documents. Others have reported that there was information about our nuclear defenses, but this has not been confirmed. Although these documents were said to have been found in various areas of the residence, aside from the storage facility and perhaps the safe that was opened, this remains unclear, as the agents are not talking about the incident. Amazingly, the former president followed the actions of the agents at his home by a closed-circuit TV which he followed from his northern residence. There have also been reports that someone on the inside, such as a family member, a secret service agent, or a person who worked at the resort, or for the former president, might have provided information to the FBI about the presence of protected documents they found in his bedroom.

What is so distressing about these actions is that the resort, although protected by the Secret Service, was not a closed or firmly secure facility. Staff and vendors were in and out, as well as known members and guests of the club. Previously, a Chinese spy was arrested inside the resort while claiming rights to access the pool. She had thumb drives with malware on them and other devices. Were other countries or agents attempting to gain access or eavesdrop electronically on the residence? I do not know, but I have read that the former president would not use a secured telephone and preferred his device.

Once this information was released, the former president stated that he automatically declassified any document he removed. Although the president may declassify documents, this is not automatic. However, there are processes for agency approval of declassifying any documents that were not followed. There is no paper trail showing that any of these procedures were followed. His staff has now given multiple accounts about the use of classified documents; they cannot all be true. The reality is that these documents should not have been removed from the White House.

The FBI released the search warrant without the names of the agents; the authorities redacted these. However, the copy DJT received did not redact that information. He has released this information to right-wing groups. Consequently, these agents, who were just doing their jobs, have now been threatened, their addresses have been released and they and their family members are receiving additional security. Federal offices across the country are now increasing security after a nationwide alert has been issued jointly by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security because of threats received. The Judge, who approved the warrant, is Jewish and has also been threatened with anti-Semitic rhetoric and his synagogue targeted. The congregation canceled services this weekend.

So, it seems that the MAGA forces were not content with seditious conspiracy against an act of Congress to certify the electoral count and the 2020 election, nor threats to the life of the Vice President, they are now encouraging their minions nationwide with another lie, that the government illegally conspired against the former president. I certainly hope that there are no lone wolves out there that would blow up a Federal Building somewhere. However, there are also still Proud Boys and three percenters roaming around, and who knows how many other militias are out there who could, in an ungoverned fashion, take destructive actions in some manner? How many deranged loners with stores of guns and ammunition will be encouraged to defend the president?

The former president has said that he believes that these actions have helped his presidential bid for 2024. David Brooks wrote in the New York Times, that it might help. Others are not so sure. Some Republicans have gone silent since the release of the lists of classified documents found at Mar-a-Largo even as others repeat the lies. The warrant lists three Federal laws that may have been broken: (section 793, section 1519, and section 2071) - The Espionage Act (gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information), Destruction or Hiding of Federal Documents to obstruct an Investigation, and Concealment, Removal, or theft or destruction of Federal Documents. If a Grand Jury issued the records subpoena, is there an active investigation of the former President? Could they actually indict him? What would that do to rile up his supporters? Tough questions, no good answers.

In other news this week, and there was some, the Democrats in the House passed the Inflation Reduction Act previously approved only by Democrats in the Senate. It will go to the President for his signature this week. This is a really big deal as it provides major support for the climate with reductions in fossil fuels and increased wind and solar efforts, it decreases drug costs under Medicare and allows for some negotiated prices, provides some benefits for off-shore drilling and pipelines (thanks to Manchin), and creates a minimum corporate tax of 15%, but drops the carried interest removal provision (thanks to Kyrsten Sinema). It did not carry forward the earned income credits for children, or provide more funding for child care, elder care, or college debt relief. But looking at the bottom line, it also provides for federal debt reduction, more electric cars and trucks, and more jobs, so those are all important provisions. The Democrats are feeling better about the midterms, which have long been thought to be a debacle for them; that may not be so with these several wins under their belts and the issues of abortion choice sitting front and center. The Kansas vote buoyed many Democrats, while Republicans are avoiding the issue where ever possible. Tuesday there are primaries in Wyoming and Alaska. Two Republican women who have opposed the former president are on the ballot. Senator Lisa Murkowski is expected to win against a MAGA-endorsed opponent. She is an independent voice for Alaska and one of the few Republican women who speak out for abortion and contraception rights. In Wyoming, January 6^th committee co-chair, Representative Lynne Cheney is expected to lose her primary against a former supporter now endorsed by the former president. Cheney has made clear that she hopes that DJT never gets elected again. He won her state overwhelmingly in 2020, so the only way she has a chance is if Democrats cross over to vote in the Republican primary. Guess we shall find out soon.

In other election news, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who declared victory last week, had another surprise when 102 additional provisional ballots, that had not been opened, were found. After these were reviewed, and they counted those approved, his lead dropped to 35 votes, but it was still a lead, so he again declared victory. His opponent David Blair indicated he would seek a recount. In Frederick County, it appears that some mailed ballots were counted twice. A county council race that was separated by three votes was noted to now be down to a one-vote difference. However, the loser in that race has challenged her opponent, claiming that she does not meet the residency requirement of one year in the district. Currently, the results have been decertified and a final resolution is pending. In Montgomery County, they certified the results on Saturday. Both counties showed how the checks and balances in the system have worked. When the internal audits were performed, the system allowed the errors to show up and be corrected.

Both counties hope that the delays from mail-in ballots can be alleviated before the fall elections as the restrictions put in place by Governor Hogan were obstructions in the process. Incidentally, the Governor stated in an interview that he was not running for president as an Independent and had made no decisions about 2024, even as his Lt. Governor noted, that Hogan might run as an Independent. However, he visited Iowa recently. Gotta’ get your stories straight, guys!

Long entry tonight–just so much going on, so bear with me, please.

“Til next week-Peace!