Category: Congress

Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics, Torts

Ro Khanna and the Impunity of “Wealthy, Powerful Men”

Last year, I wrote a column expressing concerns over the move to release the Epstein files en masse, including grand jury material. The files include a wide range of tangential figures and unsupported allegations common to criminal investigations. Politicians eager to capitalize on the scandal would likely show little concern for the underlying facts in “outing” names and repeating unproven allegations.

That fear was realized this week with the chest-pounding speech of Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Cal.) on the House floor in which he took credit for outing six “wealthy, powerful men” who he suggested were actively shielded by the DOJ from public exposure. After the DOJ unredacted the names at his request, he read them on the floor. It turns out that four have nothing to do with Epstein. Continue reading “Ro Khanna and the Impunity of “Wealthy, Powerful Men”” →

Congress, Criminal law

“I Will Not Sit Idly as They Use Me as a Prop”: Is Bill Clinton Moving Back Into Contempt?

The Clintons are again suggesting that they might not agree to a deposition after previously yielding to the threat of a contempt vote. Hillary Clinton taunted House Oversight Chair James Comer “if you want this fight…let’s have it—in public.” For his part, Bill Clinton seemed more conclusive on X in opposing a deposition: “I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court.” The question is whether the Clintons are again gaming the system after avoiding a bipartisan vote to hold them in contempt.

Continue reading ““I Will Not Sit Idly as They Use Me as a Prop”: Is Bill Clinton Moving Back Into Contempt?” →

Congress, Criminal law, Media, Society

Police Thwart Alleged Assassination of OMB Director Russell Vought

There is a chilling story out this morning that another assassination attempt may have been averted. This time, the target was not President Donald Trump or a conservative justice but my former student Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Notably, Colin Demarco, 26, referenced the “fascist” mantra being repeated by Democratic politicians, press, and pundits as the reason for his planning to kill Vought.

 

Columns, Congress, Politics

Mobocracy: Democratic Politicians Compete in Race to the Bottom Over ICE Shooting

This year, there has been a race to the bottom as Democratic politicians fuel the rage in our streets against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. That continued this last week when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz again rushed to judgment after a shooting, adding that the public should not treat Border Patrol or ICE officers as real “law enforcement” officers. However, rock bottom was finally reached by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D), who not only said that she does not consider ICE officers to be “real law enforcement,” but raised the possibility of citizens shooting them under state law. Continue reading “Mobocracy: Democratic Politicians Compete in Race to the Bottom Over ICE Shooting” →

Congress, Criminal law, Politics

Democrats Join Republicans in Voting the Clintons in Contempt of Congress

Yesterday, a curious thing happened in a House Committee. Bill and Hillary Clinton were actually held accountable for flouting the law — at least as a preliminary matter. In the House Oversight Committee, Democrats joined Republicans in approving contempt resolutions against the two political figures after they refused to appear to answer questions about their connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading “Democrats Join Republicans in Voting the Clintons in Contempt of Congress” →

Academia, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Religion, Society, Supreme Court

The Reviews Are In: “Rage and the Republic is Jonathan Turley’s Birthday Gift to America to Mark its 250 Years of Independence”

The early reviews of Rage and the Republic are in!  In a few days, books (including an audiobook) will be shipped out and on the shelves of bookstores by February 3. Simon & Schuster is releasing the book to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Continue reading “The Reviews Are In: “Rage and the Republic is Jonathan Turley’s Birthday Gift to America to Mark its 250 Years of Independence”” →

Congress, Criminal law

Democrats Fight to Keep the Insurrection Myth Alive in the New J6 Committee

The new J6 Committee has started its hearings and, unlike the prior Committee, Republicans have allowed Democrats to select members to sit in opposition. That has led to sharp exchanges, but one of the more interesting occurred between Rep. Harriet Hageman (R., Wyo.) and Jamie Raskin (D., Md.). After Hageman got a witness to admit that no one was charged with incitement, Raskin made the clearly false statement that a few defendants charged with seditious conspiracy was the same thing as incitement. It is not. Continue reading “Democrats Fight to Keep the Insurrection Myth Alive in the New J6 Committee” →

Columns, Congress, Courts, Criminal law, Politics

“Now is That Time”: Clintons Defy Congressional Subpeona and Trigger Contempt Proceedings

Woody Allen famously said, “80% of success in life is just showing up.” When it comes to Bill and Hillary Clinton and possible congressional contempt, it may be 100%. The two politicians have decided to defy lawful subpoenas issued by the House. For the House Oversight Committee, now is also the time for contempt proceedings. Continue reading ““Now is That Time”: Clintons Defy Congressional Subpeona and Trigger Contempt Proceedings” →

Congress, Free Speech

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Confirms his Utter Contempt for the First Amendment Before Congress

For years, some of us have argued that President Donald Trump’s January 6th speech was protected under the First Amendment and that any prosecution would collapse under governing precedent, including Brandenburg v. Ohio.  I was regularly attacked as an apologist for my criticism of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s “war on free speech.” I wrote about his history of ignoring such constitutional protections in his efforts to prosecute targets at any cost. I also wrote how Smith’s second indictment (which the Post supported) was a direct assault on the First Amendment. Now, years later, the Washington Post has acknowledged that Trump’s speech was protected and that Smith “would have blown a hole in the First Amendment.” Continue reading “Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Confirms his Utter Contempt for the First Amendment Before Congress” →

Columns, Congress, Criminal law, Media, Politics

“It was an Outright Murder.” Democratic Politicians Pander to the Mob on ICE Shooting

Below is my column on Fox.com on Democratic politicians and pundits immediately declaring that the ICE officer in Minneapolis is a murderer. There is a method to this madness for politicians such as Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) who are facing primary challenges from the far left. He and others sit like Madam Defarge, simply knitting the names of expendable officers to fuel the mob.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““It was an Outright Murder.” Democratic Politicians Pander to the Mob on ICE Shooting” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

“Are You Not Entertained?” Democrats Announce New Impeachment Games to Draw Midterm Voters

“Are you not entertained?” With the country’s economy improving and other issues losing traction with the public, Democrats are increasingly turning to the one thing lacking in Washington: impeachments. Continue reading ““Are You Not Entertained?” Democrats Announce New Impeachment Games to Draw Midterm Voters” →

Congress, Media, Politics

Report: NPR’s Maher Refused Internal Demands to Resign “For the Good of Public Media” Before Loss of Funding
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The New York Times reports that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) called on National Public Radio (NPR) CEO Katherine Maher to resign before all federal funding for both the CPB and NPR was cut off. As in the past, Maher and the NPR board chose their own agendas over the interests of their institution and public radio. Continue reading “Report: NPR’s Maher Refused Internal Demands to Resign “For the Good of Public Media” Before Loss of Funding” →

Congress, Criminal law

“Second or Even Third Hand” Evidence: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Debunks Key J6 Committee Witness

We previously discussed how the J6 Committee and many in the media played up the “bombshell” testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson despite glaring contradictions that were hidden from the public. The J6 Committee denied reports of those contradictions and then delayed the release of directly conflicting testimony as the press played up who Trump allegedly tried to seize control of the Presidential limo to go to Capitol Hill. In his deposition before Congress, former special counsel Jack Smith indicated that Hutchinson’s testimony as unreliable, unsupported, and unusable in any trial. Smith appears to have finally presented a conclusive indictment . . . of the J6 Committee.

Continue reading ““Second or Even Third Hand” Evidence: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Debunks Key J6 Committee Witness” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

Swalwell Pledges to Arrest ICE Agents and Take Away Their Driver’s Licenses

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Cal.) will not be outdone again. Recently, Swalwell was outvoted in Congress by a colleague who had died months earlier.  Now, he is ensuring that, when it comes to violating the Constitution, no one is even close. This week, Swalwell pledged that, if elected California governor, he will arrest ICE officers and take away their driver’s licences. Continue reading “Swalwell Pledges to Arrest ICE Agents and Take Away Their Driver’s Licenses” →

Columns, Congress, Courts, Politics, Society

“What’s in a Name?” Courts Could Face a Truly Shakespearean Question Over the “Trump-Kennedy Center”

 

 

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” That question posed by Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet seems to now occupy much of Washington. Last night at a Christmas party with many media from Washington, the question was put to me more succinctly and repeatedly as “can they do that?” The “that” was the renaming of the Kennedy Center as the Trump-Kennedy Center. Soon courts may have to face this quintessentially Shakespearean question “for never was a story of more woe.” Continue reading ““What’s in a Name?” Courts Could Face a Truly Shakespearean Question Over the “Trump-Kennedy Center”” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks