Something that has puzzled almost all of us is WHY Donald Trump would be so tenacious about hanging on to his stolen classified documents. When he was asked to return them in the first place, all he had to do was hand them over and no action would have been taken against him. I fear that the ans…
Something that has puzzled almost all of us is WHY Donald Trump would be so tenacious about hanging on to his stolen classified documents. When he was asked to return them in the first place, all he had to do was hand them over and no action would have been taken against him. I fear that the answer to that question is going to turn out to be much darker and more sinister than we have supposed.
In today's piece by Heather Cox Richardson, it was demonstrated that Donald Trump is conducting U.S. foreign policy as an out-of-power individual, and he is doing so to Russia's benefit. He has instructed his lickspittles in the House of Representatives to prevent aid to Ukraine, and his proxy, Grenell, is traveling the globe and meeting with authoritarian leaders to tell them what Trump will do for them if reelected.
After Trump's July meeting with Putin in 2019, he requested a list of top US spies. Subsequently there was an uptick in US agents being captured and/or murdered. Some of the national security documents that still have not been handed over include rosters of US assets gathering intelligence around the globe.
We have a man in our midst who is actively seeking to work our nation's woe for his own benefit. That he is still walking around free is IMHO a travesty and a mockery of justice.
For a nation that has been as obsessed with Russia as the U.S. has been since WW2, it is awfully strange that this big elephant in the room has been largely ignored. It makes me wonder just how deep this influence is when Merrick Garland, who should have all this information right in front of him, takes no visible action to deal with the Russian espionage effort against this country.
The danger at this moment is greater than it has been since the Cold War because we have so many of our elected officials doing Trump's bidding, which is Putin's bidding by proxy.
Great points. And Rick Grenell is clearly guilty of offending the Logan Act. Having tRump acting as a shadow government is almost like having a pope in Rome and another in Avignon! Welcome to the Middle Ages, folks. We are going down the tube.
It seems like there are multiple US Laws, like the Logan Act, that have limited or poorly defined definitions or punishments. We have a real problem with laws that have such poor definition. They end up useless, particularly when called up to hold accountable someone with money or power behind them. We say we are a nation of laws, but if definitions and punishments are lacking, then we have poor tools with which to execute justice.
I'd think he was, too, though it is iffy whether the Act is constitutional. Only two people have been indicted under it --in the 19th century--and those were not convicted. See Wikipedia, The Logan Act. So the uncharted nature of the Act would create really complicated litigation. The act requires that the negotiations are "in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States." It could be difficult to pinpoint the exact dispute, controversy, or measure is being violated by Grenell. "Being against authoritarianism" is not likely to cut it. Promising to remove sanctions imposed by the US very well might.
Thanks for your research Susan! But, it sure sounds like it might be a good idea to detain Mr Grenell (in US custody) while we sort the Logan Act implications out!
Guarantee a speedy* trial! (* In tRump terms, a "speedy trial" means sometime in 2025!)
One of my concerns is that Grenell would have had access to Top Secret information when Trump was in office and now he is making deals with the Russians, presumably to help Trump win the election. Who knows what kind of deals he could be making?
I think dumpster has already sold / given away USA secrets to get info / money / assistance ! Since he doesn't give a rat's ass about the country or its people. He only cares about himself and money !
It has seemed pretty obvious that he is Putin's front man. The evidence may not be there, but the suspicions are that he is trading our secrets for lucrative deals for himself and his family. He is supporting bots from our enemies, and he will stop at nothing to break the law. It is like he already has the death penalty figuratively speaking so he has nothing to lose in breaking every law he can in a big gamble to get back into the White House. I think he needs to be put in solitary like the enemy of the state that he is. No communication with outsiders.
Thank you for detailing the legal niceties.
Something that has puzzled almost all of us is WHY Donald Trump would be so tenacious about hanging on to his stolen classified documents. When he was asked to return them in the first place, all he had to do was hand them over and no action would have been taken against him. I fear that the answer to that question is going to turn out to be much darker and more sinister than we have supposed.
In today's piece by Heather Cox Richardson, it was demonstrated that Donald Trump is conducting U.S. foreign policy as an out-of-power individual, and he is doing so to Russia's benefit. He has instructed his lickspittles in the House of Representatives to prevent aid to Ukraine, and his proxy, Grenell, is traveling the globe and meeting with authoritarian leaders to tell them what Trump will do for them if reelected.
After Trump's July meeting with Putin in 2019, he requested a list of top US spies. Subsequently there was an uptick in US agents being captured and/or murdered. Some of the national security documents that still have not been handed over include rosters of US assets gathering intelligence around the globe.
We have a man in our midst who is actively seeking to work our nation's woe for his own benefit. That he is still walking around free is IMHO a travesty and a mockery of justice.
For a nation that has been as obsessed with Russia as the U.S. has been since WW2, it is awfully strange that this big elephant in the room has been largely ignored. It makes me wonder just how deep this influence is when Merrick Garland, who should have all this information right in front of him, takes no visible action to deal with the Russian espionage effort against this country.
The danger at this moment is greater than it has been since the Cold War because we have so many of our elected officials doing Trump's bidding, which is Putin's bidding by proxy.
Great points. And Rick Grenell is clearly guilty of offending the Logan Act. Having tRump acting as a shadow government is almost like having a pope in Rome and another in Avignon! Welcome to the Middle Ages, folks. We are going down the tube.
It seems like there are multiple US Laws, like the Logan Act, that have limited or poorly defined definitions or punishments. We have a real problem with laws that have such poor definition. They end up useless, particularly when called up to hold accountable someone with money or power behind them. We say we are a nation of laws, but if definitions and punishments are lacking, then we have poor tools with which to execute justice.
Very true. No one U.S. ever prosecuted under the Logan Act, e.g.
I'd think he was, too, though it is iffy whether the Act is constitutional. Only two people have been indicted under it --in the 19th century--and those were not convicted. See Wikipedia, The Logan Act. So the uncharted nature of the Act would create really complicated litigation. The act requires that the negotiations are "in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States." It could be difficult to pinpoint the exact dispute, controversy, or measure is being violated by Grenell. "Being against authoritarianism" is not likely to cut it. Promising to remove sanctions imposed by the US very well might.
Thanks for your research Susan! But, it sure sounds like it might be a good idea to detain Mr Grenell (in US custody) while we sort the Logan Act implications out!
Guarantee a speedy* trial! (* In tRump terms, a "speedy trial" means sometime in 2025!)
well they do have to indict him first, and then the court has to refuse bail. But nice thought.
Thanks for this. I hadn’t done a deep dive into how to pursue it, but at least it provides a clear way to think about what it happening.
One of my concerns is that Grenell would have had access to Top Secret information when Trump was in office and now he is making deals with the Russians, presumably to help Trump win the election. Who knows what kind of deals he could be making?
I think dumpster has already sold / given away USA secrets to get info / money / assistance ! Since he doesn't give a rat's ass about the country or its people. He only cares about himself and money !
It has seemed pretty obvious that he is Putin's front man. The evidence may not be there, but the suspicions are that he is trading our secrets for lucrative deals for himself and his family. He is supporting bots from our enemies, and he will stop at nothing to break the law. It is like he already has the death penalty figuratively speaking so he has nothing to lose in breaking every law he can in a big gamble to get back into the White House. I think he needs to be put in solitary like the enemy of the state that he is. No communication with outsiders.
Linda I think you and me have telepathy because I have said so many times that he has ti be in solitary confinement for life no contact no nothing
Kindred spirits, along with all of those who think like us.