Comments by "wily wascal" (@wilywascal2024) on "Avlon: How Trump and his team continuously avoided the law" video.

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  6. The problem is really with Merrick Garland and the DOJ. Some Democrats in Congress have filed a civil suit against Trump for January 6. Democrats will refer a complaint for criminal contempt against Bannon to the DOJ, which is the correct route to go. If DOJ declines to prosecute, then Democrats will have to go the inherent contempt route, because taking the civil contempt route would take too long in the courts. But that shouldn't be necessary; the DOJ needs to enforce criminal contempt of Congress. Democrats brought two impeachments against Trump, and put forth an excellent case for conviction in both instances. It was Republicans who refused to hold him accountable, not Democrats. But Democrats aren't responsible for prosecuting Trump and his cronies for their many crimes, the AG and DOJ is. While I understand to some extent Garland's reluctance, because Republicans are going to play victim and accuse the DOJ of being political, a label he doesn't want the DOJ to have under his watch, that is not sufficient excuse for not prosecuting criminals. Being apolitical means the DOJ going after those who break the law, regardless if they are politicians or politically connected, regardless of political affiliation. I understand also why Democrats are treading carefully, because while they may not be abusing their power to get to the bottom of January 6, Republicans have a history of abusing their power to go after their political opponents. I don't think Democrats are necessarily being too soft, but I do think they need to be harder and there needs to be more urgency. Subpoenas should have been issued months ago, knowing that Trump and his minions would stall and try to run out the clock. I do fault Manchin and Sinema for not getting on board with other Democrats on Biden's agenda, because they are sinking Democrats chances for retaining majorities in the House and Senate. That urgency by the Democrats needs to extend to voting rights, eliminating or reforming the filibuster, expanding the Supreme Court, and passing legislation to protect women's reproductive health rights. If Democrats don't deliver for the American people and protect the franchise, they will be ceding power to Republicans, with likely disastrous results for our democracy and country. Insofar as Biden nominated Garland to be AG, I don't think he picked him because he wanted to give Trump a pass. Like Obama and all good Presidents, Biden takes a hands-off approach when it comes to the DOJ. But I do think Garland is turning out to have been a poor choice to head the DOJ. Just when we most needed a strong and courageous AG, we got one who is weak and timid instead. Trump should have already been indicted and arrested: as Individual One by the SDNY Federal prosecutor; for the obstruction of justice counts laid out in the Mueller Report; for his Ukraine shakedown laid out in his first impeachment; for inciting sedition outlined in his second impeachment; and for the Federal crime of election interference, which is also being investigated and potentially prosecuted under state law in Fulton County, Georgia.
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