From Slate Magazine · Ian Prasad Philbrick · · 1m 50s
Trump's Revenge Tour Fails
Trump's DOJ tries to charge ex-aide with lying about Capitol riot plans, but legal battles keep his revenge efforts from succeeding.
In brief
Trump's DOJ tries to charge ex-aide with lying about Capitol riot plans, but legal battles keep his revenge efforts from succeeding. Trump's Justice Department is attempting to charge Cassidy Hutchinson with lying about Capitol riot plans, but legal challenges are undermining his efforts to punish political enemies…
Trump's Revenge Tour Begins
Donald Trump's first term saw him claim election fraud and incite Capitol rioters on Jan 6.
“malevolence tempered by incompetence”
Cassidy Hutchinson Testifies
Cassidy Hutchinson, Trump's former chief of staff aide, testified to a House committee about magnetometers near the White House.
“Trump wanted magnetometers near the White House removed to let potentially armed rioters join the crowd”
DOJ Targets Hutchinson
Trump's Justice Department reportedly tries to charge Hutchinson with lying to Congress about Capitol riot plans.
“the Justice Department is reportedly trying to convince a grand jury in D.C. to charge Hutchinson with a crime or crimes”
Grand Jury Refuses Charges
Grand juries in Washington have refused to criminally charge Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to disobey illegal orders.
“Grand juries in Washington have refused to criminally charge Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to disobey illegal orders”
Other Indictments Fail
Indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey have fallen apart under judges' scrutiny.
“several indictments, against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, have fallen apart under judges’ scrutiny”
DOJ Staffing Crisis
The DOJ is hemorrhaging staff as career prosecutors balk at taking part in nakedly political investigations.
“the DOJ itself has also struggled to find pretexts on which to hang indictments of other Trump foes and is hemorrhaging staff as career prosecutors balk at taking part in nakedly political investigations”
Lisa Cook Investigation
Trump announced a White House committee to investigate Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations.
“On Friday, Trump announced a White House committee to investigate Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, over allegations of mortgage fraud”
Cook's Legal Protection
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked Trump from removing Cook in June, saying she hadn't had sufficient opportunity to contest the claims.
“the Supreme Court temporarily blocked Trump from removing Cook in June, saying she hadn’t had sufficient opportunity to contest the claims against her”
Cook's Future in Doubt
Cook's future is still in doubt despite the Supreme Court blocking Trump from removing her.
“a majority of the justices also signaled that they don’t like the idea of presidents removing Fed officials on a whim because the central bank’s independence is key to setting sound monetary policy”
Revenge Tour Fails
Trump's revenge tour is largely a product of his delusions, which keep running into the brick wall of reality.
“One reason the president’s revenge tour keeps flailing is that it’s largely a product of his delusions, which keep running smack into the brick wall of reality”
What Happens Next
If Democrats retake Congress next month, Trump may become more isolated and lash out.
“If Democrats retake Congress next month, it may leave Trump more isolated and inclined to lash out”
Here's the gist
Trump's Justice Department is attempting to charge Cassidy Hutchinson with lying about Capitol riot plans, but legal challenges are undermining his efforts to punish political enemies.
