Things I Missed Because I Can’t Pay Attention To This All Day

K: 2 things you were asked to do. Trump sent you a draft lawsuit to file in SCOTUS.

Engel drafted a memo saying "whoever drafted this doesn't know what the fuck they're doing. We can't bring it, it's untimely, the electors have voted, this is not a thing"

— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) June 23, 2022

They wanted the Louisiana AG, and Louisiana law did not allow that.

— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) June 23, 2022

Imagine the insanity.

— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) June 23, 2022

Trump was agitated and immediately got Ken Cuccinelli (No. 2 at Homeland Security) on the phone and said "Rosen just told me it was your job to seize the machines"

Towards the end of the meeting Trump talked about removing Rosen and Donoghue and putting in Clark

— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) June 23, 2022

Rep. Scott Perry: "Why can't we just work with the Italian government?"

A Congress member parroting a wild internet conspiracy theory that an Italian defense contractor uploaded software to a satellite that switched votes to Biden.

"Pure insanity," Rosen said. pic.twitter.com/mCBX2Gk1zs

— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) June 23, 2022

Rosen tried to convince Clark that there was no factual basis for his accusations. Clark insisted there WAS fraud, even though he hadn't participated in the investigation. Admitted he was talking to Trump. #HATH

— Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) (@HC_Richardson) June 23, 2022

The bubble's bubble's bubble.

Acting Deputy AG Donoghue says President Trump told him, after being told there was no evidence of fraud:

"Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen."

— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) June 23, 2022

See?

Comparing Trump to Nixon has always been imperfect for a variety of reasons, but never have the parallels been as clear as during a hearing in which two top former DOJ officials testified about Trump wanting to use the department for strictly partisan political purposes.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2022

Have heard from several former Trump advisers acknowledging this testimony is quite grim.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2022

No shit.

This is not the most important point by any stretch, but one of the many takeaways from the Clark/Rosen exchanges is just how much power current law gives the President to bypass the Senate by temporarily filling vacancies *he* creates.

Vacancies reform should be a bigger deal.

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) June 23, 2022

Oh, shit. Right again, Professor!

I’m starting to think this Jeff Clark fellow might not be the best lawyer in the justice department

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 23, 2022

One could be lead to that conclusion.

Matt Gaetz wanted a pardon. The connection was to the election film-flam, but the pardon was described as “going back to the beginning of time.” Gee, why would Gaetz want that? (I’m not even sure the film-flam was Gary’s’ primary concern, but more a convenient conveyance to his real goal.)

I asked for a pardon, by the way. Didn't you?

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) June 23, 2022

I always find out what we’re doing when it’s already too late!*

*(To be honest, if I’m around and pardons are being passed out like party favors, I’ll take one. I’ve seen the state go after people, and guilt and innocence are concepts, not concrete realities. I’ll also plead the 5th to keep from being convicted of a crime out of my own mouth. There are better reasons to judge these people and find them wanting.)