We begin this hour with President Trump's push to expand his presidential power and what, if anything, is being done to try to reign him in. Just this week, Trump called for more of his political rivals to be prosecuted, issued a controversial pardon, then said that the Department of Justice owes him money. But some Democrats refused to stand idly by, and are taking action.Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren have introduced a resolution to officially condemn Trump's pardon of Chong Pong Xiao, the foun ...

I mean, there has never been a more humiliating subjection of the speaker of the House of Representatives in American history than what we're living through right now. >> The Times is reporting the president is asking DOJ to pay him 230 million for his past cases. Is that appropriate considering it's a department under his control? I >> I'm not going to comment on something I haven't read, so I'm I'm not sure what you're talking about. >> How comfortable are you with the president apparently seeking $230 mi ...

Legal & Political Risk - A potential $230 million (USD) demand from Donald Trump to the taxpayers as compensation for investigations by the Department of Justice is under scrutiny [1] - The demand is based on purported violations of Trump's rights, including the FBI and special counsel investigation into Russian election tampering and the search of Mara Lago for classified documents [1] - Ethical concerns arise due to Trump leading the government while demanding money from it, with his own attorney general potentially approving the settlement [2] - The investigations in question led to multiple indictments and guilty pleas, including those of Trump's campaign manager and other close associates [4] - Concerns exist that political appointees within the Department of Justice, who previously served as Trump's counsel, may not be impartial in deciding on the settlement [10][19] Potential Legal Actions - Taxpayer lawsuits could challenge the settlement, arguing that it harms taxpayers and is being decided by conflicted parties [22] - Bar associations could intervene, arguing that the former counsel's duty of loyalty to their prior client creates a conflict of interest [23][24] - A hearing or trial could reveal details of the Russia case and Mara Lago situation, which Trump has previously avoided [16][17] Investigation Context - Special counsel John Durham found no criminal wrongdoing on the part of the investigators [5] - The investigation into Trump's handling of classified information revealed boxes of documents, including nuclear secrets, stored at his private club [5][6] - There is an active investigation into officials who served under former President Barack Obama [13][14]

In the past couple of weeks, we have seen the indictments of former FBI director James Comey. >> Uh the indictment just a few days ago of the attorney general of New York, Leticia James. >> You called this in your book um Trump's vengeance agenda >> before it even happened. >> Before it happened, you predicted this.You seem like saying I told you so. But this is one of those things that you um predicted. You were an attorney general of the second largest DOJ in the country, second only to the United States ...

Political Commentary - MSNBC's exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris covered a range of topics [1] - Kamala Harris, as a former attorney general of California, expressed distrust in the current Department of Justice [2] - The interview included discussions on Israel and Gaza, and the New Deal [4] - Kamala Harris commended President Donald Trump for the deal [4] Presidential Communication - Kamala Harris contacted President Biden regarding his cancer diagnosis [3] - Kamala Harris also discussed a book with President Biden, but the details were not disclosed [3] Interview Airing - The full interview will be aired on MSNBC during the weekend [3]

Together the indictments of Letitia James, New York’s attorney-general, and former FBI director James Comey are turning the Department of Justice into a tool for Donald Trump’s score-settling https://t.co/SAIoKd7AGM ...

I know that you have known uh Chis James for a long time. Uh so first just your response to the news today. Tish James is a strong, brilliant, courageous, faithful, and patriotic woman and a great attorney general.And it's a shame uh that she's being victimized in this way by Donald Trump and his corrupt Department of Justice. We're in the midst of a Trumpcaused government shutdown. The military is on the verge of not being paid.Notwithstanding the fact that our men and women in uniform continue to put thei ...

Government Oversight & Rule of Law - The report suggests a decline in the separation between the White House and the Department of Justice (DOJ), reminiscent of the Nixon era [1][2] - The analysis indicates a reversal of normal justice processes, with the president allegedly pressuring the DOJ to target political opponents [1][4] - The report highlights concerns that established protocols designed to maintain DOJ independence have been disregarded [2][3] - The report points out that the rule of law is perceived to be in danger, with the Supreme Court potentially enabling presidential overreach [3] Political Polarization & Public Opinion - The analysis contrasts the current political climate with the Watergate era, noting a lack of bipartisan condemnation of potential abuses of power [6] - The report indicates that public pressure may be less effective than in the past, with a significant percentage (30%) of Republicans finding it acceptable for a president to direct the DOJ to investigate political opponents [9] - The report suggests that militarizing US cities could negatively affect public discourse and First Amendment rights [10] Specific Case & Potential Consequences - The report questions the validity of potential charges against James Comey, suggesting they are based on thin evidence and may not survive a trial [11] - The analysis expresses concern that members of the Senate may prioritize party loyalty over factual evidence, potentially undermining accountability [12] - The report concludes that the current situation is worse than Watergate due to a perceived lack of respect for the rule of law and bipartisanship [13]

Case Strength & Legality - The case against Comey is potentially weak due to a former US attorney with Republican ties declining to bring charges and an inspector general report finding Comey credible [3] - The involvement of political appointees alone in the grand jury indictment process raises concerns about the case's integrity [4] - Legal malpractice is a potential risk, especially considering the US attorney with no prosecution experience seeking the indictment [8] - Selective prosecution is a concern, suggesting the case might be biased against an individual for their beliefs or lawful actions [17] - Only 14 out of 23 grand jurors voted to indict on two counts, with a third count declined, further indicating a lack of consensus [15] Political Implications & Justice System - Concerns exist that the prosecution is driven by revenge and could set a precedent for future administrations to target political enemies [6][10] - The Department of Justice is potentially being used as a tool to target critics or those who have investigated or prosecuted the president [19] - There's a fear that the current actions could lead to a vicious cycle of revenge and tit-for-tat prosecutions in future administrations [11] Evidence & Credibility - The case appears to be a "he said, he said" situation between Comey and McCabe, with McCabe's statements not necessarily contradicting Comey's [13][14] - The inspector general's finding of a lack of candor by Andrew McCabe raises questions about his credibility as a witness [22]

It's a sad day for you because you corrupted the rule of law.Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade):It is a sad day for the Department of Justice and the rule of law.https://t.co/4r4HRldBJ6 ...