i asked this same question of winston. he told me he didnt know either. its weird you guys are so desperate to investigate for a crime even you cant imagine. shouldnt investigations be done when there is evidence of a crime, to clarify the charges? whats the crime trump did? or is this largely an investigation of a trespassing event? why does that need to be in prime time? what crime do you think they might charge trump with. and next time you want to deflect, consider that it just makes me direct the convo back to the issue you want to avoid. i will do it 10 times. i am not done. dont deflect.
Let's take a look at the oath every President must take upon inauguration, found in Article II of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." trump made that oath when he was inaugurated in January 2017. Now, what do we know about trump's activities on January 6 and his respect for his oath? Well, we know from witness testimony.. witnesses within his own party and inner circle... that trump sat in the White House dining room watching Fox News covering a violent breach by a mob of our Capitol, our seat of government, where inside lawmakers were conducting the Constitutionally-demanded process of counting electoral college votes. We know from those witnesses that trump was aware the mob was on the hunt for Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, and every other Congressperson engaged in the process.... but particularly for Mike Pence, whom the crowd was demanding be hanged. We know from those witnesses that trump knew some of the mob was armed, that hundreds had entered the Capitol itself, that pipe bombs were found near the building, that Pence and congresspersons had gone into hiding for fear of their lives. We know from those witnesses that trump sat there watching Fox and DID NOTHING to stop the violence. He didn't call on our Armed Forces, he didn't call on the National Guard, he didn't call on the Capitol Police, he just sat there. Did he merely fail to do those things? No, we know from testimony by his close advisors that by his own mouth "the president DOESN'T WANT" to stop the attack. It was a willful lack of response to an attack against our government and against a Constitutional process. We know from Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, his generals, and the fact that his daughter, his son-in-law, his generals, his friends at Fox like Sean Hannity, Lindsey Graham, et al, were all calling him during that time to put an end to the violence that trump was the only person who could have stopped it almost immediately. We know from witness testimony that it was ultimately Mike Pence who called up the necessary Guard and law enforcement to end the insurrection, and that only when it looked like they would be subdued did the orange fuck agree to go on national tv to call on the rioters to go home. Now, what about the "faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States" part of his oath? One of the DUTIES of the office is to be Commander in Chief, to defend our country and its institutions from all enemies, foreign and domestic. General Milley during testimony expressed his dismay by trump's refusal to call up the military and/or National Guard during the attack: "You're the commander in chief. You've got an assault going on on the Capitol of the United States of America. "Nothing? No call? nothing? Zero?" In other words, an EXTREME AND DELIBERATE VIOLATION OF OATH by trump. This country might as well not have an oath for office if it can be rendered so meaningless. Then there's "to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" part of that oath. Pence, Congress, and electors were inside the building conducting a Constitutionally-mandated function. trump knew the mob was attacking the building to stop that process but sat there and DID NOTHING to preserve and defend the process, even though he had supreme ability to do so. In other words, an EXTREME AND DELIBERATE VIOLATION OF OATH by trump. This country might as well not have an oath for office if it can be rendered so meaningless. Don't pretend you're a patriot if you defend his January 6 behavior. Don't pretend you love our Constitution, our democracy, or our country. Don't pretend you respect the Second Amendment because of your love for guns when you can't respect more vital parts of the Constitution. Don't pretend you respect the First Amendment and free speech because you know damn well that if you allow your cult leader to disregard the Constitution with respect to a democratic transfer of power you would gladly allow him to disregard the First Amendment as well.
Subpoenas are MANDATORY, not suggestions. Bannon did not appear. He is GUILTY. Some of the Republicans testifying before the Jan 6 Committee are voluntarily appearing. They are the honorable ones. A subpoena does not force you to say anything during testimony. It just forces you to appear. A witness may invoke the 5th. But as Trump says, why would you take the 5th unless you are guilty.
The committee does not have to charge anyone. They are investigating and will refer any recommended charges to the DOJ. Their primary goal is to make sure this never happens again.
staying silent is wise regardless of innocence or guilt. trump was wrong if he made the claim that taking the 5th means you are guilty. before we go on, will you admit you understand that? i think things will go more smoothly if you can understand basic concepts about our constitutional rights. correct. he is guilty. the law shouldnt exist. citizens should be free from reach of congressional subpeona. what crime do you think trump did?
do you think they will charge trump? of what? they can make sure by simply having better security. they cant shut down protests. they cant force politians to not claim elections were stolen. its a perfectly normal thing in democracies that people claim they won. its interesting you utterly refuse to even speculate about what trump could be charged with.
