Who will trust the Department of Justice? After the release of Special Counsel John Durham’s long-awaited report, Americans know that there was widespread collusion, deception, and political collusion at the highest levels of the Obama Administration, the Clinton Campaign, corporate media, and the Department of Justice. All in favor of Democrats.
They seem to have taken pride in their abuse of power and lying to the public.
The public’s mistrust of an evidently weaponized federal government has essentially inoculated former president Donald Trump from any future prosecution. Even if prosecutors manage to convince a partisan juror to convict the former president, the public will still see it as a political smear campaign based primarily on partisan politics.
The more they try to get him the stronger he becomes.
Both Democrats and Republicans need to be concerned about what might happen if this federal agency is not reined in and serious systemic reforms aren’t implemented. They can do this to anyone if they can do so to Trump.
It is now crystal clear that the Justice Department will not and cannot police itself. DOJ has shown a lack of willingness and preparedness to punish or prosecute itself. The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government’s work is vital because of this.
Congress must stop being reluctant to use the powerful tools provided by the Constitution and the law. It must and can develop a way to enforce congressional subpoenas independently.
The threat of impeachment against Senate-confirmed officials must be feared. House of Representatives should unite behind the use of perhaps the most powerful weapon – the purse. Congress should also reconsider and expand the independent inspectors general’s (OIG) role to ensure that the Justice Department cannot ride above the laws.
Republicans have shown a baffling reluctance to use their impeachment powers. In 2015, it was difficult to get support for the impeachment of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. It shouldn’t. Who will hold the administration accountable if Congress does not? The Constitution’s advise-and-consent clause gives the Senate a voice in confirming or removing a bureaucrat. But they don’t.
The Congress also failed to establish its own subpoena authority. The body has relied on the DOJ for too long to enforce the congressional subpoenas. Now that it is clear the DOJ uses political criteria to determine whether or not they will comply with such requests, Americans need a different solution. Subpoenas for Democrats are enforced with guns drawn in record time. Republicans can expect the DOJ to only enforce subpoenas that are “legitimate”, based on their own discretion, after months of review.
Congress can also use its purse to be tough by refusing to fund agencies until the government provides the requested documents and witnesses. But they don’t.
All of these options are available, but perhaps the most effective way to solve the problem is by empowering independent inspectors-general. Currently, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviews the work of most government employees.
It is now crystal clear that the Justice Department will not and cannot police itself. DOJ has shown a lack of willingness and preparedness to punish or prosecute itself. The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government’s work is vital because of this.
These investigators’ ability to subpoena records, interview witnesses, and expose wrongdoings has led to important evidence as well as numerous criminal referrals. They don’t have the authority to decide on prosecutions – but they should.
Most people are shocked to learn that the IGs cannot investigate wrongdoing committed by DOJ attorneys. They cannot compel someone to testify once they leave federal service. Both of these things need to be changed.
There were two IG reports that totaled more than 1,000 pages before the Durham report. DOJ ignored the discipline and criminal referrals in these reports. The federal government has had minimal consequences for any wrongdoing.
Kevin Clinesmith was an ex-FBI lawyer who admitted to altering a document during the Crossfire Hurricane case. He received probation and community service as punishment for his crime. He falsified documents to influence an election, and he did not lose his law license!
Unfortunately, Americans have lost faith in two of their most important institutions: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Justice. This could very well push Trump back to the White House.
