Remember Iran/Contra?

Good interview here on @cafedotcom between @PreetBharara and @CarolLeonnig which seems to lean towards recent DOJ movement on Trump being a result of the Jan. 6 lighting a fire under them rather than a longstanding effort 1/ https://t.co/s9GFE5kDWs

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) July 28, 2022

The investigation started in Reagan’s second term. By the end of GHW’s first term, the special prosecutor was issuing indictments, which Poppy cut off with pardons on his way to retirement.

5 years, basically, between discovery and indictment. The DOJ seems to be moving a lot faster this time.

And although Merrick Garland really hasn’t said more than he did before, suddenly everybody is content.  Well, almost everybody:

This from @AWeissmann_ identifies the key Qs.👇

- How many prosecutors are assigned to investigation of Trump’s actions? How many AUSAs, agents, analysts?

- Since when?

- What's the scope apart from attack on Capitol and false electors? (Georgia?)

2/2https://t.co/5hzdz56Tbz

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) July 30, 2022

I’m not sure how much of this information we the public are entitled to. And now, as those questions indicate, we have to be reassured DOJ can actually do the job, that Trump hasn’t overwhelmed them:

.@ryanjreilly on concerns about DOJ resources as the Jan 6 investigation expands: "It's sort of like the conveyer belt in I Love Lucy... if you keep these cases coming in, [the system] is going to get overwhelmed." pic.twitter.com/QZRtdYMUp6

— Yasmin Vossoughian Reports (@YasminMSNBC) July 29, 2022

I suppose this is still “pressure” on Garland, but it’s starting to resemble Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition bringing out the comfy chair to force a confession.

And it all sounds too much like “reassure us that you will get convictions.” Which is really just the flip side of “LOCK HER UP!”

Sometimes the differences that divide us aren’t differences at all.