Below is my column in The Hill on the concerning record of Attorney General Merrick Garland on a variety of recent matters, including a frivolous privilege claim to withhold the audiotape of President Joe Biden during the Hur interview. There is a certain corruption of judgment that is evident from this and other decisions by Garland since he became Attorney General.
Here is the column:
This week, Attorney General Merrick Garland took to the pages of the Washington Post to lash out at critics who are spreading what he considers “conspiracy theories crafted and spread for the purpose of undermining public trust in the judicial process itself.” His column, titled “Unfounded attacks on the Justice Department must end,” missed the point.
It is Garland himself who has become the problem. The solution is in Wilmington, Delaware, where 12 average citizens just showed a commitment to the rule of law that seems to be harder and harder for the attorney general to meet.
Since his appointment, Garland has repeated a mantra that he is apolitical and would never yield to the pressures of politics or the White House. When he was nominated, I believed that claim and enthusiastically supported Garland’s confirmation. He was, I thought, the perfect man for the job after his distinguished judicial service as a moderate judge.
I was wrong. Garland’s tenure as attorney general has shown a pronounced reluctance to take steps that would threaten President Biden. He slow-walked the appointment of a special counsel investigating any Biden, and then excluded from the counsel’s scope any investigation of the massive influence peddling operation by Hunter Biden, his uncle and others.
However, it is what has occurred in the last six months that has left some of us shaken, given our early faith in Garland.
I have long been a critic of Garland’s failure to order a special counsel to look into the extensive evidence of corruption surrounding the Bidens. As I stated in my testimony in the Biden impeachment hearing, there is ample evidence that Biden lied repeatedly about his knowledge of this corruption and his interaction with these foreign clients.
However, a more worrisome concern is the lack of consistency in these investigations. First, Special Counsel Robert Hur found that Biden knowingly retained and mishandled classified material. However, he concluded that Biden’s age and diminished faculties would make him too sympathetic to a jury. It was less sympathetic than pathetic, given that this is the same man who is running for re-election to lead the most powerful nation on Earth. More importantly, Garland has not made obvious efforts to reach a consistent approach in the two cases by dropping charges based on the same crimes by Trump in Florida. (Such action would not affect the obstruction counts).
Second, Garland has allowed Special Counsel Jack Smith to maintain positions that seem diametrically at odds with past Justice Department policies. This includes Smith’s statement that he will try Trump up to (and even through) the next election. It also includes a sweeping gag order which would have eviscerated free speech protections by gagging Trump from criticizing the Justice Department. While Garland has said that he wants to give the special counsels their independence, it falls to him to protect the consistency and values of his department.
Garland’s most brazenly political act has been the laughable executive privilege claim used to withhold the audiotape of the Hur-Biden interviews. The Justice Department has not claimed that the transcript is privileged, but only that the audiotape of Biden’s comments is privileged. This is so logically disconnected that even CNN hosts have mocked it.
The Justice Department went further in court by adding conspiracy to absurdity as part of its unhinged theory. It asserted a type of “deepfake privilege” on the basis that the release of the audiotape could allow AI systems to create fake versions of the president’s words. It ignores that there are already ample public sources now to create such fake tapes and that, by withholding the real audiotape, the Justice Department only makes such fake copies more likely to arise and ensnare the unwary.
Most importantly, the arguments of a “he-who-must-not-be-heard” privilege or a deep-fake privilege are ridiculous. Garland knows that, as would any first-year law student. Yet, he is going along with a claim that is clearly designed to protect Biden from embarrassment before the next election. It is entirely political and absurd.
After stumbling through a half-hearted defense of the audiotape decision before he was held in contempt of Congress, Garland was faced with another clear test of principle. Three House committees (Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means) this month referred for prosecution cases of perjury against Hunter Biden and his uncle, James Biden. Despite what appear to be open-and-shut allegations that they lied to Congress, most everyone in Washington believes that Garland and the Justice Department will slow-walk and then scuttle the referrals to protect the Bidens.
This is the same Justice Department that seemed on a hair-trigger to prosecute Trump officials for perjury and contempt after referrals from Democrat-controlled committees.
The questions at issue were not “gotcha” traps, like showing up at Michael Flynn’s office to nail him on his description of a meeting with Russian diplomats. These were some of the most-discussed questions heading into Hunter Biden’s long-delayed appearance before the committees.
Hunter is accused of lying about his position at Rosemont Seneca Bohai, a corporate entity that moved millions of dollars from foreign individuals and entities to Hunter Biden. He also allegedly lied about the identity of the recipient of his controversial message to a Chinese businessman, in which he threatened that his father was sitting “right next to me” and would join him in retaliating against the Chinese if they did not send millions. They promptly wired the money as demanded.
Hunter’s answers appear to be demonstrably untrue. Yet, there is little faith that the Justice Department will allow the matter to be presented to a grand jury. If Garland’s pledge to remain apolitical were widely accepted, there would be little question about the prosecution of such compelling claims.
Garland now appears entirely adrift in his own department. While mouthing platitudes about being beyond politics, he continues to run interference for the Biden White House. He appears to be looking to close aides for such direction.
He should instead look to those 12 people in Wilmington, Delaware.
Despite facing overwhelming evidence of Hunter Biden’s guilt, his legal team pursued a jury-nullification strategy. Wilmington is Bidentown, the hometown for the president and his family. An array of Bidens, including the first lady, lined up behind Hunter during the trial, in case anyone forgot that fact.
Yet the jury convicted Hunter on all counts without any hesitation. Despite sympathy for a recovering drug addict in a town that has overwhelmingly supported the Bidens for decades, “nobody mentioned anything about political motivations” in the jury room, as one juror noted. “I was never thinking of President Joe Biden,” said another.
Garland needs to show a modicum of that courage and principle as attorney general. He could start by dropping the farcical privilege claims over the audiotape and sending the referrals to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the same priority treatment afforded to Trump officials like Flynn.
As it stands, few believe that will happen, despite Garland’s repeated line about transcending politics. It is not the mantra that is in doubt, but the man.
Jonathan Turley is the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at the George Washington University School of Law. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” (Simon and Schuster, 2024).
I appreciate that you waited for the evidence to come in to explain how Merrick Garland has been a failure as Attorney General. I had my doubts from the time of his appointment, and the main issue that I had in mind was his denial of reaching the Supreme Court.
Once again, the good professor is just pointing out the obvious we all see.
No, he’s not. He’s obfuscating the facts to peddle a false narrative. Turley doesn’t dive into details, details which would undermine his narrative.
He relies on the gullible and weak minded to take whatever he says at face value.
George- What false narrative?
Did Garland not slow walk the appointment of a special council that allowed the majority of charges against Hunter to expire?
Did Garland not prohibit the audio tapes of Hur to be given to Congress despite the rules of federal evidence that say that the tapes and not the transcript is what is permittable evidence?
Did Garland not blatantly lie when he refused to enforce Contempt of Congress charges against two of the Biden clan saying that the DOJ doesn’t prosecute such offenses when in fact under his regime that prosecuted both Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon for Contempt of Congress?
Garland did not slow walk the appointment of the SC. Turley demanded a SC only because Trump was under investigation. The whole thing reeked of vindictiveness when it was first proposed. Plus none of the corruption allegations were supported by credible evidence.
“ Did Garland not prohibit the audio tapes of Hur to be given to Congress despite the rules of federal evidence that say that the tapes and not the transcript is what is permittable evidence?”
The audio tapes were not required. Produce the federal rule you claim requires it.
The transcript is an official document that can be used in lieu of the tapes. The committee has not produced evidence that the official transcript has been altered.
Refusing to turn in the tapes after they have the transcript is not a crime. Navarro and Bannon refused a congressional subpoenas, however they could NOT invoke executive privilege. Biden can because he’s the president. If they don’t think Biden as standing to claim executive privilege they can go to court by suing Biden. They haven’t done that because they know they won’t succeed in court. The DOJ is not obligated to prosecute because it’s not a crime. They already have the official transcripts.
Svelaz-George
ConservativesSvelaz-George are always complaining about the poor state of education in the country and yet suddenly they are all experts and armchairscientistsProfessors of Law, who think they are qualified to say experts are wrong.—-Svelaz George, Spastic Idiot Non Savant
Then you should, if you have them, point out these “details” you claim undermine the good Professor so those “weak minded” among us can be educated. That or quit lying!
“No, he’s not. He’s obfuscating the facts to peddle a false narrative.”
George, tell us the facts he is obfuscating. You can’t because your words are empty. Factless George, is all you can do is copy and paste?
S. Meyer, I could tell you, but you will just ignore it and insult. You have no interest in the truth or honest discussion. You don’t provide anything of substance. How about trying for once?
What should he do, Svelaz? Just make shit up like you?
Please provide the text from the Hur report that says the cleaning lady found Bidens trove of classified documents.
Is that what you call “substance”?
Never said it was a cleaning lady. You are saying that. You know, making stuff up.
Perhaps could try to rebut my assertion by offering your own citation and prove me wrong. Then you would add substance to your attempt to rebut or critique my post.
I never said you cleaning lady. That could be anybody. Except you said it IN RESPONSE to an assertion that it was lawyers who went looking for the docs.
Then you cite a news rag ass report claiming it was someone cleaning out the office. Does that bologna taste good to you? It was his lawyers, dum dum.
LMAO
” I could tell you, but you will just ignore it “
That is why you never finished the Wheeler debate. You seldom provide facts because when you did they were proven wrong. Now you just talk, talk and talk.
TELL US THE FACTS HE IS OBFUSCATING.
In your feverdreams.
The corruption of Garland is merely the by-product of a disgruntled wannabe Supreme Court justice. Say what you will about “Cocaine Mitch,” he saved the Republic from a lifetime Justice Garland.
Mitch corruptly stacked the scotus. Perhaps the most feckless politician ever.
Boo hoo
So much for Barack Obama’s judgement regarding an individual’s competence to sit on the SCOTUS.
Actually ZZ, at first blush your point seems right on the money but after thinking it about it a little more I realized that having a puppet on the Court would have been right up Obama’s alley. It does appear as if they have something on Garland because it is hard to explain what appears to be pure corruption by the DOJ.
Hullbobby-LBJ had one called Abe Fortas. Who he nominated to ascend from Asociate Justice to Chief Justice but it did not end well.
Thank you Mitch McConnell!
At the time, I thought that Garland was more of a straight shooter than the hired gun he has turned out to be.
sd said:
“Thank you Mitch McConnell!”
__________/|\ THIS /|\__________Abso-freakin-lutely!
It’s like a butterfly farting in a rain forest.
Yeah, man. The next thing you know, there’s a thousand hurricanes happening all at once all around the world. It’s quazy!
“ by withholding the real audiotape, the Justice Department only makes such fake copies more likely to arise and ensnare the unwary.”
Yes, BUT we would also know that they did NOT come from the audio interview because it was never released and people would know it’s fake. By releasing it, the idea that AI deep fakes are real would be supported by the fact that the audio tapes are public. Conspiracy theorists would go nuts. Garland is right. Republicans not really explained why they need the audio because they have the transcripts. They are saying they don’t trust their own official transcripts? BS. If that is true then we can’t trust any transcripts they release either. Hunter Biden’s transcripts were falsified? He did not really engage in influence peddling or drug use? It’s all deep fake, right?
Not bright, George. If there was an official release, IA could be easily identified.
“It’s all deep fake, right?”
George, it’s not a matter of deep fake. It’s a matter of your inability to provide a logical explanation. Instead, you cut and paste meaningless and undependable words.
S. Meyer,
There’s already a transcript available that AI can easily use to create audio. You don’t understand how AI works do you? I wouldn’t be surprised.
I did provide a logical explanation. You just didn’t get it because you are not smart enough to recognize it.
An AI would easily create Joe Biden’s voice and use the transcript to create what the republicans want. But they want the actual tape because there would be NO AI involvement to use prove it is not a deep fake created by AI.
You’re clearly not smart enough to understand. Instead of trying you project your failure to understand onto others and insult.
Executive privilege does not protect the president from deep fakes, douche.
“You don’t understand how AI works “
George, before commenting, learn to read and think. Except for you all on the blog understand AI. You don’t, but “If there was an official release, IA could be easily identified.” In other words, the release would prevent AI from being believed.
You are too Stupid to understand that.
New readers to this blog should be aware that the Left leaning organization, Media Matters, funded in part by George Soros, likely populates the comments section with their paid trolls using multiple sock puppets / fake accounts, same authors. Media Matters is the same organizatIon that has been sued by Elon Musk for population Twitter / X with paid trolls to smear his organization.
Professor Turley has done a courageous thing by putting in writing what many Americans believe: Merrick Garland is a political hack defending Biden. Garland and DOJ are not trustworthy. DoJ has been compromised putting all Americans at risk of nefarious dark forces
Media Matters hit with sweeping layoffs after defamation suit by Elon Musk, federal probes
https://nypost.com/2024/05/23/media/media-matters-hit-with-sweeping-layoffs-after-defamation-suit-by-elon-musk-federal-probes/
Longtimereader is right, there are a bunch of people commenting here that are either paid hacks, leftist nut jobs or contrarian weirdos that need to be against every logical column written by Professor Turley and the vast majority of the normal and thoughtful other people on here.
You know it’s a free speech site, right? To have a discussion or debate if you can call it that here. It to have an opposing view or contrary view expressed. The “trolls” you refer to are others expressing an opposing view. It’s a fundamental function public discourse. Why is that hard to grasp?
… why do you think Turley allows the trolls to rant?
He allows you to rant too. You’re a troll by your rationale.
George, please show me where I called for you to be banned?
Also, moron, please show me where the First Amendment applies to the comments section of a private blog. Genius.
Hullbobby,
“ George, please show me where I called for you to be banned?”
Huh? I never said that. You must be confused.
“ Also, moron, please show me where the First Amendment applies to the comments section of a private blog. Genius.”
Didn’t say it didn’t apply. But, Turley is a staunch supporter of free speech and he wholly believes everyone including private entities should adhere to the principles of free speech as spelled out in the constitution. Meaning his own site is used as an example of that adherence he believes everyone should abide by. It would be hypocritical of Turley to not adhere to the principles he chastises others of.
George, you’re not trying to add to the conversation, or have healthy debate about the issues.
You’re here to spread partisan talking points and to intentionally be a negative presence.
You’re free to do so, but: It’s not about free speech to you. Stop hiding behind that.
Talking points? Having a different point of view or opinion are not talking points. If that were truly the case everyone here is engaging in talking points instead of opinion or different points of view.
You’re essentially doing the same thing. Parroting Fox News talking points as mere opinion is no different. It’s all free speech. If you don’t like it use more of your speech to counter it. Just as Turley always seems to say.
LIAR
Cite your reference for claiming the cleaning lady found the first batch of classified documents.
Didn’t say “cleaning lady”. Just personal clearing out the office. Which isn’t this case was specifically an attorney who was clearing the office and discovered the documents, 10 in a box with unclassified comments.
“ The documents were discovered when Mr. Biden’s personal attorneys “were packing files housed in a locked closet to prepare to vacate office space at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C.,” Sauber said in a statement to CBS News. The documents were contained in a folder that was in a box with other unclassified papers, the sources said.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/biden-center-classified-documents/
That is corroborated by the Hur Report.
Clearing out the office means cleaning it out and determining what to keep and what to throw away. Upon discovering the documents the lawyer did exactly what he was supposed to do. Hur’s report confirms it and corroborates it.
Cite it from the Hur report, not some rag ass news article.
Cite where it says that this was the first discovery of classified docs Biden held.
This is what you said, LIAR
The first batch were discovered by a cleaning crew who notified Biden’s lawyers
And now you say this.
Didn’t say “cleaning lady”. Just personal clearing out the office. Which isn’t this case was specifically an attorney who was clearing the office and discovered the documents, 10 in a box with unclassified comments.
FVCKING LIAR CAN’T KEEP UP WITH HIS OWN LIES
Cleaning crew can be anybody, even an attorney. You said I said cleaning lady which is not true. Liar?
Notifying Biden’s lawyers can imply notifying superiors. There are lawyers and there are lawyers as in non-partner individuals.
That was supposed to say *personnel* instead of personal.
You are cleverly tryin to put words into my mouth and claim I said something I didn’t.
Why are you making stuff up waters?
Cleaning crew can be anybody
A “cleaning lady” could be anyone too. And I never said you said “cleaning lady”. I said cite your reference for claiming that. Otherwise, it would be in quotations. Cleaning lady were my words.
Because a cleaning crew could be a cleaning lady and a cleaning lady could be a cleaning crew.
See, we can all play these games, George-Svelaz.
You said “cleaning crew” to gas light from the comment that the lawyers went looking.
You had no idea who it was, because you are an ignorant commenter.
I posted it above, where everyone can see, and make their own judgement, gaslighter George-Svelaz
Now go answer for miscomprehending what “appears to be” means.
“Notifying Biden’s lawyers can imply notifying superiors. There are lawyers and there are lawyers as in non-partner individuals.”
There are lawyers and then there are lawyers.
You just dont care how stupid you sound, do you?
U said a cleaning crew turned it over to bidens lawyers
Ignorant statement.
You didnt “imply” anything.
You made a statement about something of which you were ignorant. As you often do.
HullBobby,
Well said.
Just scroll past. Their comments are generally not worth reading anyways.
HullBobby,
Also, they simply cut and paste from their DNC betters or non-credible websites.
Then there are the ad hominem attacks on the good professor.
Others demanding the good professor write about what they want him to write about. But they never get their own blogs, just try to mess up this one. Some are clearly jealous of how successful the good professor is.
Upstatefarmer,
“ Then there are the ad hominem attacks on the good professor.”
Criticism is fair game. When the professor is wrong or disingenuous he can be called out on it just like anyone else.
George, Upstate is right (again) and you are wrong (again).
Hullbobby,
Upstate keeps saying to stroll past, but yet he keeps reading and complaining which means he is not doing a good job of following his own advice.
Criticism of Turley is fair game. Just as it is for me and anyone else on this blog.
Criticism is fair game, unless its Fauci or the CDC
ConservativesSvelaz-George are always complaining about the poor state of education in the country and yet suddenly they are all experts and armchairscientistsProfessors of Law, who think they are qualified to say experts are wrong.—-Svelaz George, Spastic Idiot Non Savant
Are there laws to prevent such unethical behavior?
“ Are there laws to prevent such unethical behavior?”
Yes. But, they are extremely difficult to prove and prosecute since SCOTUS has made definitions of corruption and bribery very narrow. Thanks to republicans and their business friendly approach to corruption.
Always laughable how you magats way overvalued your opinions. There is zero ROI in trying to convince you to vote intelligently. You’re incapable of it.
Bye Bye
“ However, a more worrisome concern is the lack of consistency in these investigations. First, Special Counsel Robert Hur found that Biden knowingly retained and mishandled classified material. However, he concluded that Biden’s age and diminished faculties would make him too sympathetic to a jury. It was less sympathetic than pathetic, given that this is the same man who is running for re-election to lead the most powerful nation on Earth. More importantly, Garland has not made obvious efforts to reach a consistent approach in the two cases by dropping charges based on the same crimes by Trump in Florida. (Such action would not affect the obstruction counts).”
Oof, that’s a lot of horse manure in one paragraph.
Hur found that there was no evidence of Biden’s retention of documents was intentional or deliberate. He also noted that when they were found they were also promptly returned. He also found that there were a lot of simple and explainable mistakes that cannot be used as a basis for prosecution. Turley left out Hur’s interviews with Biden’s staff and how they handled the documents. All told, they were simple mistakes or oversights that were corroborated by other evidence. Hur could not prosecute Biden because he would not be able to show in court that it was intentional or with malice.
Trump on the other hand is a whole different story. Trump refused to cooperate until he had to be subpoenaed. He engaged in deliberate obstruction and was given multiple opportunities to resolve the issue without any legal threats. He lied to FBI agents and deliberately hid documents and stored them improperly. Upon discovery of more documents AFTER telling authorities he turned in everything the FBI had enough evidence for a search warrant. Trump’s case is wholly different than Biden’s. Turley left out VP Pence. Should he have been charged with a crime too?
Biden gave classified material from his basement to his ghost writer. That is on the audio.
Biden used some of his stash of stolen, unsecured, highly classified documents for his book.
Biden had an $8 million dollar book deal.
There’s your “intent”….
“ Biden gave classified material from his basement to his ghost writer. That is on the audio.”
Classified material has many different levels of seriousness. From “confidential” to “SCIF”. Telling his ghost writer about events or issues deemed classified at one time but no longer relevant policy wise is not a crime. He did not expose classified material still deemed a serious national security imperative.
They were not stolen or intentionally stashed to hide them. Hur’s report noted that. Trump intentionally hid highly classified documents AND lied about it.
As a Senator, Biden had no authority to have boxes of ANY classified documents in his home, basement, or garage. Biden knows the rules. He took the documents anyway. He gave access to his ghost writer. That’s willful intent, willful disregard.
Trump had full authority as a President to keep the documents he had in his home.
Trump had full classification authority as a President.
Biden had no authority to keep the documents he had in unsecured locations both in his home and garage.
Svelaz thinks that a Senator’s aides are permitted to handle classified documents outside of a secure skiff, just because they have “clearance”.
WRONG
That’s because Svelaz, who has NEVER handled a classified document in his life or held a security clearance, thinks he is an expert, or qualified to say experts (me) are wrong.
ConservativesSvelaz-George are always complaining about the poor state of education in the country and yet suddenly they are all experts and armchairscientistsProfessors of Law, who think they are qualified to say experts are wrong.—-Svelaz George, Spastic Idiot Non Savant
“ Svelaz thinks that a Senator’s aides are permitted to handle classified documents outside of a secure skiff, just because they have “clearance”.
Congressional staff or staff of VP’s have security clearances to handle documents they might request. Staff handles the majority of administrative tasks like procuring classified documents and preparing them for the senator, congressman, VP or president.
They could be military liaisons, or specific staff assigned to such tasks with the appropriate clearances.
It doesn’t take an expert to research the issue and find out that’s exactly what happens.
“ Staff access to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) is vital to ensure
prompt and effective action on issues related to national security, election security, and cyber
threats. As Members of Congress, we have the ability to access classified information, but House
staff often lack the necessary clearance to provide Members support on matters requiring such
levels of security. The lack of clearance creates unnecessary roadblocks for House Members
seeking to legislate and conduct oversight, and ultimately undermines efforts to uphold the
public interest.
It is imperative that each personal office in the House of Representatives is granted one TS/SCI
clearance so that a designated staffer can support each Member with classified matters.
Currently, House Rules only allow for each office to have two personal staffers with Top Secret
(TS) clearance but does not allow for any staffers with Sensitive Compartmented Information
(SCI) clearances. The Executive branch has been classifying more information at the SCI level,
which effectively limits the support that staffers with just TS clearance are able to provide.”
https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/115399/witnesses/HHRG-118-HA00-Bio-J000305-20230308.pdf
So yes, certain staffers do have clearances. Even for TS/SCI.
Then there are far more staffers who have clearance to handle lower classified documents that are needed for congressmen and other executive branch officials.
You didn’t know that apparently and all it took was some cursory research.
Cursory searches won’t make you less ignorant, Svelaz.
A clearance isn’t all you need.
Clearance or not, you can’t just prance around with TS material, as I noted above yet you ignored. Typical Svelaz tactic to post some long, obfuscating rant and immaterial link.
Classified documents are handled in secure areas, and transported between secure areas under VERY specific protocols. Why is that?? SO THEY DON’T END UP IN SOMEON’S GARAGE, FOOL.
Clearly, you are ignorant and should listen to the experts.
What else does someone need to have, to view classified material, besides clearance, Svelaz???
Clearance is all you need. If you are cleared. It means you are cleared to handle a specific classification of documents. Who says they are just prancing around with documents?
Not all classified documents require a special secure area. I’m sure you know that. But you keep harping and whining too much to notice.
I provided you with a document showing exactly why staff have clearances and can handle classified documents AND the multiple classification levels that are handled differently. But of course…you knew that. Because you’re an expert. I just read from another expert who knows just as much as you do but is not as ignorant or nuts as you.
Every congressman or senator has staff with security clearances to handle specific classified documents. They are all going to misplace or forget certain folders or binders and as YOU the expert knows does happen. Pence got caught too. Right? So, did he o personally put away and store the documents he was found to have? No. His staff did.
Like I said, a cursory reading from other experts more current than you pointed out that what I said is correct. Crazy huh?
Clearance is all you need. If you are cleared. It means you are cleared to handle a specific classification of documents. Who says they are just prancing around with documents?
WRONG AGAIN SVELAZ. AND CRAZY, YES.
What’s hilarious is you are just too ignorant to even know when you are in way over your head. I previously worked for an OCA.
You have to have NEED TO KNOW as well as clearance.
So, even in a secure area, where everyone has a Secret clearance for example, NOT EVERYONE in that area can necessarily view a SPECIFIC piece of classified intel.
So, even at the Naval Observatory, where the junior enlisted personnel had Secret clearances, they were not lawfully permitted to view every piece of Secret material that Biden left laying around daily. (Page 41 of Hur report)
Maybe you need more than a cursory search before you speak again, ignorant George.
So tell, us where specifically can each of these be handled, by a Senator or his aides?
NOFORN
Confidential
Secret
Top Secret
Top Secret SCI
And cite your source for this ignorant statement.
“ I previously worked for an OCA.”
Yeah, years ago. Oooh you were so in the hush hush world of clearances and super secret decoder rings.
Another expert one more current than you, wrote about staff clearances and their roles with classified documents and handling. You know people who are currently employed.
You’re hilarious. Whaaaa whaaaaa you. Don’t know anythin. Whaaaaa. LOL!!!!!
I cited a source. You just chose to ignore it because it’s not up to your outdated standards. LOL!!!!
Your bull shit cite is immaterial, George. So staffers can handle classified material. IF they have CLEARANCE and NEED TO KNOW.
LMAO years ago. Do you think that matters? The procedures for handling classified documents has not materially changed in more than 50 years.
Do you think a Senator can just see any old piece of classified material just because he has a clearance? LMAO get a clue, dude.
I NEVER said staffers can’t have clearance. I never said they couldn’t even have need to know.
I said you need both to view classified materials. And a senators office is not SECURE. Does every staffer have clearance and a need to know? So classified documents are not just tossed in a box with other personal effects by someone WHO HAS CLEARANCE AND NEED TO KNOW. That’s preposterous on its face.
If you think your ignorance is hilarious, that’s on you, bro. We are used to it.
Now, answer my question, ignorant George. You failed miserably on the last one.
Who can handle what where, exactly?
“ Your bull shit cite is immaterial, George. So staffers can handle classified material. IF they have CLEARANCE and NEED TO KNOW.”
Oh so I”m right. Thanks for confirming. Staffers Do handle classified material or documents and they DO have clearances to handle specific levels. Ergo staffing can make mistakes and forget or misplace classified documents.
“ LMAO years ago. Do you think that matters? The procedures for handling classified documents has not materially changed in more than 50 years.”
Yes, it matters, because YOU have no idea if procedures and policies changed since you last handled classified material. You’re not up to date on the latest and obviously you’re outdated in what occurs. Which is why your expert opinion is not as valuable as that of a more current one.
“ I NEVER said staffers can’t have clearance. I never said they couldn’t even have need to know.”
Never said they couldn’t either. So what’s your point? You’re all over the place.
All I pointed is staff who are properly authorized can handle classified materials and congressmen, senators and VP’s. Have staff handle requests for information and they are just as much a part of losing, forgetting, and misplacing material. YOU went off on multiple tangents trying to proven me wrong after confirming. I was right on my first assertion.
“Oh so I”m right. Thanks for confirming.”
If you feel good about being right about something that was never in contention or a question for the rest of us, CONGRATS bro!
LMAO
Yes, it matters, because YOU have no idea if procedures and policies changed since you last handled classified material. You’re not up to date on the latest and obviously you’re outdated in what occurs. Which is why your expert opinion is not as valuable as that of a more current one.
I can read every EO that has modified Title 32 since day one. So yes, I do know.
Staffers still need a clearance and SPECIFIC need to know.
IN WAY OVER YOUR HEAD, SVELAZ
“I was right on my first assertion.”
And WRONG about everything else.
Your irrelevant assertion.
You didn’t even know that someone, ANYONE OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT, and that includes the VP by the way, MUST have a SPECIFIC NEED TO KNOW. Yes, that’s right, I know shit that the VP will NEVER KNOW, simply because he/she has NO NEED TO KNOW.
That’s so basic, its not even funny how ignorant you are. And you think you can school yourself with a google search LMAO
Go spend some time in Title 32, spastic idiot non savant.
You still haven’t told us exactly who can handle what classification level and where they can handle it.
I’ll make it easy. We will start with this one
Where can a Congressional staffer, authorized to handle TS/SCI material AND with a need to know, possess that material?
Let me simplify for the simpleton.
The VPOTUS, with his TS/SCI Security Clearance, would NOT lawfully be allowed to view or read the Confidential/NOFORN Reactor Plant Manual of a Virginia Class Nuclear Submarine, without specific permission from the POTUS or a waiver from the OCA for said manual, after showing cause for why he should be granted access.
George lies and makes stuff up again.
Investigators selected a sampling of excerpts across Mr. Biden’s notebooks that both appeared to be classified and that they expected a jury could find are national defense information under 18 U.S.C. § 793. Subject to the limitations discussed in Chapter Two, classification authorities identified each excerpt as containing presently classified information. :i~:3 Of the thirty-seven excerpts:
Eight are Top Secret with Sensitive Compartmented Information, seven of
which include information concerning human intelligence sources,
• Six are Top Secret,
Twenty-one are Secret, and
• Two are Confidential
“Appeared to be” is the key phrase. That is not saying they were. When you have to say “appeared to be” it means you are not sure. There’s no evidence, even in Hur’s report that TS/SCI information was involved. Even what the ghost writer wrote does not show classified information was published.
You fvcking moron. Read it again. It was then assessed by “classification authorities”.
THAT IS FROM HUR REPORT, ASS HOLE. PAGE 90 TO BE EXACT
Subject to the limitations discussed in Chapter Two, classification authorities identified each excerpt as containing presently classified information. :i~:3 Of the thirty-seven excerpts:
PRESENTLY CLASSIFIED. Did you get that??
AND IT IS TS/SCI…RIGHT THERE IN THE REPORT
Where do you get your information???
Just makin’ shit up again.
LOL!!!! You’re an idiot. You know we are talking about what was published in the book he was writing right? In your attempt to prove me wrong you used the excerpts from HIS notebooks, not the published book. LOL!! And it’s on page 86 not 90. Wow, you’re stupid.
What I was talking about was about the book he was working on. You falsely conflated the report’s mention of his notebooks instead. Hilarious!
On page 97 at the top. You will see exactly what I’m talking about.
“And while the published book is not known to contain classified information, while writing the book in unsecured locations, Mr Biden used notebooks containing notes….” He didn’t divulge everything in there and he did use if for reference. No classified information was published.
You really walked into that one didn’t you?
Did I??? Not exactly.
Its page 90 in the pdf reader, because the first 4 pages are Hur’s letter prefacing the report. Big fvcking deal, ya little twat.
First post in this thread:
https://jonathanturley.org/2024/06/17/the-corruption-of-merrick-garland/comment-page-1/#comment-2413333
Hur found that there was no evidence of Biden’s retention of documents was intentional or deliberate
What’s that got to do with the book???
from page ONE
Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen. These materials included (1) marked classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, and (2) notebooks containing Mr. Biden’s handwritten entries about issues of national security and foreign policy implicating sensitive
intelligence sources and methods.
So, suck my dick, you little kunt. See that. Does that look like “no evidence”
Bwahahahahahah look at stupid George!!!!
He is finally embarrased by his own stupidity.
Look at him obfuscate and deflect. OH ho ho so funny!!!!
Spastic Idiot
We were talking about what he had in his possession. IDK what the fvck YOU were talking about. And that makes 2 of us, because you dont either.
IN WAY OVER YOUR HEAD SVELAZ
“ Did I??? Not exactly.
It’s page 90 in the pdf reader, because the first 4 pages are Hur’s letter prefacing the report. Big fvcking deal, ya little twat.”
Yes, and no it’s not page 90 it’s page 86 of the actual report. You’re still wrong LOL!!!
“ We were talking about what he had in his possession.”
No we weren’t. You just changed the issue because you screwed up. Going hard on the cussing is a good sign you’re not winning this argument or proving anything. When you resort to cussin and insults you’ve already lost the argument. LOL!!!!
George, an IQ of 70 permits you to make these Stupid arguments, If your IQ was higher, you would more easily understand what the others are telling you.
In the end, however, Biden broke the law as Senator and VP. He illegally removed top secret material and sloppily placed it all over where our enemies could easily get to it. This was not one mistake. It is up to 50 years of mistakes.
You were a mistake as well, but your posting lies and stupidity don’t affect the nation.
Look, someone liked your stupid miscomprehension of what the report said.
Let me dumb it down for you, idiot, since clearly its too complex.
They discovered what “appeared to be” classified info. You get that? HOW THE FVCK would Hur know if it was or was not?????
So they had it analyzed by experts. These experts (classification authorities) said there were
8 TOP SECRET/SCI
7 of which concerned fvcking SOURCES. You get that??? Lives at risk.
6 TOP SECRET
28 SECRET
All still CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED
So stop with your, “outdated small beans” BULL SHIT. You look like a shill.
LOL!!!!
“ They discovered what “appeared to be” classified info. You get that? HOW THE FVCK would Hur know if it was or was not?????”
Discovered it where? Why would they say “appeared to be” if they knew? It still means they were not sure. LOL!!! You’re obviously conflating two different things and now you’re just flailing about LOL!!!!!! You’re conflating multiple chapters in the report trying to prove me wrong.
He’s relying on someone else’s Mashup. He can’t read charts. He’s basically learning disabled. And all he tries to do is state his flawed opinions louder each time.
GFY ya spastic idiot non savant. Same paragraph
Louder and more foul mouthed.
Deflect if you want, Savelaz, people can read the string. You look like an idiot.
Nope, no louder or foul mouthed than any other time it took 18 posts to leave you no corner to crawl to. EXACTLY LIKE SVELAZ, ya lying coward. We both know.
This is so much fun.
The two statements are on the same page.
PAGE 86
It “appeared to” investigators to be classified. What a dunce. The investigators had no idea if the info was classified. It appeared to be to them. So they turned it over to the experts, who said it was.
Say it again George, just so everyone can see why you are here.
Investigators selected a sampling of excerpts across Mr. Biden’s notebooks that both appeared to be classified and that they expected a jury could find are national defense information under 18 U.S.C. § 793.
Subject to the limitations discussed in Chapter Two, classification authorities identified each excerpt as containing presently classified information. :i~:3 Of the thirty-seven excerpts:
Eight are Top Secret with Sensitive Compartmented Information, seven of
which include information concerning human intelligence sources,
• Six are Top Secret,
111 Twenty-one are Secret, and
• Two are Confidential.34 1
Same goddam paragraph, ya spastic fvck
LOL!!!
I bet you didn’t read the limitations on chapter 2. Did you? You would be surprised to learn that even if they used that they still would not be able to prosecute.
LOL!!!
LOL!!!
LOL!!!
I read it all dum dum. Before today. That’s the difference between you and I.
And I know what “it appeared to be” means. The fact you thought it meant they were taking a SWAG at it makes you look like a spastic idiot non savant.
So what does “it appeared to be” mean in that report, Einstein?
Wanna admit your ignorance for once? Or do I need to post the paragraph again?
“You’re conflating multiple chapters in the report trying to prove me wrong.”
Care to retract this ignorant statement, Svelaz?
“It still means they were not sure. LOL!!!”
Or this one?
ALL on page 86.
Page 90 of this pdf. You do know what a pdf is, right? I may be assuming too much.
“LOL LOL LOL You’re so stupid LOL LOL”—-George the Spastic Idiot
https://www.justice.gov/storage/report-from-special-counsel-robert-k-hur-february-2024.pdf
Still waiting coward
We also don’t know what use Hunter et al made of the documents in the Biden Family Business. Without further investigation, we’ll never know what they did with those documents. But looking at their client countries (China, Russia, Ukraine etc), I’m sure that they’d be happy to have access to Classified Documents.
George, (one of the paid partisan hacks we warned about above) intent doesn’t matter, the fact that he “returned the docs” doesn’t matter (except regarding obstruction, which he wasn’t being investigated for) and you also ignore the fact that a) he disseminated the info to his ghost writer and b) he wasn’t authorized to take the documents since he was a senator and VP and not, like Trump a president.
Also, George, the partisan hack, forgets to mention that Trump had the documents in a SECRET SERVICE protected place while Biden had his docs in a think tank and university that were funded by THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT (the COMMUNIST PARTY) and his garage.
George, you really do make a fool out of yourself daily. You must be Svelaz.
Hullbobby,
“ George, (one of the paid partisan hacks we warned about above) intent doesn’t matter, the fact that he “returned the docs” doesn’t matter (except regarding obstruction, which he wasn’t being investigated for) and you also ignore the fact that a) he disseminated the info to his ghost writer and b) he wasn’t authorized to take the documents since he was a senator and VP and not, like Trump a president.”
Intent does matter, it’s a requirement in order to prosecute. He returned the documents voluntarily upon discovering them. Obstruction was not investigated because he was NOT obstructing the investigation like Trump.
Not ignoring the fact that he ‘disseminated information’ deemed classified. It was a lower classification of information that did not divulge methods or personnel identities. He was authorized to take the documents. If he wasn’t he wouldn’t have them in the first place. A senator and VP CAN take certain classified documents home. That’s why they ended up where they were. Trump deliberately took documents he was not allowed to take with him as personal items. They were not his to keep as “souvenirs.”.
Trump was fully authorized as a President to keep whatever documents he chose to keep.
Biden had NO authority as a Senator to take home ANY classified documents – any level of classification — and keep them in boxes in unsecured locations. Zippo. And he knows it. He had some authority as VP, but there were highly classified docs found in his home and office, that he had no authority to have. Those are stolen documents. Illegal to have in his possession. Hunter and James Biden had easy access to all of them. Also illegal. There is no visitor log kept at Biden’s Wilmington home or his Rehobeth Beach house. So no one knows who comes and goes where President Biden spends most of his time –at his own homes. That’s the point. The White House maintains strict visitor logs.
“ Trump was fully authorized as a President to keep whatever documents he chose to keep.”
No, he was not. The presidential records act is very clear that the majority of the documents he claimed to be personal were not his to keep.
“ Biden had NO authority as a Senator to take home ANY classified documents – any level of classification — and keep them in boxes in unsecured locations.”
Yes, he did have authority. That’s why he had them in the first place. If he did not then he wouldn’t have had them.
As VP he had the authority to bring classified documents, even the highly classified ones, home. They were issued under Obama’s EO.
So George, the moron, is saying that as VP Biden had the authority to take the classified documents home with him and to keep them in his garage and his Chinese think tank for decades. This is what passes for an argument by the left.
Hullbobby,
“ So George, the moron, is saying that as VP Biden had the authority to take the classified documents home with him and to keep them in his garage and his Chinese think tank for decades”
As VP he did have authority. As a senator he had authority to take lower classification classified documents. That they were not returned and forgotten is not a crime unless he was found to be intentionally refusing to turn them over.
Svelaz-George the moron
What security clearance have you held, exactly?
ConservativesSvelaz-George are always complaining about the poor state of education in the country and yet suddenly they are all experts and armchairscientistsProfessors of Law, who think they are qualified to say experts are wrong.—-Svelaz George, Spastic Idiot Non Savant
“Svelaz-George the moron What security clearance have you held, exactly?”
George’s highest security is Depends.
Svelaz makin’ shit up again.
Home was the goddam Naval Observatory, you fvcking douchebag.
The VP has no authority to take classified documents to his Delaware beach house.
Where do you get this shit?
“ The VP has no authority to take classified documents to his Delaware beach house.”
Yes he does. He’s the VP. Obama’s EO made it clear the VP had similar authority but not exactly the same authority Obama had as president. I thought you were an expert?
Show me where is says a VP cannot take classified documents home as part of his job?
Obviously YOU couldn’t because YOU were not a VP.
Cite the relevant text from the Obama EO
Here, Let me help you Svelaz, lying sack of manure, who enjoys making stuff up.
Here is the EO
You will find the words “Vice President” ONCE. Where it designates him as an OCA.
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12356.html
LMAO George thinks that being an OCA gives someone
“similar authority but not exactly the same authority Obama had as president.”
What a MORON!
And I AM an expert.
IN WAY OVER YOUR HEAD SVELAZ
Still waiting for that citation, Svelaz….
Still waiting
Still waiting Svelaz
“forgotten”? Please try to be serious.
Yeah, it happens. Pence forgot too. Remember? Our resident classified document expert, Waters, should be able to confirm that forgetting and misplacing does indeed happen. We all know it’s not a perfect system and so does he. But that was years ago for him so he’s a bit outdated on the rules and policies I assume.
You assume wrong.
“Forgetting and misplacing” happens if you are either:
Old and senile
Unconcerned about the ramifications of your carelessness
Planning to write a book
Joes notebooks were not forgotten or misplaced. He deliberately took that information with him. He turned over his note cards and KEPT his notebooks, which he held in a safe in The white house that only he had the combo to.
Get a grip, and go read 18 USC 1924
Or remain the ignorant and spastic idiot that you are.
“He returned the documents voluntarily upon discovering them.”
That’s the “narrative.” And it’s a lie.
Biden had the documents in his possession for years. He retained them willfully and knowingly. He knows the rules about classified materials. He’s been in DC for 50 years. He was not “allowed” by law to have any of them. He only “voluntarily” returned them because he knew there was a political hit job being launched on Trump with the unprecedented Mar a Lago raid –that Merrick Garland personally approved.
So Biden knew he had a problem and called in the “fixers” to make his stolen classified document problem go away. The FBI/DOJ gave Biden’s lawyers a heads-up and time to rummage through Biden’s massive illegal stash before Hur came in to do his job. Hur was a fixer, too. Obviously.
“ “He returned the documents voluntarily upon discovering them.”
That’s the “narrative.” And it’s a lie.”
Hur’s report disagrees with you. Hur specifically noted that they were indeed returned upon discovery by his lawyers. You’re clearly deluded buddy.
Biden returned his stolen documents that he had taken for decades only when he knew he had a political problem – not because he had only just “discovered” his mistake in taking them in the first place.
Read my last sentence. Hur came in to do his job. And he did it.
“ Biden returned his stolen documents that he had taken for decades only when he knew he had a political problem – not because he had only just “discovered” his mistake in taking them in the first place.”
Biden was not aware of the documents. Not initially. The first batch were discovered by a cleaning crew who notified Biden’s lawyers. They then conducted a more thorough search and found more. What they did was what anyone should do. Promptly report it and return them. Upon discovering the first set at an office he no longer uses. He voluntarily search his homes and let the FBI search his properties. They found more. None of that was proof that he was intentionally keeping them and hiding them. He didn’t claim any sort of privilege or refused to cooperate. THAT distinction is what made it harder for Hur to prosecute because in court he would not have been able to show Biden’s intent was to hide or obstruct their recovery. Trump did the opposite.
Hur noted through interviews with staff that they were innocent mistakes and oversights and they could not prove in court that the retentions were intentional or knowingly kept from authorities. Hur could prosecute with that kind evidence. It had nothing to do with Biden’s old age or state of mind. That was a gratuitous dig at the president for not being able to found anything to prosecute him for.
Svelaz George, just makin’ shit up.
Please cite the lines in the report that assert that the first classified documents Biden was found with, were discovered by the maid.
Hullbobby,
“ Also, George, the partisan hack, forgets to mention that Trump had the documents in a SECRET SERVICE protected place”
The secret service does not protect documents. They protect the president. It’s not their job to guard documents or access to them. Multiple people not authorized to access the documents were not stopped by the secret service. Because it’s not their job.
“The secret service does not protect documents. They protect the president. It’s not their job to guard documents or access to them.”
Gosh George, you sound like a moron. People enter Mar a Lago and meet the secret service. They stop the entry in order to protect Trump, but the people say we aren’t here for Trump, just the documents so the secret service lets them in. How stupid can you be George?
Yes, the mishandling of Trump’s document case is “a whole different story” — of DOJ corruption.
Why? Because it was an unprecedented, and unnecessary, raid of a former President’s home.
Trump has the authority under the PRA to possess the documents.
Biden was a Senator, with no authority, when he stole most of his documents — that he and his son were clearly using to sell influence, and that Biden illegally provided access to his ghost writer.
The FBI/DOJ tampered with the evidence they collected in the Mar a Lago raid. This is admitted in court documents. Jack Smith is in deep doo doo.
“ Why? Because it was an unprecedented, and unnecessary, raid of a former President’s home.”
It was unprecedented, but it was also necessary because he lied to the FBI about having returned all of the documents. Lying to the FBI is a crime and lying about returning highly sensitive government documents and refusing hiding them required a search warrant. If he turned everything over in the first place he would have been in the same position as Biden. But Trump made the stupid choice to lie and obstruct.
It is the FBI/DOJ who lied and TAMPERED with evidence during and after the MAL raid.
The evidence will continue to come out in the Florida court proceedings.
They got caught.
Jack Smith is in deep doo doo.
“Oof, that’s a lot of horse manure in one paragraph.”
George, what isn’t true. Again you are faced with your words that lack fact or logic. Is it any wonder that you are known as Moron George?
S. Meyer, You’re gonna have to be more specific to which words are you referring to. Be specific and I would be happy to discuss it with you.
” to which words are you referring to.”
Your words, Moron George, not Turley’s words. “Oof, that’s a lot of horse manure in one paragraph.” Tell us which Turley words are horse manure. You can’t and never can.
I refer you to a similar discussion on June 7, where you made a challenge.
You wrote: “I AM anxious to debate what she says. YOU don’t want to because it’s too complicated for you.”
https://jonathanturley.org/2024/06/07/laptop-deniers-in-delaware-the-media-shrugs-as-the-biden-laptop-is-authenticated-in-federal-court/comment-page-3/#comment-2409678
You are a coward and a liar.
S. Meyer, you’re gonna have to be much more specific.
Which words of Turley’s are you specifically referring to?
I did tell you which words were horse manure, but you are not saying which specific ones you want to talk about. Which specific words of Turley are you challenging I claim to be horse manure?
Svealz can’t say. typical
No, S. Meyer did not specify exactly which of Turleys words I said were horse manure. He just ran away instead of engaging in details. S. Meyer talks a lot but rarely sticks around when we get into the details.
You run off very time you are proven wrong, without ever admitting it. So there’s that.
Go ahead George, provide proof that these words are horse manure.
” First, Special Counsel Robert Hur found that Biden knowingly retained and mishandled classified material. However, he concluded that Biden’s age and diminished faculties would make him too sympathetic to a jury. It was less sympathetic than pathetic, given that this is the same man who is running for re-election to lead the most powerful nation on Earth. More importantly, Garland has not made obvious efforts to reach a consistent approach in the two cases by dropping charges based on the same crimes by Trump in Florida. (Such action would not affect the obstruction counts).”
Providing arguments that circle around the statements and providing arguments that are not proven is typical of your type of thinking. Normally I tell people they can do better, but you already maximized your 70 IQ points that are already diminishing with age.
“Hur found that there was no evidence of Biden’s retention of documents was intentional or deliberate.”
Another LIE from Svelaz.
There is evidence that, after his vice presidency, Mr. Biden willfully retained
marked classified documents about Afghanistan and unmarked classified
handwritten notes in his notebooks, both of which he stored in unsecured places in
his home. He had no legal authority to do so, and his retention of these materials,
and disclosure of classified information from his notebooks to his ghostwriter, risked
serious damage to America’s national security
Do you fvcking understand English or not, genius?
I understand English.
Praytell, is the burden of proof imposed on the prosecution in our justice system merely “having evidence”?
If not, what is it?
If you said, “beyond a reasonable doubt,” you would be correct.
And what did the Hurr report repeatedly say was NOT found, sufficient evidence of mens rea to move forward with criminal charges. I cited plenty of these lines below.
Why is the burden of proof suddenly something that no one understands anymore?
This isn’t that hard.
What I understand is gaslighting. He said “no evidence”. That was a lie. The burden of proof is lower than that for a grand jury to indict. And then a petit jury would decide if there was “reasonable doubt”. mens rea lmao. Willful entails men rea.
If biden couldn’t exactly remember as Hur noted then it would be difficult to prove they were willfully retained. Hur just put that out there so there would be something to use politically. Hur still did not have enough evidence to succeed in a prosecution.
Yea, unless you bother to read the bull shit reasons that he gave for a defense. I mean, my god, the standard is “reasonable doubt” not “shit they could fling against the wall and it might stick”. And what bs, if he cant remember…i guess the only proof then is an admission by the criminal…lol.
Many years of doing the same illegal things where there is proof Biden knows better, proves there was more than enough information to prosecute.
What year did you say you had a lobotomy?
Svelaz thinks that anecdotes from Biden’s staff about his looooong history of mishandling classified documents is a feather in Biden’s cap.
This is hilarious, Turley. To this day you continue to routinely trot out Barr’s lies about the Mueller report by saying Russian interference in the ’16 election was debunked. You said nothing when Garland and DOJ slow walked getting a special prosecutor for trump. Only reason he did it was the 1/6 commission forced his hand. Garland put Hur on Biden almost immediately…, and then didn’t find anything. And now you’re just checking in to side with Jordan and Comer yet again after more of their failed efforts at swift boating Biden have blown up in their faces…
You’re a clown.
^^^^public masturbation
swiftboating is bugs new favorite word.
If you weren’t so dense you’d know I’ve used that term for years here because the tactic has turned into the right’s official strategy across the board. They damaged Kerry and HRC with it and they know D’s are averse to using it against R’s ( when they should hammer R’s with it).
LMAO Hillary. good one, bro.
Corruption? Professor Turley is whining about things that are commonplace in politics. But strangely he only whines about it when it’s about democrats. He should know by now that the Supreme Court has defined corruption very narrowly and what is purported to be corruption is nothing more than legal run of the mill business deals. Rep. Raskin pointed out how chairman James Comer has done the exact same things Turley thinks is corruption and influence peddling. But there was no outrage or criticism, because it’s not really about corruption per se, it’s about casting a very large shadow of doubt over legal albeit unethical issues. Nothing any of the investigations on the Bidens have found anything illegal or criminal and the professor knows it. He’s obligated to peddle the narrative of corruption and influence peddling purely for the political consumption of his more gullible and conspiracy theory prone readers instead of real legal analysis.
Garland’s refusal to turn over video of Hur’s interview with Biden serves on legislative or investigative purpose. They already have the official transcript and Hur’s report. Refusing to provide republicans the video after giving them the transcript is not a crime. The DOJ couldn’t press charges if they wanted to. Because the committees have the official transcript and the Hur report the need to have the video is not necessary for the purpose of the investigation. They do want it because they will use it for political purposes. Garland knows it and so does Biden.
If the committee really wants that video they are going to have to sue to get it and that will require them to explain precisely why they need it despite having the transcript and they don’t want to do that because it would expose the real purpose for obtaining it. If they want it that bad they should go through the process like everything else. Go to court.
The transcript has been altered. They admitted it.
Therefore they must turn over the video.
Rep. Raskin is a LIAR.
The corruption they have evidence of in the Biden Crime Syndicate runs deep and wide.
It has been suggested that Hunter Biden is a CIA cutout.
No one seems willing to pull the pin on that grenade.
“ The transcript has been altered. They admitted it.
Therefore they must turn over the video.”
No they have not. If it was then why has the committee not released the original, again. Why would Hur alter the transcript?
Hur didn’t edit, Biden’s WH did.
Biden’s WH regularly edits and alters official transcripts to clean up Biden’s um’s and slurs. Highly unethical.
“ Hur didn’t edit, Biden’s WH did.
Biden’s WH regularly edits and alters official transcripts to clean up Biden’s um’s and slurs. Highly unethical.”
If Hur didn’t edit. But he turned over the transcript to the committee first why does the committee think it’s been altered? They could easily prove the WH wrong by publishing the original themselves.
The WH doesn’t regularly edit and alters official transcripts. They do that with speeches and official statements. That’s done for every president. Even Trump given his penchant for rambling on and on and going off topic.
The person taking diction is the one they should be talking to, not the WH. But common sense is too much to ask apparently.
Then it should be no issue for Garland to release the audio.
The transcript is released, there is no privilege claim to the audio.
Congress has oversight authority.
Garland defied a Congressional subpoena.
He doesn’t get to pick and choose which subpoena he honors and which he defies.
Release the full audio.
Or go to jail.
The public has a right to know how a man who willfully retained classified materials he was not entitled to have, and is prosecuting his political opponent for same, is let off the hook bc a special counsel made the determination that he was not fit to stand trial bc he is a well-meaning old man with a faulty memory…
is now running for reelection to be the Leader of the Free World?!
The voters have an absolute right to know.
Release the full audio, Garland.
Or go to jail.
“ The transcript is released, there is no privilege claim to the audio.”
Yes there is. Because the transcript has already been released. It’s the official record. Why would they need another one if they are not claiming the transcript is fake?
“Corruption? Professor Turley is whining about things that are commonplace in politics.”
No need to read further. George supports corruption.
S. Meyer, that’s not what I said. Corruption is commonplace in politics. I’m sure even you would agree. That’s not saying you support it.
It is your conclusion. Corruption “is commonplace in politics,” so why bother with it? Of course, corruption is acceptable to you as long as you do it for your benefit.
S. Meyer,
“ It is your conclusion. Corruption “is commonplace in politics,” so why bother with it?”
It’s common knowledge. Even you should know it applies to both political parties.
I never said it’s acceptable. Insinuating that i said that is being dishonest.
Any politician republican or democrat will do it for their benefit. Trump is no exception.
“I never said it’s acceptable. “
Your arguments absolutely show that to you corruption is acceptable if it favors your desires. We know that. You are a liar so things like corruption come easy to you. Corruption is so ingrained in your brain that you say, “Any politician…. will do it for their benefit. “ There are honest people, politicians included. You are not one of them.
I am crushing your head!
A few thoughts, not necessarily organized.
1st-I think the professor should really tell us how he feels about Merrick Garland (sic)
2nd-It’s very difficult to accept when our heroes develop massive feet of clay and are revealed to be worse than ourselves and shake our confidence in them and the institutions they run. The Dept of Justice is, in concept, a great thing for the United States but, of late, those in charge have sullied its reputation and luster.
3rd-It’s treatment of the 1/6/2021 rioters is massive overkill for the vast majority who were simply trespassers. A crime that is even hard to convict in NY, or California, or Illinois but is treated like treason in D.C. There were those who did more but the DOJ lost any semblance of balance or proportionality by treating all as mortal enemies of the State. The injustice those people received was Queen of Hearts justice (“off with their heads”) not a finely tuned justice.
4th-they excused outright murder of an unarmed protester by a policeman that would have been prosecuted by almost any district attorney in the USA outside of D.C.
5th-The recent judicial sentences in DC for abortion protesters is an outrage and one wonders even if the law that was used is constitutional. Sentencing people to prison who killed no one in order to protect the purveyors of mass murder. Almost sounds like the 3rd Reich.
6th-we have intimidation and investigations of school board reformers who are trying to stop DEI, critical race theory, and the trans madness in their schools. Their crime was that they won and tried to advance what they ran on.
7th-Catholics are now investigated as enemies of the state
8th-And then there are all the machinations against Trump with all interested parties meeting in the WH and plotting strategy across 3 states and DC. Strangely starting when he announced plans to run again.
9th-and then we get to the stellar process against Hunter Biden.
10th-Thank God we are a Federal Republic and we have 25-30 Republican AG’s willing to fight for their states and the rest of us.
11th-Biden was supposed to be the unifier, principled negotiator. I have not believed that since I witnessed his performance in Justice Thomas’ confirmation battle.
12th-And lastly Biden and Garland have abandoned discretion and negotiation for raw power and the bludgeon.
Excellent points.
The pertinent question is “how is this betrayal of Justice allowed to continue?” We all see it. We know why it’s happening. None of us want it. But it continues. Is the system so corrupted that nothing can be done, or is it so weakened by the machinations of those who manipulate the law that it now serves an evil purpose? Are there defects in the law itself that tolerates such manipulation? Doesn’t matter which it is. The People see The Law as the enemy of their hunger for Justice. That’s a dangerous place.
The corruption and rot in our government has been exposed to all.
Systems and structures must be cleaned out, torn down and rebuilt.
Trump will be reelected in November.
The Commie Marxist Left will revolt, create chaos, and burn it all down.
The Left destroys.
Trump builds.
The great President Donald J. Trump will lead the re-founding of America.
A Golden Era is coming.
Stephen K. Bannon: “Ask yourself, What is My Task; What is My Purpose? If that answer is to save my country, This Country Will be Saved!”
Trump is the Leader who will Lead the country through this Revolution.
In God We Trust.
To suggest ‘conspiracy theorists’ are the only ones criticizing him, Merrick must think most of America is asleep. Anyone with half of one eye open has seen repeated protections of the guilty and prosecution of the innocent. Even trying Hunter on a gun charges is protecting Biden by not exposing Hunter and Joe taking bribes. We see that quite perfectly.
Judges do not gain managerial experience over their career. Add to that the fact that he is a mere figurehead, and a milquetoast squishy one at that, who no one pays attention to. To imagine he is actively crafting plans for investigations or taking any kind of active part in running the department is a fantasy. He is being run by his careerist subordinates, who of course are Democrats, if not actual Leftists. Even the opinion piece for the Washington Post was almost certainly written by a staffer, and only reviewed by him, if that. More likely reviewed by some other higher-level staffer. One hopes that they at least let him know that the piece was written, so he can look in the paper and find out what his opinion is.
Lisa Monaco.
Are you allowed to eat tacos on a day other than Tuesday?
Sometimes on Thursday…if you are thirsty.
I’m not sure about that. What day can we eat quesadillas??
Old Idiom: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
New Idiom: Something is rotten in the deep-state of D.C.
rotten in the White House
rotten in the House of Representatives & Senate
rotten in the DOJ, FBI, CIA, DHS, DOD, Treasury, Fed Reserve …
rotten in the Mind’s of Bureaucrats
Something is rotten in the Swamp of D.C.
Although I appreciate this column, belated as it may be, I think what is really needed is a clear-eyed assessment of the spider’s web of corruption that pervades the entire Biden administration. Garland, at the end of the day, is doing what he was hired to do – run cover for Biden and attack his political enemies. Since Garland was widely considered above reproach before this appointment, to the point that even Trump considered him for AG, the question is – what do they have on him?
It’s not a rhetorical question. It’s a question that demands an answer.
Exactly correct!!!!
Professor, I know how difficult it must have been for you to admit you were wrong when you:
“When he was nominated, I believed that claim and enthusiastically supported Garland’s confirmation. He was, I thought, the perfect man for the job after his distinguished judicial service as a moderate judge.”
but many of us out here were not so naive. We knew–to the bottom of our souls–that the Democrats have become so corrupt and evil, yes evil, that they would never put a decent qualified man into that job.
I would hope that you have learned your lesson.
TALK ABOUT YOUR ALL TIME GODDAM GASLIGHTING
IS TURLEY IN ON IT?
Every act of unlawful handling of classified material isn’t goddam ESPIONAGE.
18 U.S. Code § 1924
(a)Whoever, being an officer, employee, contractor, or consultant of the United States, and, by virtue of his office, employment, position, or contract, becomes possessed of documents or materials containing classified information of the United States, knowingly removes such documents or materials without authority and with the intent to retain such documents or materials at an unauthorized location shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.
Does anybody see the word “willful” in there?
I repeat
Does anybody see the word “willful” in there?
How about you, bug. Mr mens rea. You see the word willful?
Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen. These materials included (1) marked classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, and (2) notebooks containing Mr. Biden’s handwritten entries about issues of national security and foreign policy implicating sensitive intelligence sources and methods. FBI agents recovered these materials from the garage, offices, and basement den in Mr. Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware home. However, for the reasons summarized below, we conclude that the evidence does not establish Mr. Biden’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“willfully retained” is not the standard.
“knowingly retained” is the standard.
What your goddam intent was with the info is only an issue with respect to the ESPIONAGE ACT.
You need “PROOF” that he retained it knowingly?? Its in the report. He bragged to the ghost writer that the staff took his note cards but not his notebooks, which he ALSO bragged contained classified information, and indeed did. TOP SECRET SCI information about confidential human sources in fact!
18USC1984 IS A CRIME
Hur used the word “willful” or “willfully” over 100 times in his report. I guess since Comey got away with that gaslighting horseshit with Hillary, they decided to pull it again.