On Friday, a jury shocked the nation by acquitting two of the men accused of trying “kidnap” and “kill” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shortly before the 2020 elections. A jury was also divided on two other charges. At the moment it appears unlikely that the DOJ will make another attempt at its luck (especially considering the additional exculpatory evidence which may have been allowed in a second trial).
It was a heart-warming moment, not because the men on trial were saints, but because they were obviously vulnerable, impressionable people instigated and groomed by the FBI to be part of a plot that never would have existed without the government’s involvement. The assertion that defendants had been entrapped, despite proclamations by the intelligent set of experts was true.
This was followed by accountability. We’ve now seen multiple examples in the last several years of the FBI being used as a political tool, up to and including inventing crimes to push a narrative. In this instance, it was obvious to anyone thinking critically that the Whitmer “plot” was meant to produce bad headlines about “right-wing domestic terrorism” just prior to the 2020 election.
Now, the House GOP has responded with fire, claiming they won’t be letting this go.
We’re on it. We will hold people accountable. https://t.co/xpUSdTTztp
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) April 8, 2022
With all due respect, I think most people reading this are going to respond to that threat with a hearty belly laugh, and why wouldn’t they? What part of the GOP’s history says that they have ever held anyone in the government accountable for anything?
Devin Nunes was able to expose the Carter Page FISA abuse scandal. However, he was unable to do so without the greater support of the GOP. He also faced relentless headwinds on his side. Who was punished beyond that? Is it possible that any one of these committees ever called for the resignation or reorganization of FBI Director. Christopher Wray According to any definition of accountability, that was the situation. Even though there was ample evidence of misconduct.
What now? Everyone should know the routine by now, I believe. After retaking the House in November and retaking the gavel January, the GOP will hold some hearings that don’t lead to anything. Meanwhile, the “too sophisticated to fight” Republicans on the Senate side of things will downplay the ordeal and refuse to even ask tough questions. They might send a few stern letters.
In short, we’ve heard all this before. Republican voters don’t like their representatives promising too little and not delivering. If the House GOP truly wants to hold people accountable, it’s going to take a scorched earth approach. Wray should not get the kid gloves treatment. Agents involved in the Whitmer fallacy must be subpoenaed and agents must be willing to refer criminal cases. Biden DOJ must take responsibility for its politicization, and they can use that against them in 2024. Until all that happens, it’s just fluff.
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