Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Jack Smith’s Backup Option
The Atlantic ^ | June 14, 2023 | By Ryan Goodman and Andrew Weissmann

Posted on 06/15/2023 5:14:34 AM PDT by Bratch

Jack Smith’s Backup Option

Donald Trump was indicted in Florida.
Could he also face charges in New Jersey?

By Ryan Goodman and Andrew Weissmann


Even before last Thursday’s indictment in United States v. Donald Trump, public speculation swirled about whether the former president had taken classified documents not just to Mar-a-Lago but also to his residence and golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The indictment answered that question with a bang while presenting a new puzzle about why Trump isn’t facing even steeper charges.

According to the Justice Department and a taped recording of the former president, Trump took classified records from Mar-a-Lago to Bedminster, where he showed off the contents of such records to others. The indictment alleges that Trump showed a map to a political ally and also showed a writer and a publisher a secret military plan to attack Iran. These two episodes were arguably the most egregious allegations of criminal wrongdoing mentioned in the indictment; they allege not just the improper retention of our nation’s most highly classified information, but the intentional communication of such information.

[...]

One possible explanation for his decision: venue. The Constitution requires prosecutors to bring charges in the location—or venue—where the alleged criminal conduct took place. Justice Department prosecutors could not necessarily bring charges against Trump in Miami for alleged criminal conduct that occurred in another state, in this case New Jersey. But the absence of such charges in the indictment raises the intriguing possibility of another indictment to come, in a jurisdiction, no less, with a pool of jurors and judges more favorable to the government’s case against Trump.

[...]



(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: doj; trump; tyranny
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

1 posted on 06/15/2023 5:14:34 AM PDT by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Bratch

When, not if.


2 posted on 06/15/2023 5:19:06 AM PDT by O6ret
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

in a jurisdiction, no less, with a pool of jurors and judges more favorable to the government’s case against Trump.

Straight up admitting to manipulating the Justice system and tilting the scales.


3 posted on 06/15/2023 5:21:29 AM PDT by qaz123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

Ah, the belt and suspenders approach. ie fling as much crap against the wall as you can and hope something sticks.

The allegation is that any wrongdoing took place in Florida. That’s where the boxes were. I’m afraid forum shopping to try to get it in front of heavily Democrat leaning judges in a heavily Democrat leaning jurisdiction like Joisssssey ain’t gonna work.

This does highlight once again however that this is a “get Trump at all costs” mission. The Biden DOJ couldn’t care less about the law.


4 posted on 06/15/2023 5:25:21 AM PDT by FLT-bird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

i dont see why they cant file charges in dc

its obvious he had classified documents in the white house


5 posted on 06/15/2023 5:40:24 AM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: O6ret

Seems Smith is a Soros stooge. The last guy Soros wants in the Presidency is Trump as it would reverse all the Facists programs he has funded to destroy America. Maybe its time for Smith to find a law Soros has broken and indict him.


6 posted on 06/15/2023 5:41:31 AM PDT by chopperk ( C)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FLT-bird

He’s the president of the UNited States. The documents are his. Case closed.

Why is this all of a sudden an issue now? All presidents probably have documents.

Also, correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t he send these documents to the archivist, and they returned them to him?


7 posted on 06/15/2023 5:42:35 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

the only question is

where is weissman hiding the exculpatory evidence


8 posted on 06/15/2023 5:43:04 AM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: O6ret

Remember the old days when our government taping a President would have been impossible to imagine?


9 posted on 06/15/2023 5:43:43 AM PDT by KC Burke (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity is not another way to spell GOD but it is a way to spell DIE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

This is really getting creepy now. Makes you wonder if the CIA will intervene?


10 posted on 06/15/2023 5:44:04 AM PDT by CodeJockey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

they should file in all 50 states

that should keep Trump from campaigning


11 posted on 06/15/2023 5:44:54 AM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

You are correct. This case is governed by the Presidential Records Act, NOT the Espionage Act which they claimed to be bringing the case under. The President by law can’t commit espionage. That applies to everybody but the president.

Before 1978 every president took all the papers with him to his home. That year, the Presidential Records Act was passed to govern this. Note, that was a civil and not criminal statute. You can’t even bring a criminal case under it.

Anyway, the federal court has already ruled on what a president can take with him when he leaves office under the Presidential Records Act. Bill Clinton had tape recordings he made while in office containing some material that was top secret (it included discussions with foreign leaders, etc). When Clinton was sued for it, the federal court ruled that the president can take any and all documents with him and that this was unreviewable by anyone.

Now though under the “But Trump” doctrine, the Biden DOJ suddenly wants to argue that that’s a crime.....when its Trump.


12 posted on 06/15/2023 5:47:08 AM PDT by FLT-bird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: FLT-bird

The case is so absurd, that I can’t believe people, esp those who hate Trump, are not screaming.

The idea that Pompeo, McConnell, Nikki Haley, this guy Turley and Doucheouwitz, and of course the ass hat Barr and that POS Andrew McCarthy are all saying Trump’s goose is cooked, is beyond comprehension.

Tucker nailed it again with his 3rd episode.


13 posted on 06/15/2023 5:52:26 AM PDT by nikos1121
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: qaz123
in a jurisdiction, no less, with a pool of jurors and judges more favorable to the government’s case against Trump.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. NJ could surprise you.

14 posted on 06/15/2023 5:53:36 AM PDT by frogjerk (More people have died trusting the government than not trusting the government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: FLT-bird

“Before 1978 every president took all the papers with him to his home. That year, the Presidential Records Act was passed to govern this. Note, that was a civil and not criminal statute. You can’t even bring a criminal case under it.”

I agree that the President is not covered by the Espionage Act and as proof we simply have to look at history between 1917 and 1978. By doing so we see that no ex President has ever been charged under the Espionage Act even if they possessed National Defense Information as part of their Presidential papers that were in their custody (or that of their Presidential Library. The Espionage Act obviously did not apply to Presidents until Trump came along.


15 posted on 06/15/2023 5:56:48 AM PDT by XRdsRev (Justice for Bernell Trammell, Trump supporter, murdered in 2020)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Bratch

Andrew Weissmann. Enuf said.


16 posted on 06/15/2023 5:59:06 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA (Delay Trump’s trial, delay. Elect Trump President. Trump pardons himself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk

Very true Hope so.


17 posted on 06/15/2023 6:01:49 AM PDT by qaz123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: FLT-bird

True dat.


18 posted on 06/15/2023 6:15:37 AM PDT by sauropod (“If they don’t believe our lies, well, that’s just conspiracy theorist stuff, there.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
The idea that Pompeo, McConnell, Nikki Haley, this guy Turley and Doucheouwitz, and of course the ass hat Barr and that POS Andrew McCarthy are all saying Trump’s goose is cooked, is beyond comprehension.

It is absurd - to the point of saying down is the new up. Before President Trump arrived on the scene, hardly anyone took Hillary's shoddy handling of classified information seriously. It's literally one of President Trump's signature issues, and his commitment to national security and the military is unimpeachable.
19 posted on 06/15/2023 6:15:45 AM PDT by Observator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Observator
The idea that Pompeo, McConnell, Nikki Haley, this guy Turley and Doucheouwitz, and of course the ass hat Barr and that POS Andrew McCarthy are all saying Trump’s goose is cooked, is beyond comprehension. It is absurd

It is neither incomprehensible nor absurd.

All those named individuals are engaged in a joint enterprise, they are completely aligned, why should they not declare their goals and advocate for them?

20 posted on 06/15/2023 6:19:24 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Make the GOP illegal - everything else will follow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson