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Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign of political prosecutions in opposition to his enemies is struggling — and increasing.
What simply occurred? On Monday, a choose within the Jap District of Virginia dismissed instances in opposition to former FBI Director James Comey and New York state Lawyer Normal Letitia James after discovering that the prosecutor who introduced them, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed as interim US lawyer.
Individually, the Protection Division introduced Monday it was opening an investigation into Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, for showing in a current video reminding US service members that they might refuse illegal orders.
How large of a deal is the Halligan disqualification? Comey, who was charged with mendacity to Congress and obstructing a congressional continuing, and James, who was charged with financial institution fraud, had been each excessive on Trump’s enemies checklist; in September, he straight solicited their prosecutions from Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi in a put up to Reality Social, writing:
What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia???…We will’t delay any longer, it’s killing our fame and credibility.
Monday’s dismissals should not robotically the tip of both case, however they might properly symbolize an insurmountable obstacle; Trump beforehand struggled to discover a lawyer prepared to carry the indictments, which is how he ended up with Halligan.
What’s taking place with Kelly? Not like Comey and James, who had been indicted on legal costs, Kelly is doubtlessly dealing with a court docket martial beneath the Uniform Code of Navy Justice, which exists exterior of the US legal justice system. It’s unclear whether or not the investigation will proceed to that stage, however its mere announcement, on an extremely flimsy pretext, is a big step by the Trump administration.
What’s the massive image? The rule of regulation is essentially holding — up to now — in opposition to Trump’s efforts to direct political prosecutions. However the administration has a lot of instruments at its disposal to maintain attempting, and clearly means to.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
It’s Thanksgiving week, one among our most joyous and least productive stretches of the vacation season (surpassed solely by the week between Christmas and New 12 months). To kick it off, right here’s Vox’s Immediately, Defined podcast on every thing turkey— the best way to prepare dinner it, the way it turned a Thanksgiving fixture, and the reality about tryptophan. In my view, I heartily endorse steering away from the entire turkey and choosing confit turkey thighs in duck fats.
As all the time, thanks for studying, have an important night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
