WandaNov 19, 2022
emptywheel

As I noted on the failing bird, Garland's cited recent developments, plural, in appointing a Special Counsel yesterday.

The more urgent development is probably the GOP majority in Congress, not Trump.

We know, eg, that Scott Perry is almost certainly a subject of the investigation (they already seized his phone). If Jim Jordan is, too, that by itself would require the SCO, since Jordan will be HJC Chair demanding info on investigation.

Nov 19, 2022 at 11:02amWeb
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022

If all the GOP Members of Congress who were on the pardon list are under investigation (with Perry and Jordan, Biggs, Gosar, Gaetz, Marge), that gets you to 6 of a likely 7 seat majority.

Then there are two freshmen MoCs who were at Jan6, Van Orden and Santos.

The MoC exposure BY ITSELF justifies a Special Counsel.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/15/derrick-van-orden-jan-6-congress/

They rallied in D.C. on Jan. 6. Now they’ll join Congress.

Derrick Van Orden attended the Jan. 6 « Save America » rally and marched to the Capitol, though he says he never entered. Now he's headed to Congress.

The Washington Post
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022
And that would make Jack Smith's experience prosecuting Congressman Rick Renzi directly on point.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022

What If the Special Counsel Is about Scott Perry, not Just Donald Trump?

https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/11/19/what-if-the-special-counsel-is-about-scott-perry-not-just-donald-trump/

What If the Special Counsel Is about Scott Perry, not Just Donald Trump? - emptywheel

Given how narrow the GOP majority in the House is, any investigation into a sitting member of Congress could more immediately disrupt the status quo power than an investigation into a potential Presidential candidate. Which means the appointment of Jack Smith as Special Counsel may also pertain to the investigation of Scott Perry's actions leading up to January 6.

emptywheel
Show threadBabbieNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel wow
Show threadTrishFNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel You have me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait til they get this train rolling.
Show threadFictionalClownNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel My exact thoughts, Garland did not want to indict sitting Republicans, which makes sense to have a SC work his way to TFG after taking out all the co conspirators still in Congress, they made the process easy by asking for pardons https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jan-6-panel-names-republican-lawmakers-sought-pardons-trump-rcna35090
Jan. 6 panel names the Republican lawmakers who sought pardons from Trump

On Thursday, the Jan. 6 panel named names and offered specific details about requests made by Republican lawmakers for pardons from Donald Trump.

NBC News
Show threadNance millerNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel I was thinking along similar lines like current elected officials in Congress. The probe had enough Rs involved that could potential change the makeup of the new house. Just my thinking.
Show threadbmazNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel Rick Renzi. Have not seen that name for a while. A lot of that work was done by D-AZ people though, not Smith.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022

@bmaz Yup.

A lot of the work on Jan 6 will have been done by Thomas Windom and DC USAO people.

Show threadbmazNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel Renzi really is a blast from the past though. Even I had mostly forgotten about him.
Show threadDannyboyguymanNov 19, 2022
@bmaz @emptywheel ok, yeah, I'm down to dredge up the political firing of US attorneys scheme.
Show thread#SCIENCEMATTERSNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel this is the best take I've read so far and if we can get Jordan in a jail cell I'm all for it.
Show thread@GatekeeperNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
People fail to realize its much bigger than Trump. Garland said multiple times that anyone involved will be held accountable. Patience.
Show threadJillZNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
Could all 147 be under investigation?
my VA01 congressional rep Wittman is on Mo Brooks’s general pardon request list. Personally, I’d like to know what Wittman knew about Green Bay Sweep before he joined the 147 certification rejectors on 1/6. Wittman went to great lengths to defend his vote/cover his ass, claiming he felt it was duty to reject certification because SCOTUS hadn’t ruled on one of the bogus PA election process cases yet.
Show threadWe Can Be GyrosNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel entity as in Zucknation? 🤔
Show thread@GatekeeperNov 19, 2022

@emptywheel

Dems could regain control of the house if Marg and the cult are indicted...

Show threadKaren SlaterNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel initially I thought appointment of a special counsel was a bad idea. Because whomever was appointed would need time to get up to speed, it would only serve to delay. But now that I hear things like this AND Jack Smith’s resume, I think it was brilliant.
Show threadChopinsHeartNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel Now that would be Strategy to get incredibly excited about. @davetroy Jack Smith info here. Going after the pardon people. What a way to squeeze the tube and leave Trump empty and useless. @marie_cast !
Show threadmarie_cast Nov 19, 2022
@ChopinsHeart @emptywheel @davetroy
Thank you ☺️
I hope you’re feeling better.
Show threadChopinsHeartNov 19, 2022
@marie_cast @emptywheel @davetroy Yes it might be indeed. Nothing worse for a narcissist than to be alone without monkeys.
Show threadRay StrodeNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel okay so lets indict trump on Monday and the special council can do their thing for members of congress as needed
Show threadOldTurk🗽Focus: #FreePeltierNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel good catches
Show threadSue CohenNov 20, 2022
@emptywheel
It’s why I am so angry at Garland & DOJ
No matter what they do now?
It's gonna be too little too late.
Their slow pace allowed Republicans to retake the House
"Choosing not to act for fear of political criticism or consequences is in itself a "deeply political act"
Show threadcitymom92Nov 19, 2022
@emptywheel how would it affect the seats? I guess if their indicted they can lose time being able to vote in congress but otherwise I don’t understand how this works toward getting them out short term.
Show threadForbestonowNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
Thank you. I have not heard a single other mention of that aspect and it clarifies it a lot.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022

@Forbestonow If someone were charged they would not have to resign, but that usually happens.

Replacements would be special elections. Most are in really safe GOP seats.

Show threadForbestonowNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
Yes, but the already banshee quality to their lashing out would be super-charged. So for the more independent minded voter having the recommendation to indict come from the SC probably helps. The base are going ape-sh*t regardless but for the non brainwashed it might matter.
Show threadKailaNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel @Forbestonow Not necessarily all - PA Republican party has a recent history of nominating people from the far right and we've come within 2% of sending Perry home before (although not this year). The right person could win an open seat I think and Dems might have the motivation to turn out.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022
@kailagenevieve @Forbestonow What was the margin this year?
Show threadKailaNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel @Forbestonow 8% this year but Perry enjoys a lot more name recognition than anyone up against him. Without that in play, who knows? Money will also be a factor as it will gush in for a special election regardless of where it is on both sides.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022
@kailagenevieve TY @Forbestonow
Show threadDeanNov 19, 2022

@emptywheel @kailagenevieve @Forbestonow

The best challenger to Perry was Depasquale, who didn't run this year. Perry's challenger this year had basically 0 local presence.

Show threadGeorge Takei  🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽Nov 19, 2022
@emptywheel very good point
Show threadJim SheerinNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
Show threadChaiah JacobsonNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel The House majority will be a major annoyance but legislatively is moot. The US Senate won’t allow the crap the House will send to them. It won’t be brought to the floor. So, while idiocy will rule the House Repuklicans, the Senate will keep them in check.
Show threadChaiah JacobsonNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel The House will be denied by the US Senate as the garbage pit through for legislation won’t be brought to the Senate Floor. The House Will act stupidly. The Senate will muffle what they can. Scott Perry attempted to overthrow our govt and should be nowhere near our Capitol. He should be in prison. The idiots who elected him are foul.
Show threadEverydaymanNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel Thank you for this. Looking for a silver lining in all this. Just hoping for accountability somewhere!
Show threadLorraineNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel I believe the bird is flailing, still a bit uncertain if it ends up failing and dying off.
Show threadMJ@INVRNov 19, 2022

@emptywheel Rep. Scott Perry at #CPAC — https://www.conservative.org/video/the-freedom-caucus-agenda-rep-scott-perry/

If you’re not with us; you are the enemy.

The Freedom Caucus Agenda: Rep. Scott Perry | CPAC

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

CPAC
Show threadLadyOzmaNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel honestly wondered if we would ever see action on the multiple congress people who are guilty af of aiding and abetting. Not just JJ. We know MTG, Hawley, LB… multiple guilty people. My hope is that we are absolutely getting the SCO to get ALL of them. I still don’t understand how on earth MTG and LB got to run again. Sigh.
Show threademptywheelNov 19, 2022
@LadyOzma It's REALLY hard to pass the Speech and Debate bar. And most of what we KNOW people did could fall within protected activities.
Show threadLadyOzmaNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel idk seems like running around the country and telling people the election was stolen and this was a civil war and then trying to help the speaker of the house be assassinated and then requesting a pardon would be pretty obvious but 🤷🏻‍♀️
Show threadSuzanne StephensNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel In his recent book, implicated a dozen or more members of Congress who communicated with Mark Meadows around Jan. 6. Some of them are going to have far bigger problems than Hunter Biden’s laptop.
Show threadCOberNov 19, 2022
@emptywheel
Show threadSandyInRockvilleNov 20, 2022
@emptywheel I hope it’s also about Rep Barry Loudermilk and the tunnel tours he gave.
Show threadMiss EllsworthNov 20, 2022

@emptywheel This is the most sensible thing I've read about the SC appointment yet.

And thanks for posting it here instead of just on the nurs bird site. I'll be avoiding that place once he returns but don't want to miss content like this

Show threadKschdrNov 20, 2022
@emptywheel excited to see you here.
Show threadGrandma’s High Again 🙄Nov 20, 2022
@emptywheel This makes sense.
Show threadSnargleNov 20, 2022
@emptywheel Seeing Trump taken down would be extremely satisfying. Seeing Perry taken down would be icing on the cake.
Show threadEt0hmanNov 21, 2022
@emptywheel good to see you here.
Show threadMrs A, Gr Lks Costal EliteNov 21, 2022

@emptywheel well, when you spell it out like that, I’m feeling better about it.
Still.. thought..garland should have hustled up a bit.
Holy sHite, it’s not like we have until the end of time.
I want the drumpf gone from daily coverage, etc etc etc

So sick of him
#UsPolitics #tRump

Show threadLacyguitarNov 22, 2022
@emptywheel yes, I thought that too. Wonder why MSM isn't picking up on it...?