'I Hope You Realize How Ridiculous The Four Of You Look': Whitehouse Loses It On Trump Nominees

Summary

In a tense judicial confirmation hearing, Senator Blumenthal challenges nominees on their honesty, judicial independence, and ability to adjudicate under executive pressure. He criticizes evasive responses regarding the 2020 election and the Capitol attack, questioning how fair decisions could be ensured in politically charged cases. The discussion then shifts to legal liability for threats against judges, where nominees acknowledge doctrines such as solicitation, conspiracy, and RICO that could extend responsibility beyond the threat's utterer. Blumenthal emphasizes the need for the US Marshals and Department of Justice to fully investigate threats, highlighting systemic gaps and political influences that leave federal judges vulnerable.

Takeaways

• 😀 Senator Blumenthal criticizes nominees for giving pre-written, evasive answers during a confirmation hearing.
• 😀 Blumenthal challenges nominees on their ability to make independent, factual decisions if they can't answer basic questions like whether Biden won the election or the Capitol was attacked.
• 😀 Blumenthal questions the fairness of the nominees in future court cases involving the Trump administration, citing their inability to provide direct answers.
• 😀 Blumenthal suggests that some of the nominees might be overly influenced by political handlers, using Lindsey Graham as an example of political pressure.
• 😀 He emphasizes that nominees should be honest and clear in their responses during the hearing, expressing disappointment in their lack of straightforward answers.
• 😀 A legal question is posed about liability for individuals beyond the utterer of a threat against a judge or their family, which the nominees agree is possible under certain circumstances.
• 😀 The nominees agree that legal doctrines like solicitation, conspiracy, and racketeering could extend liability beyond the individual making the threat.
• 😀 Blumenthal questions the nominees' knowledge of legal theories that could be used in investigating threats, and they confirm that conspiracy, RICO, and other legal avenues could apply.
• 😀 Blumenthal highlights the increasing threats against federal judges, calling attention to the lack of response from the United States Marshals Service on investigating threats behind the person making them.
• 😀 Blumenthal suggests that the inaction of the Marshals Service may be due to political influence from the MAGA-aligned Department of Justice, leaving judges exposed to threats without proper investigations.

Q & A

What was Senator Blumenthal's primary concern regarding the responses of the nominees?

Senator Blumenthal expressed frustration over the nominees providing pre-scripted answers instead of being candid. He questioned whether the nominees could make independent decisions in hard cases, particularly when under pressure from the executive branch.

What was the senator's challenge to the nominees regarding the 2020 election and the Capitol attack?

The senator challenged the nominees to explicitly state that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that the Capitol was attacked. He implied that their inability to provide these simple truths undermined their credibility as future judges.

Why did Senator Blumenthal bring up Lindsey Graham's support for Miss Clark?

Senator Blumenthal used Lindsey Graham's support for Miss Clark to suggest that she should not feel pressured to provide scripted, misleading answers. He implied that she could have been more honest in her responses, given her connections in the Republican Party.

What legal scenario did the senator present regarding judges and threats to their lives?

Senator Blumenthal asked the nominees whether they could imagine a scenario where liability could extend to individuals beyond the person who directly issued a threat to a judge or their family.

What were the nominees' responses regarding the potential for legal liability beyond the utterer of a threat?

The nominees, including Miss Clark, Mr. Rick, and others, agreed that legal liability could extend beyond the person who made the threat, referencing legal theories like conspiracy, solicitation, and racketeering.

What specific doctrines did the nominees mention that could extend liability beyond the person making a threat?

The nominees mentioned several doctrines, including solicitation of a threat, conspiracy, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes as potential legal bases for extending liability.

What is the senator's concern about the lack of investigation into the perpetrators of threats against judges?

The senator expressed concern that the U.S. Marshal Service, which is supposed to investigate threats to judges, has not been responsive or willing to investigate beyond the person who made the threat. He suggested that this reluctance stems from fear of uncovering right-wing conspiracies.

How did the senator criticize the current Department of Justice's handling of threats against federal judges?

The senator criticized the Department of Justice for not taking adequate action in investigating threats against federal judges, suggesting that there is a reluctance to pursue investigations that might implicate right-wing groups or conspiracies.

What did the senator propose to fix the situation regarding the investigation of threats against judges?

The senator emphasized the need for reform, arguing that the Marshall Service and the Department of Justice should do more to investigate threats against judges, particularly when there is evidence pointing to conspiracies or other legal theories that could extend liability.

What is the broader context of the senator's concern regarding the safety of judges in the current political climate?

The senator highlighted that federal judges are facing unprecedented threats to their safety and that these threats are being exacerbated by the political climate, particularly the rise of right-wing conspiracies. He argued that the Justice Department's failure to act is leaving judges vulnerable.