When asked if those numbers change if the defendants are batched in some way, the prosecutor explained that these numbers will be the same if it’s 1 or all 19, because RICO.
All 19 are charged with the crimes of all 19. So to prove RICO against, say, Chesebro and Powell in isolation, the state will still call all 150 witnesses. There’s no time saving to batching them; in fact, it stretches the whole thing out potentially for years.
The judge is young a relatively inexperienced, but the talking heads on MSNBC think he is showing good poise and…erm…judgement so far. He rejected the nonsense Chesebro / Powell severance motions in real time, rather than retreating to his chambers, for example.
In 2018, Trump-appointed Attorney General Bill Barr put Trump-appointed US Attorney David Weiss in charge of investigating Hunter Biden; the private citizen son of a private citizen former VP. Five years later, Weiss came back with a plea deal over the late payment of taxes (“late” being the operative word here as the tax payments were caught up long before the plea deal came around) and choosing not to bring charges over a gun infraction of lying about his drug usage on a license application.
The right lost its shit, claiming that Joe Biden was influencing the prosecution, while ignoring the fact that Biden had every right to fire Weiss when taking office two-and-a-half years ago but did not (it is typical for incoming presidents to fire all the US Attorneys and replace them with their own appointees - just like Trump did - but Biden fired almost all of them, leaving Weiss in place to finish his work).
Never mind those pesky facts. The right wanted Special Prosecutor status for Weiss, despite Weiss stating publicly that such a move would be irrelevant because he has been given every assistance and resource he has requested. Nevertheless, Biden-appointed Attorney General Merrick Garland upgraded Weiss to Special Prosecutor on this case, and the right lost its shit.
This time, they screeched that this move was purely to delay proceedings and cover up the cover up. Because…reasons. Weiss took another pass at the case with his “Special Prosecutor” hat on, and has now decided to bring a charge for the gun violation.
So, after all the right’s performative bullshit, they have succeeded in brow-beating a prosecutor into going after a private citizen’s 2nd amendment rights. Golf fucking clap.
Ron DeSantis has already said he’d pardon/commute the Proud Boys’ sentences, citing BLM protesters who were never prosecuted and a “uniform standard of justice”. Basically, the history that rich white folks receive harsher sentences for the same acts as poor black folks is really weighing on his conscience. The inequality must stop.
Fani Willis has responded to Gym Jordan’s threat to investigate her in the House Kangaroo Committee. It’s pure gold from start to finish. The full document is here but, to give you a flavor of her 9-page missive, here are just some of the section headings and deadly zingers therein:
Your Attempt to Interfere with and Obstruction This Offices Prosecution of State Criminal Cases is Unconstitutional
Your note calls to mind another letter recently submitted to a House select committee: “This unprecedented action serves no legitimate legislative purpose and would set a dangerous precedent for future Congresses…the America people deserve better.” See Letter from Rep. Jim Jordan to Chairman Bennie Thompson dated January 9, 2022
Your letter offends principles of state sovereignty
Your attempt to invoke congressional authority to intrude upon and interfere with an active criminal case in Georgia is flagrantly at odds with the Constitution.
Your letter transgresses separation of powers principles
Your demand for information regarding an ongoing criminal prosecution—a core executive function—is offensive to any notion of separation of powers that recognizes the distinct roles of the executive and legislative functions of government.
Your letter improperly interferes with the administration of criminal justice
Your letter seeks the revelation of non-public and privileged information concerning my office’s investigation and prosecution of a specific case. Your public statements and your letter itself make clear that you lack any legitimate legislative purpose for that inquiry: your job description as a legislator does not include criminal law enforcement, nor does it include supervising a specific criminal trial because you believe that doing so will promote your partisan political objectives.
Your notion that different standards of justice should apply to a select group of people is offensive
Those who wish to avoid felony charges in Fulton County, Georgia — including violations of Georgia RICO law — should not commit felonies in Fulton County, Georgia.
Defendant Trump’s status as a political candidate cannot make him legally immune from criminal prosecution
The criminal defendant about which you express concern was fully aware of the existence of the criminal investigation being conducted by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office at the time he announced his candidacy for President.
An explanation of the basic obligations of a prosecutor is below
Your letter makes clear that you lack a basic understanding of the law, its practice, and the ethical obligations of attorneys generally and prosecutors specifically.
I was in the same room as him when someone asked him if he equated antifa protestors to opportunistic looters that sometimes commingled. His answer was telling and predictable. Not a political statement. Just a first-hand observation.
That fuckin’ guy is such a buffoon. I saw an interview with him at the gym and he had a different “power pose” every time they cut to him. Now 3/4 with arms folded and stern gaze, now side with “double finger guns”, now thumb-to-chin “power squint”. It was so comical it looked like an SNL sketch.
The postural alpha shit these guys get off on has always vexed me. Pick up any b.s. right wing credo in the bookstore and one will be posing at you on the back with a “Come at me, bitch” look on his face. Much of the movement seems to pivot on the turns of phrase of these badly dressed barstool apes.
He sure the fuck is. “What just happened” Peter is you get to go to jail and get a nice wealth hit to boot, and all for what? You are too fucking special to testify? Is there some guiding principle that eludes us all, but only you understand?
A dumbshit is going to jail. That’s what happened.
