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| credit: M. Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
Two developments this week are worthy of posting here. First, Fulton County DA Fani Willis has given law enforcement personnel a "heads up" in a letter stating indictments coming between July 11th and September 1st "may provoke a significant public reaction.” Clearly to US Person this means Hair Trumpillini will be indicted for a crime for the second time this year. It is unlikely that the indictment of Rudy Guilliani or Sidney Powell would give rise to such possible political protest. Fani wrote in her letter, “Please accept this correspondence as notice to allow you sufficient time to prepare the Sheriff’s Office and coordinate with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that our law enforcement community is ready to protect the public,” Willis wrote to Fulton Sheriff Patrick Labat. (copy here). Similar letters were handed to Atlanta's Chief of Police and the Director of Emergency Services.
The Ochre Menace has called for public demonstrations against what he claims are baseless charges. Ms. Willis must have taken notice of the preparations made by law enforcement in New York prior to his indictment for falsifying business records to cover up a payoff to an adult film star. Police barricaded and closed streets surrounding the Manhattan courthouse as well as the route from LaGuardia to Trump Tower and the justice center. Just prior to Trumpillini's brief appearance to be booked and enter a plea, several courtrooms were also closed.
Second, Jack Smith is moving ahead with his multi-faceted investigation of the attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States. Can you believe that sentence? Former VP Mike Pence testified to the grand jury after months of delay and litigation over privilege claims. Claims of executive and legislative privilege by both Pence and his former boss were rejected by federal courts. The latest came on Wednesday night when the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Pence to testify. Pence's testimony under oath, which lasted seven hours, no doubt closely followed what he revealed in his memoirs about conversations with Defendant Trump just prior to the insurrection on January 6th. But it is important to the case against Trumpilini that Pence's testimony be on the record under oath. Trumpilini pressured Pence to reject slates of electors during the vote count on January 6th, but he refused to do so allegedly telling the would be dictator, “Mr. President, I don’t question there were irregularities and fraud,” Pence wrote that he told Trump. “It’s just a question of who decides, and under the law that is Congress.” He at least got that part correct--there was no material fraud affecting the election.
One key witness remains to be examined under oath: former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Meadows was also at the center of the plot to subvert the election of 2020. He may face his own culpability for his conspiracy with Defendant Trump--on the other side of the V in United States v. Trump et al. Whether Jack Smith will offer him a deal to testify against his ring-leader is definitely a viable question. Meadows has escaped sworn scruitiny so far by partially cooperating with the January 6th committee's investigation. His testimony could be the final straw that breaks Individual One's remaining plausible legal defense of no corrupt intent.
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| credit: Deering, Arkansas Democrat Gazette |