If Trump nominated Satan himself for AG they'd defend the pick. They can't help themselves. That's why we're in this position as a country. Trump can do anything, even attempt to overthrow our democracy, and the MAGAs will enthusiastically support it.
The DOJ has a 97% conviction rate. And our standard for conviction is beyond a shadow of a doubt. As the saying goes, better to have 100 guilty people go free than convict one innocent person. The standard for conviction is high, and rightfully so. So what happens if the DOJ isn't 100% assured of guilt, and there may be a chance of reasonable doubt? Do they prosecute if the doubt may be 10%? 15%? 25%? Very difficult conversations when this happens. Clearly the DOJ thought there was some doubt with Gaetz. Doesn't mean Gaetz is innocent. Gaetz is likely guilty. And the stuff in the House report are things he doesn't want out in public. Why else work so hard to keep the study from the public? Gaetz will land on his feet. And if he stays out of the House, the report likely gets shelved. And Gaetz will get a cushy job as a lobbyist. Maybe Fox News, but lobbyist jobs are more cushy and you can still appear on Fox as much as you wish.
So wait...the fact that the DOJ didn't move forward with an investigation means that he is innocent of everything? But the fact that Gaetz withdrew rather than allowing the Ethics Report to become public is not evidence of him doing anything wrong?
Bill, it really doesn't work that way. I tried to refer several cases to the feds when I was a state prosecutor as the defendants would have been looking at substantially more time in the federal system. They refused several because they did not think there was sufficient evidence to ENSURE a conviction. They weren't looking at a "good faith prosecution" standard, they wanted to be certain of the W. After they declined, I successfully concluded each case in state court. Dial in a very high profile defendant, a sitting member of Congress, and that analysis would have required even more evidence. From actual experience, it would be a mistake to conclude their failure to indict Gaetz was because there was nothing there. They simply didn't want to run the risk of an acquittal.
you can CHOOSE to believe whatever you want- Gaetz will most likely be back in Congress in January as he resigned before the end of his term- he won reelection and will probably be back in Congress.
To be fair, when I asked you what liked about the guy, you had no comment, other than Trump gets to pick his guy. I personally have no idea whether he molested girls or not. What I know is that he has done nothing positive as an elected member of Congress, and serves his constituents by making asinine statements and picking fights with everyone all day long. For those reasons, I don’t think he is qualified to lead any arm of our government. And so considering your vociferous defense of the guy, what is it that you think can point to that makes the energy of your defense worthwhile (other than he wears a red hat with a slogan)? I’m not trying to say “you’re wrong,” I just want to know what it is that makes this fight worth it? What has this guy ever done that was productive?
Well...then the Ethics Committee will release the Ethics Report, as the entire argument not to do it was that he wasn't in Congress. Should be interesting reading. I doubt he wants people to read that, though, given that just two exhibits were enough to get him to withdraw from consideration.
I will defer to you on uour knowledge of how it works as you are an attorney and I am not- if they have the goods on Gaetz then they should being it forth- until then I am not willing to say he is guilty. Either way he is out of the running to be AG
Considering the long list of right-wing obsessions the DOJ has investigated and not brought criminal charges for, I'm curious as to how Hillary Clinton's email security, Biden corruption, FISA-gate, etc fits into this narrative about no DOJ action = innocent.
We can only hope. Gaetz is a wise and great man, who has served admirably as a legislator.* * Ooops, I meant "troll." But if Trump loves him, so should you.
I have said all along that if they can prove him guilty then dump him- I have just seen no proof he is guilty. However since it appears that the Trump team basically forced him out tells me they did not have the numbers to get him approved
The nomination for AG may have been an escape plan. He may not want to go back with what he's going to be facing now. That report will come out now no matter what.
