Tuesday open thread: How the worm turns
Well. Yesterday we had three turns of events.
- Ivanka Trump came out of hiding to say she had donated to Ukrainian refugees. This, needless to say, is a turn against her father and his extolling of Vladimir Putin's invasion.
- ABC News reported that Ivanka's feckless husband, Jared Kushner, is going to testify before the January 6th committee this week.
- John Eastman, one of many of Donald Trump's lawyers, had his bid to keep his emails away from the committee was quashed by a federal judge. He had the right of appeal, but he stated he would not appeal the decision. This judge also said in his ruling that it was evident that both Eastman and Trump had engaged in a conspiracy to thwart the peaceful transition of power to Joe Biden.
All of these things are big for varying reasons.
With Ivanka, we have the favorite child, after a long absence where she hoped she'd be forgotten coming out and distancing herself from her father. How sharper than a serpent's tooth. Now, if she had come out by herself, this would have not merited attention. However, soon after, the news of her husband Jared testifying before the committee came out. It's hard to believe this wasn't coordinated. Trump bred a nest of vipers, and if he thought the smartest one of them wouldn't turn on him if the heat got hot, well, that proves his idiocy. If anyone is going to turn on Trump, it will be that slimy toad Jared, with support from Ivanka. She and he want to salvage their positions, or at least keep their money. If they have to throw Donald under the bus, then so be it.
As much as Javanka's betrayal gives me a woody, Eastman's progression is even more telling.
The judge in his case made it clear that he was denying his motion because it was evident, in his eyes, that he and Trump likely committed felonies, and that attorney-client privilege did not apply. This is huge. The privilege accorded to communications between a lawyer and his client are near sacrosanct. It takes a lot to break that bond. And this judge had no issue breaking it.
But then, Eastman didn't appeal the ruling. This is even more telling. He saw that he wasn't going to get a better hearing in a higher court. So he basically copped to the charges as laid out by the judge in his ruling. Even more than slimy Jared, a lawyer caught on the wrong side of the law is likely to make a deal. It would be surprising if he doesn't sing like a blue jay.
As I've said before: This, friends, is what winning looks like. It's not what shows like Law & Order posit, with dramatic denouements. It's slow, it's steady, it's methodical. And while a judge doesn't dictate what the Department of Justice prosecutes, it does have an effect.
Oh, and also yesterday Justice revealed that it was assigning over 100 lawyers to the January 6th investigation. This is the clearest indication yet that Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to pursue this to the top. Those like Joy Ann Reid of MSNBC who have brayed asking "Where's Garland?" now have their answer. Mr. Garland doesn't answer to their need for drama. He responds to the law, as he should. And he's responding.
Happy Tuesday, friends. Justice is coming.