Georgia D.A. rebukes House GOP
Ex-Trump aide guilty in Jan. 6 contempt case
Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for September 8, 2023:
My chance to look at January 6 security video.
Florida, Hawaii lawmakers press for disaster aid.
More GOP threats about Speaker McCarthy’s job.
WILLIS. The Georgia prosecutor in charge of a sweeping 2020 election case against former President Donald Trump had harsh words for House Republicans on Thursday, accusing them of trying to interfere in Georgia's case by demanding documents and information. "Its obvious purpose is to obstruct a Georgia criminal proceeding," wrote D.A. Fani Willis.
LETTER. Responding to a letter from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) that pressed for details about her investigation and any contacts with federal prosecutors, Willis blasted the GOP in a nine page reply. "There is no justification in the Constitution for Congress to interfere with a state criminal matter," Willis said.
INDICTMENT #1. In many ways, the Willis letter echoed a similar rejoinder this year written by New York D.A. Alvin Bragg, who also told Jordan to jump in the lake. But this one had a little spice. "Chairman Jordan, I tell people often 'deal with reality or reality will deal with you,'" Willis added.
QRM. Basically what's going on here is that Republicans are doing their best to run interference for Trump. We saw more evidence on that on Thursday, as Jordan announced a probe of 'alleged prosecutorial abuses' by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has two cases pending against Trump.
NO COMMENT. There was no rush by Jordan or the House Judiciary Committee to respond to Willis.
NAVARRO. Just a short walk from the U.S. Capitol, a federal jury on Thursday found former Trump aide Peter Navarro guilty of Contempt of Congress. Navarro had refused to cooperate with the investigation of the Jan. 6 committee, defying a subpoena for testimony and documents.
SCENE. When news broke of the verdict, I walked down Constitution Avenue to the courthouse to see Navarro speak to reporters. He did not disappoint - and neither did the hecklers, who kept yelling ‘Bullshit’ as he spoke.
NEWSER. "I am willing to go to prison," Navarro said, vowing to appeal his contempt conviction all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Standing next to Navarro was a man with a big sign that read, 'LOCK EM UP.'
TODAY. It's a very busy Friday at the courthouse. Five January 6 defendants will find out their sentences. Four others will plead guilty to various charges.
SECURITY VIDEO. Speaking of January 6, I get the chance today to look through internal U.S. Capitol security video from that day, courtesy of the Committee on House Administration - which is letting reporters go through thousands of hours of recordings. What will I be looking for? Honestly, I’m not quite sure.
CAPITOL. The video is from closed circuit security cameras located all around the Capitol complex. I spent part of Thursday walking around the Capitol scoping out cameras - to see what might be available.
GOP VIDEO. This is the Capitol Police video library that Republicans wanted to release to the public, somehow convinced that it was going to exonerate supporters of Donald Trump who laid siege to the Capitol that day. I still have no idea how people really believe that.
GAME PLAN. I definitely want to check some back hallways that I know, see how the rioters quickly spread through the Capitol, and where they went. I’ll have a full report in Monday’s newsletter.
REGULAR ORDER. It’s time for my weekly pitch. Since I can’t go on radio or podcasts, help me spread the word about ‘Regular Order,’ which offers a unique inside view from Capitol Hill. Support independent journalism by signing up, giving someone a gift subscription, or you can always just buy me a drink.
SPENDING. With just over three weeks until the end of the fiscal year, Senators went home for the weekend with no idea what will happen when the House returns on Tuesday. Normally, the two parties would work out a temporary funding plan - but many worry House Republicans will try to force a shutdown on October 1.
SHUTDOWN. While GOP Senators have made clear they oppose a shutdown, Freedom Caucus members say all they’re doing is pressing for budget sanity. "We're interested in reining in out-of-control spending," said Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA). "We aren't interested in a shutdown."
LEVERAGE. But many House Republicans also want to use the threat of a shutdown to get concessions on everything from immigration to spending cuts to an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
GOP. That wasn’t the plan when Republicans took over the House back in January - when they talked about going back to regular order on spending bills. But it hasn’t happened. (Pro tip: Using a shutdown as leverage doesn’t work). More in my column this week for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
SPEAKER. Hanging over everything on the House side is the threat by conservative Republicans to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - if he doesn't do what they want on government funding and other subjects. We're at the point now where multiple GOP lawmakers are openly making such warnings.
GOOD. "I think that everything is on the table to hold the Speaker accountable," Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) told Fox Business on Thursday. What Good wants is McCarthy to only cut a deal among Republicans - and not get help from Democrats to avoid a shutdown. "Mr. McCarthy has to choose," Good said.
IMPEACHMENT. Another internal flashpoint is whether the GOP should start an impeachment inquiry against President Biden this month. Some Republicans aren’t on board. "I'm still not quite sure what crime Joe Biden is to have committed," said Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).
DISASTER AID. With residents still cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia, Republicans from Florida are calling for action on money to refill a FEMA disaster relief account. "Floridians - and Americans nationwide - should know there will be funds available when disasters strike," said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL).
BILL. Florida Republicans rallied this week behind a bill from Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), which would authorize $16.5 billion for disaster aid. "FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund is down to barely $2.9 billion," Scott said on Wednesday.
REQUEST. The $16.5 billion is just slightly more than the $16 billion requested by President Biden. While the Senate is expected to approve disaster aid - it's still not clear what the House will do.
HOUSE. Some like Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) - who want the extra disaster relief funding - don't want it paired with money for Ukraine. "I am urging leadership to support a clean, supplemental bill," Mills said.
UKRAINE = JOBS. It’s a much different vibe in the Senate. "The money we’re talking about doesn’t go to Ukraine," Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. "It goes to defense manufacturing facilities all across America and supports tens of thousands of American jobs."
HAWAII. Disaster relief is about the only thing on the mind of Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). When reporters tried to quiz him yesterday on other issues, Schatz politely refused. "My singular focus is Maui and Maui only," Schatz said. "And so if any of you have questions not related to Maui, I will not answer them."
OUTREACH. Schatz said he's been working the phones and talking to members of both parties to try to make sure Congress approves a disaster relief plan this month. "We've got a lot of Trump voters (in Hawaii) and I'm going to fight like hell for them,” Schatz added.
COVID. I told you yesterday how Republicans were almost tripping over each other to try to force votes on measures to block COVID mask or vaccine mandates - which don't even exist. We saw that on the Senate floor Thursday, in what may be a preview of votes to come on the subject in coming weeks.
PAGES. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the first to broach the issue on Thursday, as he went to the Senate floor to try to win approval of a plan to prohibit COVID vaccine, testing, or masking requirements for the Senate Pages. "The risks of the vaccine outweigh the risks of the disease," Paul argued.
VANCE. Paul was followed by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), who wanted action on a federal ban on mask mandates. "It’s time to stop the growing call for mask mandates dead in its tracks," Vance said. Neither Paul nor Vance was successful - but this issue isn't going away.
SUPREME COURT. After months of very bad publicity, there was a different kind of answer yesterday about possible ethics changes at the U.S. Supreme Court. It came from Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was speaking at the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference meeting in Cleveland.
ETHICS. Kavanaugh said he was 'hopeful' that some type of 'concrete' action could be taken soon by the Court, acknowledging that it might be better for the Justices. But Kavanaugh offered nothing specific in terms of what might change.
CONGRESS. That came as Democrats continued to take aim at Justice Clarence Thomas, whose latest financial disclosure confirmed that he had taken numerous free trips from a Texas billionaire. "We will continue to investigate until we have real answers," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
PROUD BOYS. This week brought the final sentences for leaders of the 'Proud Boys' militia who were involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. After former group leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison, lawyers for one of the defendants revealed how they had been offered plea bargain deals by the feds. It turns out, it was a good deal.
JAIL TIME. For example, Tarrio was originally offered a deal that would have jailed him for 9-11 years. Instead, he got 22 years in prison. Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs were offered 6-8 years behind bars. They received sentences of 18 and 17 years respectively. Oops.
RAP SHEET. A Kentucky man has pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting multiple police officers on Jan. 6. Clayton Mullins joined with other rioters in early skirmishes with police outside the Capitol. Mullins later assaulted two officers, both of whom were then dragged into the crowd and beaten.
BUCKEYE STATE. An Ohio man was arrested this week for assaulting police on Jan. 6. Court documents show Benjamin Shuler pushed officers and resisted efforts to clear rioters from an area outside the Capitol. Shuler was identified by witnesses nearly two years ago - but was not charged until now.
MUSE OF HISTORY. September 8, 1958. The last early general election for Congress was held on this date in Maine, as Gov. Edmund Muskie (D) easily defeated Sen. Frederick Payne (R-ME). It was just the start of big gains by Democrats in the 1958 midterms, as they would gain another 13 seats in November to take a 64-34 majority in the Senate. Democrats would win a 282-153 House majority as well. Starting in 1960, all general elections for Congress would be in November.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House next has votes on September 12.
The Senate meets next on Monday.
Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree.
Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com
If you want to say ‘thanks’ - you can buy me a beer - or a cup of coffee.
Everyone needs to "buy you a coffee" 😉 after you go through those tapes today. I'm guessing that likely it will need to be a bit stronger than coffee.
Perhaps Ms. Willis could emphasize her point by filing an obstruction charge against Mr. Jordan.