Fact vs. fiction – who has weaponized the Justice Department?
Journalists must not repeat Trump's lies
Yesterday’s conviction of Hunter Biden should force journalists to think twice before reporting Donald Trump’s claims of being a victim of the Biden administration’s so-called “weaponization of the Justice Department.” Because the facts clearly point to Trump himself as the guy who has done everything possible to corrupt the independence of the justice system.
In an interview with the always reliable toady Sean Hannity, Trump tried to claim he would put a stop to such weaponization, as tempting as it might be. “Based on what they’ve done, I would have every right to go after them,” Trump said.
The Trump record
I have no doubt that if Trump wins in November, he will use what he sees as “his” Justice Department to go after his political enemies. Just look at what he did during his time in office:
· One of his very first acts in office was to pressure FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into Trump’s short-lived national security director Mike Flynn, who had lied to the Justice Department. When Comey refused, Trump unceremoniously fired Comey - over Twitter.
· After Sessions resigned under pressure, his successor Bill Barr dropped the federal case against the aforementioned Mike Flynn, even though Flynn had already pleaded guilty to the charges.
· Trump tossed out pardons like wedding guests throwing rice at newlyweds. He pardoned his former campaign manager Paul Manafort, convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud. He pardoned his friend Roger Stone, convicted of lying to Congress. He pardoned his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner. He pardoned Steve Bannon, who was indicted for defrauding contributors to a fund supposedly meant to build a border wall. (Bannon has since been convicted of contempt of Congress and should start a prison sentence July 1. He faces additional state charges for the border wall scheme.) He pardoned the husband of Fox News commentator Jeanine Pirro. He pardoned a former Republican congressman sentenced to three years in prison for corruption and money laundering. He pardoned one of his top fund-raisers. He pardoned rapper Lil Wayne, convicted on gun charges!
But speaking of the Biden administration, Trump has the temerity to say, “These people are sick. They’re deranged.”
The Biden record
Let’s look at the Biden administration’s record:
· First and foremost, the president’s son has been convicted of gun charges and lying on a federal form. President Biden has stayed out of the case and told ABC News last week that he would accept the jury’s verdict and would not pardon Hunter. Can any sane person really imagine Trump doing the same thing?
· The Biden Justice Department is prosecuting Democratic New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez on corruption charges.
· Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland has bent over backwards to demonstrably avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest on political charges. He named Trump-appointed US Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate documents found at Biden’s home and private office. Although Hur opted not to charge Biden, he famously concluded Biden has memory issues. Garland could have edited that comment out of the final report, but he did not do so.
You know these facts but it’s not until they’re pulled together and looked at in the context of yesterday’s verdict that it becomes crystal clear who is abusing the justice system in this country and who is not.
One man is committed to his job. The other to himself
I can’t imagine the pain Joe Biden is going through with his son being convicted by an arm of his own administration. Any father would want to do what he could to help his son, but it’s clear Biden is demonstrating that some things are more important. He’s doing the right thing for the country, for the rule of law.
Compare Biden’s job commitment to Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who’s basically going on strike and not approving any Biden budgets or appointments in protest of the Trump guilty verdict. (Which was in a STATE court that Biden does not control.)
The challenge for journalists is to responsibly report what Trump says he will do if re-elected without allowing him to falsely repeat the mantra that it’s Biden who has corrupted the system. Trump says the same thing over and over and the Fox News shills will happily let him say what he wants unchallenged. But responsible journalists, real journalists must not report Trump’s outrageous lies and not let them become accepted fact. Because the record is crystal clear.
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Another excellent article, Dave! Iowa’s congressional delegation and state party sit quietly by, they have to know who/what their leader is. Shameful!
We are so lucky to have your voice, Dave. Hearing lies repeated over and over, with our own Iowa elected leaders participating in those lies can feel isolating and so discouraging. Your calm clarity is steadying.