Theheadlinelieinbothisthat,inhisGovernmentGangstersbookandinterviewssince,KashliedabouthowsignificantaroleheplayedintheBenghaziinvestigation,asMoJolaysouthere.
“Iwasleadingtheprosecution’seffortsatMainJusticeinWashington,DC,”Patelwrites.
SeveralFBIandJusticeDepartmentofficialswhoworkedtheBenghazicasesaythisdescriptionisanexaggeration.AskedaboutPatel’scharacterization,aformerFBIspecialagentwhowasonthatinvestigationforyearsexclaimed,“Ohmygod,no.Notonthatcase.NotonBenghazi.”
[snip]
ThisformeragentsaidthatthecounterterrorismsectionhadasmallroleintheBenghaziprobe.Primarily,theFBIandtheUSattorney’sofficeinWashington,DC,handledthecase.“Idon’trecallPatelhavinganyinfluenceonit,”hesaid.HerecountedonemeetingduringtheinvestigationthatPatelattendedinwhichPatelwasnottakenseriouslybythemainattorneysontheinvestigation.“Theissuewaswhetherornotwehadtheinformationneededtomakeacharge,”theformeragentsaid.“Hewasn’taveryexperiencedattorneyandwasdismissedbysomeoftheattorneysatthetable.Themessagewas,we’renotpayingattentiontoyou.”
“DespitethefactthatwehadreamsofevidenceagainstdozensofterroristsintheBenghaziattack,EricHolder’sJusticeDepartmentdecidedtoonlyprosecuteoneoftheattackers.”—“GovernmentGangsters”
“Irememberthismeetingwiththen-A.G.Holder.Andwehadadeckoflike19guyswewantedtoprosecute.Youknow,JSOChadthemrolledupandwewantedtogetthemall.TheykilledfourAmericans.Youknow,it’salegitterroristattack.AndthebasicgeneralresponsefromtheF.B.I.andD.O.J.leadershipwas‘it’sonlypoliticallyconvenienttogetoneguy.’”—“TheShawnRyanShow”
Mr.Patel’sstatementssuggestthattheJusticeDepartmentundertheObamaadministrationdecidedtoinitiatecriminalproceedingsagainstonlyoneoftheattackers,Mr.Khattala.
OtherBenghazisuspectshavesincedied.
Mr.Patel’sstatementthatthemilitaryhadalready“rolledup”asmanyas19attackersimpliedthattheywerealreadyinAmericancustody,raisingtheseeminglyinexplicablequestionofwhytheydidnotgetsenttotrial.
Infact,todate,onlyMr.KhatallaandMr.al-Imamhavebeentriedbecausethemilitaryhasnotcapturedanyothers—includingonMr.Patel’swatchastheTrumpWhiteHouse’sseniordirectorforcounterterrorism.
Thathastheupsideofallowingpeopletotalkwithoutfear.Itmeansthesepeoplearenolongerinsidethebureaucracy,abletopushbackfromwithin.
ThefindingsontheCongressionalsideofthereportaresomewhatmoreinteresting,notleastbecausethepolicyonthirdpartysubpoenastophonecompanies,Google,andAppleimplicatingpeople(includingstaffersandMembers,throughoutthisdiscussion)inCongresswerenowhereasformalizedasthemediaguidelineswere.
TheReportreasonsthatsinceCongressisaco-equalbranchofgovernmentprotectedbySpeechandDebateprivilegesenshrinedintheConstitution,itshouldhaveasimilarkindofprotocolthatjournalistsbenefitfrom(aprotocolwhichhassincebeenstrengthened,butwhichPatelandPamBondiaresuretotorch).
DOJIGrecommendsinsteadmoreformalnoticefromtheAG.
First,inorderforseniorleadershiptobeabletoconsideranddecidematterspotentiallyraisingconstitutionalseparationofpowersissues,werecommendthattheDepartmentevaluatewhenadvancenotificationtoaseniorDepartmentofficial,suchastheDeputyAttorneyGeneralorAttorneyGeneral,shouldberequiredbeforecompulsoryprocessisissued,andanycorrespondingNDOsaresought,forrecordsofaMemberofCongressorcongressionalstafferandestablish,asnecessary,implementingpoliciesandguidance.
InaPamBondiDOJ,thiswouldvirtuallyguaranteethatnoRepublicanswouldbeinvestigated,becauseshewouldhaveadvanceveto.
DOJIGalsorecommendedthatwhenDOJrequestsNon-DisclosureOrdersimplicatingpeoplefromCongress,theytellthejudgeapprovingtheNDOthatitissomeonefromCongress.
Second,werecommendthattheDepartmentconsiderthecircumstancesinwhichNDOapplicationsandrenewalsshouldidentifyforthereviewingjudgethattherecordscoveredbyaproposedNDOarerecordsofMembersofCongressorcongressionalstaffers.
Thisisuncontroversialandwouldstopthekindofknee-jerkNDOrequeststhathidthesesubpoenasforfiveyears.
Third,werecommendthattheDepartmentconsiderwhethertherearecircumstancesinwhichanexhaustionrequirementshouldbeaprerequisiteforissuingcompulsoryprocesstoobtainrecordsofMembersofCongressandcongressionalstaffers.
Thatis,inprinciple,whathappenedhere:DOJfirstcheckedExecutivebranchpersonnelandonlythenstartedinvestigatinginCongressafterstoriesstartedcloselyfollowingCongressionalbriefingsonthetopics.Buttakentoitslogicaloutcome,itwouldgetinteresting.
Ontheonehand,itwouldmakeitmuchhardertogetevensubpoenasonpeopleinCongressthanitalreadyis(theoneDemocraticstafferandWolfeweretheonlyCongressionalstafferswhosecontentwascollected).
ThiswouldmakeiteasierforwhistleblowerstoleaktomembersofCongressandforthemtoleaktothepress.
Suchleaksmightbeoneofthelastfailsafesgoingforward.
ExceptbyrootingthenotionofexhaustionintheconstitutionalprotectionsaffordedCongress,itmightactuallyflipthecurrentstructureonitshead.ThereasonwhyyouwouldinvestigateamemberofCongressbeforeajournalistisbecauseunderthecurrentapproach,thecongressionalstafferwithclearanceistheonlyonewhowouldbeprosecuted(theofWolfeexamplenotwithstanding,thatisexceedinglyrareinanycase;intheJeffreySterlingcasetheSenateprotectedakeyRepublicanstafferwhowassuspected).
ButifyoudecideCongressshouldhavemoreprotection,thenanFBIDirectorwhohasalreadythreatenedtogoafterjournalistsmightfirstchoosetoexhaustinvestigativeremediesagainstjournalistsbeforeturningtoCongress.
MikeTurnersayshewantstocodifysomeofthis.ThatmightprotectleaksaboutRepublicanadversariesasmuchasanything(theleaksinvestigatedheremostlypertainedtoCarterPageandotherTrumpassociates).Butitmightbeoneofthefewmeansoftransparencyleft.
JusticeDepartmentregulationsrequireaspecialcounsel’sreporttoexplainwhytheprosecutordecidedtofilethechargestheydid,andwhytheydecidednottofileanyotherchargestheyconsidered.
ButlikemuchofMr.Smith’sworkinvolvingMr.Trump,thisstepisfraughtwithbothtechnicalandpracticalchallengesthatcouldmakethereportsignificantlydifferent—andshorter—fromthelengthytomesproducedbyotherrecentspecialcounsels.Italsounlikelytocontainmuchinthewayofneworrevelatorydisclosures.
Mr.Smith,whohasbeenthesubjectofround-the-clockprotectionafterreceivingdeaththreatssincetakingover,hasalreadydescribedmuchoftheevidenceandlegaltheoriesbehindtheelectionobstructionindictment.SincehefiledtwoseparateandlengthyindictmentslastyearagainstMr.Trump,hehassupplementedthatrecordwithscoresofcourtfilingselaboratingontheallegations.
OnepotentialwrinkleforthefilingandreleaseofMr.Smith’sreportisthatitmayhavetoundergoacarefulreviewbyU.S.intelligenceagenciesforanyclassifiedinformation.Thatcanbealengthyprocess.IntelligenceagenciestookweekstoreviewMr.Hur’sreport.
ButinthecaseofMr.Smith’sfinalreport,mostofthatvettinghasalreadybeendone,soofficialsexpectthatsteptotakelittletime.
Sincethewarrantwasmadepublic,therehasbeenaprettyheateddiscussionabout2071,notleastbecauseRepublicansclaimedthatSmithhadconsideredchargingit,whichcarriesalightthreeyearmaximumsentencebutalsodisqualifiessomeonefromholdingofficeagain,asawaytodisqualifyTrumpfromrunningforPresident.
Thisdocumentisacompilationthatincludesthreedocumentsthatpost-datePlaintiff’sterminofficeandtwoclassifiedcoversheets,oneSECRETandtheotherCONFIDENTIAL.BecausePlaintiffcanonlyhavereceivedthedocumentsbearingclassificationmarkingsinhiscapacityasPresident,theentiremixeddocumentisaPresidentialrecord.
Besidestheclassifiedcoversheets,whichwereinsertedbytheFBIinlieuoftheactualdocuments,noneoftheremainingcommunicationsinthedocumentareconfidentialpresidentialcommunicationsthatmightbesubjecttoaclaimofexecutiveprivilege.Threecommunicationsarefromabookauthor,areligiousleader,andapollster.ThefirsttwocannotbecharacterizedaspresidentialadvisersandallthreeareeitherdatedorbycontentoccurredafterPlaintiff’sadministrationended.[myemphasis]
TherearesimilarlyimportantdeclinationdecisionsontheJanuary6sideoftheinvestigation.
OnJuly22,POLITICObeganreceivingemailsfromananonymousaccount.Overthecourseofthepastfewweeks,theperson—whousedanAOLemailaccountandidentifiedthemselvesonlyas“Robert”—relayedwhatappearedtobeinternalcommunicationsfromaseniorTrumpcampaignofficial.AresearchdossierthecampaignhadapparentlydoneonTrump’srunningmate,OhioSen.JDVance,whichwasdatedFeb.23,wasincludedinthedocuments.Thedocumentsareauthentic,accordingtotwopeoplefamiliarwiththemandgrantedanonymitytodescribeinternalcommunications.OneofthepeopledescribedthedossierasapreliminaryversionofVance’svettingfile.
Theresearchdossierwasa271-pagedocumentbasedonpubliclyavailableinformationaboutVance’spastrecordandstatements,withsome—suchashispastcriticismsofTrump—identifiedinthedocumentas“POTENTIALVULNERABILITIES.”ThepersonalsosentpartofaresearchdocumentaboutFloridaSen.MarcoRubio,whowasalsoafinalistforthevicepresidentialnomination.
YetanotherIraniangroup,thisoneconnectedwiththeIslamicRevolutionaryGuardCorps,orIRGC,sentaspearphishingemailinJunetoahigh-rankingofficialonapresidentialcampaignfromthecompromisedemailaccountofaformersenioradvisor.Theemailcontainedalinkthatwoulddirecttrafficthroughadomaincontrolledbythegroupbeforeroutingtothewebsiteoftheprovidedlink.Withindaysofthisactivity,thesamegroupunsuccessfullyattemptedtologintoanaccountbelongingtoaformerpresidentialcandidate.We’vesincenotifiedthosetargeted.
ThelessonsIwasgoingtoproposeinmydraftpostwerethefollowing:
Theywerewrongonseveralcounts.Buttheywereloudandinsistent.
Fine.Basedonthatprecedent,TrumpmusthandoverhiscampaignserverstothesameFBIthathascriminallyinvestigatedhim,includinghiscampaignfinanceshenanigans,immediately.
Peoplefamiliarwiththemattersaidthecampaignseparatelyconcludedearlierthissummeritsemailsystemhadbeenbreachedbutdidnotdiscloseitpubliclyortolawenforcement.Thepeoplesaidsomeofficialsweretoldtotakemoreprotectivemeasuresontheiremailaccounts.Atthetime,campaignofficialscommunicatedtoothersthattheyweren’tsurewhohackedtheemails.
OnThursday,TheWashingtonPostwasalsosenta271-pagedocumentaboutVancefromasenderwhocalledhimselfRobertandusedanAOLemailaccount.DatedFeb.23andlabeled“privileged&confidential,”thedocumenthighlightedpotentialpoliticalvulnerabilitiesforthefirst-termsenator.TwopeoplefamiliarwiththedocumentconfirmeditwasauthenticandwascommissionedbythecampaignfromBrandWoodward,alawfirmthatrepresentsanumberofprominentTrumpadvisersininvestigationsbystateandfederalauthorities.
Thedocumentdrewfrompubliclyavailableinformation,includingpastnewsreportsandinterviewswiththesenator.Thecampaigncommissionedseveralreportsofothercandidates,too,theadviserssaid.
ThesenderwouldnotspeakonthetelephonewithaPostreporterbutindicatedtheyhadaccesstoadditionalinformation,includinginternalcampaignemailsanddocumentsrelatedtoTrump’scourtcases.[myemphasis]
Overthepasttwoweeks,Mr.Trumphasfieldedcomplaintsfromdonorsabouthisrunningmate,JDVance,asnewscoverageexploringMr.Vance’spaststatementsunearthed—andthenexhaustivelycritiqued—remarksincludingalamentthatAmericawasrunby“childlesscatladies.”
Mr.Trumpdismissedoutofhanddonors’suggestionsthathereplaceMr.Vanceontheticket.ButMr.TrumpprivatelyaskedhisadviserswhethertheyhadknownaboutMr.Vance’scommentsaboutchildlesswomenbeforeMr.Trumpchosehim.
TrumphasnotfirewalledhiscampaignfromacriminalcaseinvolvingthemostsensitivedocumentsoftheUSgovernment,meaningawell-executedhacktargetedathiscampaignmayturnintoanintelligencebonanza.
Butasyoudothat,considerthatthisratfuckmaybefarmoredangeroustotheUSthanthosetargetingHillaryandHunter.
IjustwonthecaseinFlorida.Everyonesaidthatwasthebiggestcase,thatwasthemostdifficultcase.AndIjustwonit.
[Gobaattemptstointerrupt]
[Scotttriestointerrupt]
Iwonthecase,thebiggestcase.Thisisanattackonapoliticalopponent.IhaveanotheronewhereIhaveahostilejudge
ThethreewomenwhoattemptedtointerviewTrumpyesterdayhadanunevenperformance.Attimes,theirquestioningflummoxedTrump.Butinseveralcases,whenhetookovertheinterview,theyjustsattheresilentlyasheliedatlength.
DidhekeepthisdocumentwillfullyForbothmen,prosecutorswouldneedtoshowthattheyrealizedtheyhadclassifieddocuments,andthenretainedthem.GiventheextendedefforttorecoverdocumentsfromTrump,itwouldbefareasiertodoforTrumpthanforBiden.
TheresimplywasnodocumentorsetofdocumentsforwhichHurcouldprovealltheelementsofoffense.
Asnotedabove,thethingthatdistinguishesTrumpfromBidenisthatBidenfoundclassifieddocumentsandinvitedtheFBItocomelookformore,makingitvirtuallyimpossibletoprovethefinalelementofoffense(theoneHurbotched),thatBidenrefusedtogivethemback.
Trump,bycontrast,spentafullyearrefusingtogivedocumentsback,includingafterDOJspecificallysubpoenaedhimfordocumentswithclassificationmarks.
Therewere32documentschargedagainstTrump.Theyinclude:
Thereareseveralreasonsthedistinctionisimportant.
WecannotignoretheimportancethattheConstitutionplacesonwhocreatesafederaloffice.Toguardagainsttyranny,theFoundersrequiredthatafederalofficebe“establishedbyLaw.”AsJamesMadisoncautioned,“[i]fthereisanypointinwhichtheseparationoftheLegislativeandExecutivepowersoughttobemaintainedwithgreatercaution,itisthatwhichrelatestoofficersandoffices.”1AnnalsofCong.581.IfCongresshasnotreachedaconsensusthataparticularofficeshouldexist,theExecutivelacksthepowertocreateandfillanofficeofhisownaccord.
ItisdifficulttoseehowtheSpecialCounselhasanoffice“establishedbyLaw,”asrequiredbytheConstitution.WhentheAttorneyGeneralappointedtheSpecialCounsel,hedidnotidentifyanystatutethatclearlycreatessuchanoffice.SeeDept.ofJusticeOrderNo.5559–2022(Nov.18,2022).Nordidherelyonastatutegrantinghimtheauthoritytoappointofficersashedeemsfit,astheheadsofsomeotheragencieshave.3Seesupra,at5.Instead,theAttorneyGeneralrelieduponseveralstatutesofageneralnature.SeeOrderNo.5559–2022(citing28U.S.C.§§509,510,515,533).
Tobesure,theCourtgavepassingreferencetothecitedstatutesassupportingtheappointmentoftheSpecialProsecutorinUnitedStatesv.Nixon,418U.S.683,694(1974),butitprovidednoanalysisofthoseprovisions’text.PerhapsthereisananswerforwhythesestatutescreateanofficefortheSpecialCounsel.But,beforethisconsequentialprosecutionproceeds,weshouldatleastprovideafulsomeexplanationofwhythatisso.
4Regulationsremainonthebooksthatcontemplatean“outside”SpecialCounsel,28CFR§600.1(2023),butIdoubtaregulationcancreateafederalofficewithoutunderlyingstatutoryauthoritytodoso.
D.Asdictum,Nixon’sstatementisunpersuasive.
HavingdeterminedthatthedisputedpassagefromNixonisdictum,theCourtconsiderstheappropriateweighttoaccordit.Inthiscircuit,SupremeCourtdictumwhichis“wellthoughtout,thoroughlyreasoned,andcarefullyarticulated”isduenear-precedentialweight.Schwab,451F.3dat1325–26(collectingcases);Peterson,124F.3dat1392n.4.Additionally,courtsareboundbySupremeCourtdictumwhereit“isofrecentvintageandnotenfeebledbyanysubsequentstatement.”Id.at1326(quotingMcCoyv.Mass.Inst.ofTech.,950F.2d13,19(1stCir.1991)).TheNixondictumisneither“thoroughlyreasoned”nor“ofrecentvintage.”Id.at1325–26.Forthesereasons,theCourtconcludesitisnotentitledtoconsiderableweight.
TheCourtnowproceedstoevaluatethefourstatutescitedbytheSpecialCounselaspurportedauthorizationforhisappointment—28U.S.C.§§509,510,515,533.TheCourtconcludesthatnoneveststheAttorneyGeneralwithauthoritytoappointaSpecialCounsellikeSmith,whodoesnotassistaUnitedStatesAttorneybutwhoreplacestheroleofUnitedStatesAttorneywithinhisjurisdiction.
Section515(b),readplainly,isalogistics-orientedstatutethatgivestechnicalandproceduralcontenttothepositionofalready-“retained”“specialattorneys”or“specialassistants”withinDOJ.Itspecifiesthatthoseattorneys—againalreadyretainedinthepastsense—shallbe“commissioned,”thatis,designated,orentrusted/tasked,toassistinlitigation(moreon“commissioned”below).Section515(b)thenprovidesthatthosealready-retainedspecialattorneysorspecialassistants(ifnotforeigncounsel)musttakeanoath;andthenitdirectstheAttorneyGeneraltofixtheirannualsalary.NowhereinthissequencedoesSection515(b)givetheAttorneyGeneralindependentpowertoappointofficerslikeSpecialCounselSmith—oranyoneelse,forthatmatter.
Cannontwicenotesherorderappliesonlytotheindictmentbeforeher(perhapstheonlymomentofjudicialmodestyinanotherwisehubristicopinion).
TheinstantSupersedingIndictment—andtheonlyindictmentatissueinthisOrder—arisesfromthelatterinvestigation.
TheeffectofthisOrderisconfinedtothisproceeding.
Effectively,thisrepresentsoneLeonardLeodarling,Cannon,droppingallherothermeansofstallingtheprosecutionforTrump,toactonseeminginstructionsfromamoreseniorLeonardLeodarling.
JudgeCannonassertsthatnolawofCongressauthorizesthespecialcounsel.Thatispalpablyfalse.Thespecialcounselregulationsweredraftedunderspecificcongressionallawsauthorizingthem.
Imagineafuturepresidentsuspectedofseriouswrongdoing.DowereallywanthisappointeetobetheoneinvestigatingthewrongdoingThepotentialforacoverup,oratleasttheperceptionofone,isimmense,whichwoulddoenormousdamagetothefabricofourlaw.
WhethertheSpecialCounsel’sofficewas“establishedbyLaw”isnotatriflingtechnicality.IfCongresshasnotreachedaconsensusthataparticularofficeshouldexist,theExecutivelacksthepowertounilaterallycreateandthenfillthatoffice.GiventhattheSpecialCounselpurportstowieldtheExecutiveBranch’spowertoprosecute,theconsequencesareweighty.OurConstitution’sseparationofpowers,includingitsseparationofthepowerstocreateandfilloffices,is“theabsolutelycentralguaranteeofajustGovernment”andthelibertythatitsecuresforusall.Morrison,487U.S.,at697(Scalia,J.,dissenting).Thereisnoprosecutionthatcanjustifyimperilingit.
Inthiscase,therehasbeenmuchdiscussionaboutensuringthataPresident“isnotabovethelaw.”But,astheCourtexplains,thePresident’simmunityfromprosecutionforhisofficialactsisthelaw.TheConstitutionprovidesfor“anenergeticexecutive,”becausesuchanExecutiveis“essentialto...thesecurityofliberty.”Ante,at10(internalquotationmarksomitted).RespectingtheprotectionsthattheConstitutionprovidesfortheOfficeofthePresidencysecuresliberty.Inthatsamevein,theConstitutionalsosecureslibertybyseparatingthepowerstocreateandfilloffices.And,thereareseriousquestionswhethertheAttorneyGeneralhasviolatedthatstructurebycreatinganofficeoftheSpecialCounselthathasnotbeenestablishedbylaw.Thosequestionsmustbeansweredbeforethisprosecutioncanproceed.WemustrespecttheConstitution’sseparationofpowersinallitsforms,elseweriskrenderingitsprotectionoflibertyaparchmentguarantee.
Here,theExecutiveissharplyconstrained,eveninitsprosecutorialfunction,byguardrailsCongresshasgivenit.
Investigativeandprosecutorialdecisionmakingis“thespecialprovinceoftheExecutiveBranch,”Hecklerv.Chaney,470U.S.821,832(1985),andtheConstitutionveststheentiretyoftheexecutivepowerinthePresident,Art.II,§1.Forthatreason,Trump’sthreatenedremovaloftheActingAttorneyGenerallikewiseimplicates“conclusiveandpreclusive”Presidentialauthority.Aswehaveexplained,thePresident’spowertoremove“executiveofficersoftheUnitedStateswhomhehasappointed”maynotberegulatedbyCongressorreviewedbythecourts.Myers,272U.S.,at106,176;seesupra,at8.ThePresident’s“managementoftheExecutiveBranch”requireshimtohave“unrestrictedpowertoremovethemostimportantofhissubordinates”—suchastheAttorneyGeneral—“intheirmostimportantduties.”Fitzgerald,457U.S.,at750(internalquotationmarksandalterationomitted).
Theindictment’sallegationsthattherequestedinvestigationswere“sham[s]”orproposedforanimproperpurposedonotdivestthePresidentofexclusiveauthorityovertheinvestigativeandprosecutorialfunctionsoftheJusticeDepartmentanditsofficials.App.186–187,Indictment10(c).AndthePresidentcannotbeprosecutedforconductwithinhisexclusiveconstitutionalauthority.TrumpisthereforeabsolutelyimmunefromprosecutionfortheallegedconductinvolvinghisdiscussionswithJusticeDepartmentofficials.[myemphasis]
Whichisit
Here,asinLucia,theappropriateremedyisinvalidationoftheofficer’sultraviresacts.SinceNovember2022,SpecialCounselSmithhasbeenexercising“powerthat[he]didnotlawfullypossess.”Collins,594U.S.at258.Allactionsthatflowedfromhisdefectiveappointment—includinghisseekingoftheSupersedingIndictmentonwhichthisproceedingcurrentlyhinges[ECFNo.85]—wereunlawfulexercisesofexecutivepower.BecauseSpecialCounselSmith“cannotwieldexecutivepowerexceptasArticleIIprovides,”his“[a]ttemptstodosoarevoid”andmustbeunwound.Id.at283(Gorsuch,J.,concurring).Defendantsadvancethisveryargument:“anyactionstakenbySmithareultraviresandtheSupersedingIndictmentmustbedismissed”[ECFNo.326p.9].AndtheCourtseesnoalternativecoursetocuretheunconstitutionalproblem.
TherearealotofpeoplesayingthatDOJcanjustchargethe18USC793chargesinSDFLorchargeobstructionineitherDCorSDFL.
Update:JackSmithhasannouncedhewillappeal.
SpecialCounselSmitharguesthatSection533(1)confersontheAttorneyGeneraltheauthoritytoappointspecialcounsels,specifically,constitutionalofficerswieldingthe“fullpowerandindependentauthority...ofanyUnitedStatesAttorney.”28C.F.R.§600.6.Aftercarefulreview,theCourtisconvincedthatitdoesnot.Congress“doesnot...hideelephantsinmouseholes.”Whitmanv.Am.TruckingAssociations,531U.S.457,468(2001).SpecialCounselSmith’sinterpretationwouldshoehornappointmentauthorityforUnitedStatesAttorney-equivalentsintoastatutethatpermitsthehiringofFBIlawenforcementpersonnel.SuchareadingisunsupportedbySection533’splainlanguageandstatutorycontext;inconsistentwithCongress’susuallegislativepractice;andthreatenstounderminethe“basicseparation-of-powersprinciples”that“givelifeandcontent”totheAppointmentsClause.Morrison,487U.S.at715(Scalia,J.,dissenting).TheCourtexplainsbelow.
33OrderNo.5730-2023(appointingDavidC.Weiss);OrderNo.5588-2023(appointingRobertK.Hur).
AllthatunderthebubblewrapandtheChristmaspillow!
Furthermore,thisisnotacasewherereamsofidentically-sizeddocumentswerestackedneatlyinfilefoldersorredwelds,arrayedperfectlywithinabox.ToanyoneotherthanTrump,theboxeshadnoapparentorganizationwhatsoever.Theboxescontainedallmannerofitems,including,forexample,papersofvaryingsizes,fromfoldedlarge-formatitemstotinynotes;clothing;pictureframes;shoes;magazines;newspapers;newspaperclippings;correspondence;greetingcards;binders;andChristmasornaments.ThephotographsattachedasExhibits3,8,and16provideasenseofthevarietyofitemsintheboxes.ThenotionthatthepreciseorderingofmaterialswithintheseboxespossessedanyexculpatoryvaluethatwouldbeapparenttotheFilterTeamwhentheyopenedtheboxesisabsurd.
Therewasapurposetothesephotos:Torebutarangeofconspiracytheoriesdesignedtoundermineruleoflawandtruthitself.
Woodwardmadenoclaimthatthecoversheetinthisbox,whereveritis,wasoutofplace.
WhenWoodwardinspectedthisbox,hediscoveredthattheorderofthecoversheetsmarkingclassifieddocumentsreflectedinthescandonefortheSpecialMasterreviewconflictedwiththeorderhediscoveredthemwhenhereviewedtheboxitself.
Forthisbox,eachofthosethreecoversheetsservedadifferentpurpose.Thefirstplayedaroleinanevidentiarypicture,todocumentthesearch,andyes,theFBIputthatcoversheetthereonpurposetobothcoverupclassifiedinformationandtomarkhowsensitiveitwas.
Thesecondwasaplacemarkerforeachdocumenttakenfromtheboxandkeptmoresecurely,andthethirdwasacoversheettotrackeachindividualclassifieddocument.
Butthisbox,inparticular,endedupgettingparticularlyjumbledbecausethereweresomanyclassifieddocumentsallappearinginabinder.
11TheinitialplaceholdersheetsthatwereputinBoxA-15,unlikemostoftheothers,includedonlytheclassificationlevelandthenumberofpages.Becauseofthelargenumberofdocumentswithclassificationmarkings(32)inboxA-15,whichwerefoundinabinderofinformationandthereforesimilarinnature,itwasnotpossiblefortheFBItodeterminefromtheinitialplaceholdersheetswhichremoveddocumentscorrespondedtowhichclassifieddocument.Inthisinstance,therefore,theFBIlefttheinitialhandwrittenplaceholdersheetswithinthebindertodenotetheplaceswithinthebinderwherethedocumentswithclassificationmarkingswerefound.TheFBIprovidedthisbinderforscanningatthetopofthebox.Inaddition,theFBIplacedinthebox32newplaceholdersheetsrepresentingthe32documentswithclassificationmarkingsinthebinder.Itplacedthemwherethebinderwaswithintheboxwhentheinvestigativeteamobtainedit.Noneofthe32documentsischarged.
Thephotowasastunt,andonethataddsmorefueltothisdumpster-firecase.
JayBratt,whowastheleadDOJprosecutorontheinvestigationatthetimeandnowisassignedtoSmith’steam,describedthephotothiswayinhisAugust30,2022responsetoTrump’sspecialmasterlawsuit:
“[Thirteen]boxesorcontainerscontaineddocumentswithclassificationmarkings,andinall,overonehundreduniquedocumentswithclassificationmarkings…wereseized.Certainofthedocumentshadcoloredcoversheetsindicatingtheirclassificationstatus.(Emphasisadded.)See,e.g.,AttachmentF(redactedFBIphotographofcertaindocumentsandclassifiedcoversheetsrecoveredfromacontainerinthe‘45office’).”
TheDOJ’scleverwordsmithing,however,didnotaccuratelydescribetheoriginofthecoversheets.InwhatmustbeconsiderednotonlyanactofdoctoringevidencebutwillfullymisleadingtheAmericanpeopleintobelievingtheformerpresidentisacriminalandthreattonationalsecurity,agentsinvolvedintheraidattachedthecoversheetstoatleastsevenfilestostagethephoto.
Classifiedcoversheetswerenot“recovered”inthecontainer,contrarytoBratt’sdeclarationtothecourt.
ThenextpictureinthatexhibitshowshowthatsameboxgotlabeledBox2,theboxthatJuliethePropagandistwouldonedayconfusewithItem10.
Thefilingevenincludesthephotologshowinghowthephotographertookpicturesfirstofthecloset(RoomF),thenofthebox,thenofthecontentsofthebox.
Dependingonhowyoucount,AileenCannonissuedthreeorfourdecisionsyesterday.
ThemosttellingisanorderlettingTrumphaveamulliganonwhetherhisfalseattacksontheFBIposeadangertosociety.
SoJudgeCannonpinkyswore,inventedareasontoretractoneoftheonlydefinitiveorderssheissuedagainstTrump,andcreatedanotherfiveweeksofdelayoverthequestionofwhetherTrumpisamenace.
Whichbringsmetotheotherquasi-decisionsJudgeCannonmadeyesterday.
Thisisyetanotherattempt,byCannon,tounderminewhatreallyareaccepteddefinitions,becauseithurtsherfeelingsthatsheruleddifferentlyinSeptember2022andthe11thCircuitreversedher,soundly.
Whereitgetshystericaliswhere,almostayearoftime-wastingaftertheindictment,Cannontriestodenythisisnotaboutresourceandtimewasting.
Again,treatingthisasaseriouslegalopinionisacategoryerror.
ExhibitNo.1:TheStatementsGivingRisetotheMotiontoModifyReleaseConditions—Trump’sStatementsAllegingaPlanbytheFBItoKillHimandHisFamilyinConnectionwiththeAugust8,2022SearchofMar-a-Lago
A.TrumpTruthSocialPost(May21,2024)[ECFNo.592-1]
B.TrumpFundraisingEmail(May23,2024)[ECFNo.592-2]
C.TrumpTruthSocialPost(May23,2024)[ECFNo.592-3]
D.TrumpTruthSocialRepost(May24,2024)[citedinECFNo.592at7n.3]
E.TrumpTruthSocialPost(May25,2024)[ECFNo.592-5]
ExhibitNo.2:ExamplesofTrump’sSurrogatesAmplifyingHisStatementsAlleginganFBIPlantoKillHim
A.@patriottakesXPostEmbeddingStephenBannonPodcastExcerpt(May21,2024)[ECFNo.592-4]
B.@MZHemingwayXPost(May21,2024)
ExhibitNo.3:ExamplesofTrump’sStatementsRegardingtheFBI
A.TrumpStatementRegardingtheExecutionoftheMar-a-LagoSearchWarrant(Aug.8,2022)[ECFNo.638-3]
B.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingtheFBI(Aug.9,2022toJune9,2023)
ExhibitNo.4:ExamplesofThreatsAgainsttheFBIFollowingTrump’sStatements
A.SelectRickyShifferTruthSocialPosts(Aug.9toAug.11,2022)[ECFNo.638-4]
B.Inre:SearchofInformationAssociatedwithTruthSocialProfilewithUsername@rickywshifferorRickyShifferThatisStoredatPremisesControlledbyTruthSocial,No.1:22-mj-481(S.D.OhioAug.12,2022;unsealedJune20,2024)(SearchWarrantApplication)[ECFNo.638-1]
C.FBICincinnatiStatement(Aug.11,2022;updatedAug.12,2022)
D.Inre:SealedSearchWarrant,No.9:22-mj-08332-BER(S.D.Fla.Aug.22,2022)(OrderonMotionstoUnseal)(highlightingaddedat8-9)
E.UnitedStatesv.TimothyMuller,No.4:24-mj-479(N.D.Tex.June14,2024)(CriminalComplaint)[ECFNo.638-2]
ExhibitNo.5:ExamplesofTrump’sStatementsRegardingJudgesandCourtStaff
A.TrumpTruthSocialPost(Aug.4,2023)[ECFNo.638-5]1
B.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingaUnitedStatesDistrictJudgefortheDistrictofColumbiaPresidingOveraCriminalCaseinWhichTrumpistheDefendant(Aug.6toDec.8,2023)
C.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingaNewYorkStateSupremeCourtJusticePresidingOveraCivilCaseInvolvingTrump(Oct.28,2022toNov.29,2023)
D.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingaNewYorkStateSupremeCourtJusticePresidingOveraCriminalCaseinWhichTrumpistheDefendant(Mar.26toApr.30,2024)
ExhibitNo.6:ExamplesofThreatsAgainstJudgesandCourtStaffFollowingTrump’sStatements
A.UnitedStatesv.AbigailJoShry,No.4:23-cr-413(S.D.Tex.Aug.11,2023)(CriminalComplaint)
B.AlanFeuer,Apparent‘Swatting’IncidentsTargetJudgeandProsecutorinTrumpElectionCase,N.Y.Times(Jan.8,2024)
C.Trumpv.Engoron,No.2023-05859(N.Y.App.Div.Nov.22,2023)(AffirmationinOpposition)
1.Ex.A:Statev.Trump,IndexNo.452564/2022(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Oct.26,2023)(10/3/23TrialTranscript)
2.Ex.B:Statev.Trump,IndexNo.452564/2022(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Oct.20,2023)(OtherOrder—Non-Motion)
3.Ex.C:Statev.Trump,IndexNo.452564/2022(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Oct.26,2023)(OtherOrder—Non-Motion)
4.Ex.D:Statev.Trump,IndexNo.452564/2022(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Nov.3,2023)(SupplementalLimitedGagOrder)
5.Ex.E:Trumpv.Engoron,No.2023-05859(N.Y.App.Div.Nov.22,2023)(11/21/23AffidavitofCharlesHollon)
D.PeterEisler,etal.,TrumpBlastsHisTrialJudges.ThenHisFansCallforViolence,Reuters(May14,2024)
ExhibitNo.7:ExamplesofTrump’sStatementsRegardingProsecutors
A.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingtheNewYorkDistrictAttorney(Jan.31toMar.24,2023)
B.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPostsRegardingtheFultonCountyDistrictAttorney(Mar.23toAug.24,2023)
ExhibitNo.8:ExamplesofThreatsAgainstProsecutorsFollowingTrump’sStatements
A.Peoplev.Trump,Ind.No.71543-23(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Feb.26,2024)(2/22/24AffidavitofNicholasPistilli)
B.Peoplev.Trump,Ind.No.71543-23(N.Y.Sup.Ct.June21,2024)(6/20/24AffidavitofNicholasPistilli)
C.UnitedStatesv.CraigDeleeuwRobertson,No.2:23-mj-722(D.UtahAug.8,2023)(CriminalComplaint)
D.Statev.Trump,No.23SC188947(Ga.Sup.Ct.Sep.6,2023)(9/5/23AffidavitofDarinSchierbaum)
E.Statev.Trump,No.23SC188947(Ga.Sup.Ct.Sep.6,2023)(9/5/23AffidavitofGeraldWalsh)
F.UnitedStatesv.ArthurRayHanson,No.1:23-cr-343(N.D.Ga.Oct.25,2023)(CriminalIndictment)Exhibit
No.9:ExamplesofTrump’sStatementsRegardingPotentialWitnessesintheDistrictofColumbiaCaseandThreatsFollowingTrump’sStatements
A.UnitedStatesv.Trump,No.1:23-cr-257(D.D.C.Sept.15,2023)(MotiontoEnsurethatExtrajudicialStatementsDoNotPrejudicetheseProceedings)
B.TrumpXPostRegardingaCityElectionCommissioner(Nov.20,2020)andExcerptoftheCommissioner’sPublicTestimonyBeforetheHouseSelectCommitteetoInvestigatetheJanuary6thAttackontheUnitedStatesCapitol(June13,2022)2
C.TrumpTruthSocialPostRegardingaFormerChairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff(Sept.22,2023)[ECFNo.638-5]
ExhibitNo.10:Trump’sAwarenessoftheLinkBetweenHisStatementsandHisFollowers’Responses
A.SelectTrumpTruthSocialPosts(Apr.4,2024)[ECFNo.642,GX1]
B.ExcerptofTranscriptofCNN’sTownHallwithFormerPresidentDonaldTrump,CNN(May11,2023)
C.TrumpTruthSocialPost(Apr.29,2023)[ECFNo.642,GX2]
ExhibitNo.11:RelevantCourtOrdersNotCitedintheGovernment’sPleadings
A.UnitedStatesv.Trump,No.1:23-cr-257,ECFNo.124(D.D.C.Oct.29,2023)(OpinionandOrder)
B.Peoplev.Trump,Ind.No.71543-23(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Mar.26,2024)(DecisionandOrderonPeople’sMotionforanOrderRestrictingExtrajudicialStatements)
C.Peoplev.Trump,Ind.No.71543-23(N.Y.Sup.Ct.Apr.1,2024)(DecisionandOrderonPeople’sMotionforClarificationorConfirmationofanOrderRestrictingExtrajudicialStatements)
D.Peoplev.Trump,Ind.No.71543-23(N.Y.Sup.Ct.June25,2024)(DecisionandOrderonDefendant’sMotiontoTerminateOrderRestrictingExtrajudicialStatements)
E.UnitedStatesv.Taranto,No.1:23-cr-229,ECFNo.27(D.D.C.Sep.12,2023)(OrderofDetention)(highlightingaddedat4-6)
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