MS NOW host Lawrence O’Donnell on Tuesday reacted to President Donald Trump and his administration’s failure to indict six Democratic lawmakers for reminding lively U.S. army service members in a video final 12 months that they’ll and should refuse unlawful orders.
The “Last Word” host mentioned the event with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) after a grand jury formally declined to indict Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.).
“They sought to indict six members of Congress,” Schiff informed O’Donnell. “It is just such a shock to see the rule of law so betrayed, so utterly betrayed. If we look at this period in the future and the milestones on the road to dictatorship, this is a big one.”
He continued, “To consider how this Justice Department has been misused, how it’s been weaponized in such a blatant fashion, and the fact that the grand jury rejected it, of course, is very significant because that’s so unusual. But it shouldn’t dissuade us or fail to have us appreciate the lawlessness of what they tried to do.”
Schiff added that it’s onerous to precise how harmful this “frontal assault on the rule of law” actually was. He argued the Department of Justice below U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was “no doubt acting under the instructions” of Trump when the indictments have been sought.
The video itself appeared to merely echo the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which particularly states below article 92 that service members can be punished in the event that they fail ”to obey any lawful order.” The six lawmakers, who’re all veterans, took turns talking.
Trump appeared to recommend that these have been “seditious” remarks “punishable by DEATH!”
Tuesday’s failed indictment was the newest instance of a grand jury declining to again expenses introduced by the administration in opposition to those that’ve angered Trump. Schiff informed O’Donnell that their blunder “should be applauded,” however added a caveat.
“The fact they tried, though, is a five-alarm fire,” he stated.
O’Donnell went on to learn an announcement from Kelly condemning “Trump and his lackeys” for making an attempt to criminally cost him for saying one thing “that they didn’t like.” Schiff, who has additionally been investigated by Trump’s DOJ, applauded the veteran and his colleagues.
“Basically what they’re saying, what I’m saying, what all of us are saying that are sort of in the crosshairs of this ‘Department of Injustice,’ is basically, ‘Screw you.’ We’re not going to stop for one moment speaking out, we’re going to do our job as representatives.”
When requested what he would do if the DOJ requested him to current this case to acquire an indictment, Schiff replied bluntly: “I would have said, ‘Hell no, I quit.’” He left off with brutal remarks for high Trump officers, together with Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“I know they won’t, but they should be completely ashamed of themselves,” stated Schiff. “It’s just disgraceful conduct, and I think any prosecutor asked to bring baseless cases like this needs to do their civic duty and say, ‘I won’t do it,’ and be willing to be fired or quit.”
He concluded, “Because we all need to show that courage that the grand jury showed and that others have demonstrated in standing up to this president who wants to be a dictator.”
Watch the total dialog on MS NOW’s YouTube web page.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lawrence-odonnell-adam-schiff-trump-grand-jury-indictment-six-democrats-illegal-orders_n_698cbff9e4b01dbafe66e95e