The American Sphinx: 20 Questions For Mueller Before Congress

Below is my column in the Hill on the upcoming (and long-delayed) appearance of Robert Mueller, former Special Counsel, before Congress. It will be interesting to watch if Democratic members protect Mueller from having to address some of the glaring contradictions and problems in his report. However, in case there is a modicum of interest in delving into such areas by either party, here are 20 questions that I would ask Robert Mueller.

Here is the column:

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Washington Owes Neil Gorsuch An Apology

Below is my column on the end of the Supreme Court term and the one outstanding piece of business: an apology to Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. After this column ran, Gorsuch again voted with the liberal justices on a critical due process issue. He has already carved out a principled legacy on the Court that follows his convictions rather than the predictions of his critics.

Here is the column:

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Buenos Aires: From Jose Martin To Don Julio

We spent the fifth day in Buenos Aires walking the streets and enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. After I dealt with the Supreme Court cases issued that morning, we went for a stroll and ended up at one of the oldest cafes and eventually the tomb of Gen. Jose Martin. We also met up with an old friend from Chicago (originally from Buenos Aires) and went to a restaurant just listed among the top 100 in the world. Yes, more eating. Argentinians love to sit and talk and eat and drink until the wee hours of the day.

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Buenos Aires: From Perón To Pistolas

R031+zBvQ3GHet7UGDfILgOur fourth day in Buenos Aires was a wild contrast that began with the home of Eva Peron and proceeded to the Museo de las Armas Teniente General Pablo Riccheri. We also went to one of the truly unique restaurants in the world, a fusion of Jewish and Argentinian cuisine. It was truly a day of contrasts and fusion in art, food, and history.

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White House Orders Conway Not To Testify On Hatch Act Violations

350px-US-WhiteHouse-Logo.svgHouseofRepSealI have previously testified and written about the questionable litigation strategy of the House Democratic leadership in fighting privilege assertions, including recommending cases that it should litigate as a matter of separation of powers.  This week another conflict has arisen as the White House again invoked absolute privilege over a staffer.  The White House said it will not allow presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway to appear before a House committee looking into her repeatedly violation of the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits political activity by government workers.  The position of the White House in entirely untenable and would fail in the courts.  This is the type of case that the House should litigate with vigor.

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Buenos Aires From La Feria De San Telmo To El Candombe

z2BRJuGVSAm9JfmMlkW0SQOn our second day in Buenos Aires, we spent much of the day at the extraordinary Feria de San Telmo, a huge outdoor fair where artisans sell everything under the sun from antiques to paintings to Tango lessons.  It was a huge amount of fun that we capped off with a late lunch at a Basque restaurant and an evening stroll filled with dancing and music.  Continue reading “Buenos Aires From La Feria De San Telmo To El Candombe”

A Walk Down El Caminito

gl+Gfh6kSDKtXT5UfURGhgOur first day in Argentina on Saturday was a blast.  Upon arriving in the morning in Buenos Aires, we set out with friends to explore the Caminito, the ” little street”. Caminito is part of the area called La Boca and is one of the most iconic parts of this beautiful city. It is full of great food, colorful homes, and Tango dancing.  We then went to a great steak restaurant along the river for dinner.  Continue reading “A Walk Down El Caminito”

Ethical Certainties: Why Pro-Life Supporters Cannot Morally Abandon Their Cause (Revisited)

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

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The issue of abortion is at the very least highly contentious. Decades of heated arguments are not likely to end this discussion soon even in light of various statutory and common law mandates laying out a legal framework for which it is permitted or denied. The matter is a perennial source of political maneuvering, and litmus tests that can in some areas make or break the careers of politicians. This article will not discuss the ethical or legal aspects of abortion but rather the perspective and moral position of those who support pro-life, and why they cannot abandon their cause. It is an exercise in empathy that is applicable to other subjects in ethical studies.

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An Interesting Perspective On Residential Burglaries

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

I came across an interview with a convicted burglar who agreed to discuss his tradecraft and thought it could offer many an opportunity to learn how one can protect their own property and homes from invasion by burglars.

The convicted burglar claims over a hundred residential burglaries during a twenty-year crime spree before finally being brought to ultimate justice. He provides his police interviewer with a candid insight into his “trade” which soon becomes evident to the viewer that he goes about his crimes with a professional approach where if the illegality of his deeds was not considered, he would otherwise seem as though he was developing a niche market in the ordinary business sense. 

It should be recognized that our interviewee in my experience is not a typical burglar who operates mostly on opportunity and luck. Yet for a certain demographic of citizen, mainly of those in upper-income neighborhoods, this type of burglar cannot be safely dismissed of discounted.

At the very least the reader can benefit from a perspective as to what motivates the mind of a professional felon.

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Trump Reportedly Orders Strike On Iran But Then Rescinds Order

Washington is on edge this morning after congressional leaders were briefed on a strike on Iran and the military deployed assets for the pre-dawn attack only to have President Donald Trump rescind the order. Democrats briefed on the attack urged Trump to deescalate and he appears to have heeded such calls, not only from congressional leaders but some in his own Administration. Frankly, the decision to pull back is reassuring for many who felt like there was an orchestrated effort to push the U.S. into a war with Iran — a war reportedly encouraged by allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia.

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