This is getting really ugly

[billhammond]

www.startribune.com/doj-tries-to-oust-us-attorney-investigating-trump-allies/571385382/

[Russell Letson]

Getting? Present progressive? We need a "this shit again?" tense.

[brucemacneill]

Jun 20, 2020 15:17:19 GMT -5 billhammond said:

www.startribune.com/doj-tries-to-oust-us-attorney-investigating-trump-allies/571385382/

Well, apparently Trump has the right to replace him. He doesn't have Senate approval anyway. He's a Kelly Temp, sort of.

[jdd2]

The White House announced that Trump was nominating Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, a well-connected Wall Street lawyer with virtually no experience as a federal prosecutor, for the job.
...
A senior department official said Clayton was planning to leave the administration, wanted to move back to New York and expressed interest in the Southern District position, and Barr thought he would be a good fit.

Also, Clayton and Barr are old friends--swamp buddies.

[Chesapeake]

So, the current state of play: Barr says he's asked Trump to fire the guy, and that he has now done so. Fifteen minutes later (give or take), Trump says he's not involved in the matter, and refers all questions to Barr.

Send in Abbott and Costello.

[brucemacneill]

Jun 20, 2020 16:25:22 GMT -5 Chesapeake said:

So, the current state of play: Barr says he's asked Trump to fire the guy, and that he has now done so. Fifteen minutes later (give or take), Trump says he's not involved in the matter, and refers all questions to Barr.

Send in Abbott and Costello.

It's a DOJ issue, isn't it?

Also, remember that after 10 tons of investigations, so far Trump hasn't been found to have done anything wrong. I think he's entitled to be sick of this shit.

[billhammond]

thehill.com/homenews/senate/503711-graham-signals-he-wont-take-up-us-attorney-pick-without-schumer-gillibrand

[t-bob]

I’m ready for January 20,2021

[billhammond]

Evolving quickly:



thehill.com/homenews/administration/503749-berman-to-leave-sdny-immediately

[jdd2]

Literally how swampy can you get:

... Jay Clayton — who previously represented Deutsche Bank, one of President Donald Trump’s most significant business creditors, from allegations they facilitated Russian money laundering.


The Southern District of New York, situated in Manhattan, frequently deals with significant white-collar investigations — and is currently in the process of investigating Deutsche Bank itself.

[Cornflake]

Weird story. I read that Berman held a position on Trump's transition team. I don't know the relevant law so a lot of it is beyond my ken.

[james]

Replacement, for now, seems to be Berman's deputy, Audrey Strauss. Preet Bharara says she's an "excellent and principled lawyer". Might be interesting to check his next podcast.

Edit - corrected name.

Edit - a lot of people think Strauss will not be there for long. She's too likely to protect all the ongoing investigations into Trump's finances etc.etc. It will be messy.

[james]

Update. Liz Dye at Wonkette helpfully explains the debacle. It is unsurprisingly sweary.

www.wonkette.com/bill-barr-declares-victory-in-sdny-fight-heads-home-to-ice-his-balls