By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 11, 2020 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 11, 2020 |
The Senate Republicans — and you, Susan Collins — chose to acquit Donald Trump last week during his impeachment trial, but they had to know that it would only embolden him. He knows now that he can do whatever he wants, be as authoritarian as he wants, be as lawless as he wants, and that there will be no consequences. He fired Gordon Sondland. He fired Alexander Vindman. He fired Alexander Vindman’s brother for no reason.
And now? He’s turned his Department of Justice — what is meant to be an independent apolitical arm of the executive branch — into his own personal bitch. Yesterday, government prosecutors recommended a 7-9 year sentence for Roger Stone, convicted of seven felonies for impeding an investigation to benefit Donald Trump. Last night, Donald Trump took to Twitter to say the sentencing recommendation was “disgraceful” and “unfair.”
Today, William Barr’s Department of Justice overruled the government prosecutors and asked for a more lenient sentence. In response, one prosecutor resigned. Another has just withdrawn from the case. This is absolute madness; it is insane levels of corruption. The DOJ has lost all semblance of independence. If there was any doubt before that it was a politically-driven department, that doubt has been erased.
Understatement - but this is a very significant day at the Barr Justice Department.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) February 11, 2020
"Just very disappointed," said Sen. @MarkWarner, the top ranking Democrat on Senate Intel, reacting to news that DOJ will ask for less prison time for Roger Stone
— Lindsay Wise (@lindsaywise) February 11, 2020
"You know, we used to actually have an independent Justice Department. I'm not sure we can say that anymore" https://t.co/2lhA0iK8HU
It's actually a disgrace that Zelinsky is the one leaving the office over this. The political people - in this case the US attorney - are the ones who are supposed to resign in protest over political interference, in part to protect the career officials.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 11, 2020
Of all the things for the Justice Department to absolutely crush its remaining credibility on… it’s Roger Freaking Stone.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) February 11, 2020
Republican Senators (other than Romney) gave Trump the green light and he's gassing the engine.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 11, 2020
We are on the precipice of a dictatorship if we aren’t already there. This is scary. We gotta wake the hell up before it’s too goddamn late, before the November elections don’t even matter.
Source: NYTimes