Frank Figliuzzi and Michael Popok make the case for Biden and the Senate to Sidestep Trump's Game [View all]

[babylonsister]

Last edited Thu Nov 28, 2024, 09:44 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/26/2288939/-Frank-Figliuzzi-and-Michael-Popok-make-the-case-for-Biden-and-the-Senate-to-Sidestep-Trump-s-Game

Frank Figliuzzi and Michael Popok make the case for Biden and the Senate to Sidestep Trump's Game
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 10:24:14p EST
by jamess


Somethings are WORTH fighting for, Damn it.

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Seems like an obvious solution. But it also seems like Dems have all but given up — resigned to our fates of enduring MAGA disruptions and/or corruption.

Trump has steadfastly refused to initiate FBI Background Checks on his Nominees.

This former “assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI,” explains HOW and WHY we don’t have to put up with Trump stalling tactics. Especially when our National Security is quite likely at stake …

snip//

by Frank Figliuzzi, MSNBC Columnist — Nov. 19, 2024

[...]
The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 directs the FBI to conduct such background checks “expeditiously” for “individuals that the President-elect has identified for high level national security positions.” But what if he never formally identifies and submits his picks to the Department of Justice and the FBI? In his last administration, Trump overrode security adjudicators who denied clearances for his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and many others, after FBI background checks resulted in national security concerns. This time, he appears poised to dispense with the FBI checks and potentially with the Senate confirmation process by making recess appointments.

That leaves us with two pertinent memorandums of understanding (MOU) which should enable President Joe Biden and/or the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to quickly do something to preserve national security and the Constitution’s advice, and consent powers conferred on our elected lawmakers.

First, Biden should rely upon the existing MOU between the Department of Justice and his office, as well as the Presidential Transition Act, to investigate the people Trump says he wants to put in office. The MOU sets out procedures for requesting background investigations of nominees “at the request of the president.” It doesn’t say the president-elect, it says “president.” That’s you, Joe. As for the transition act, it reads as applying to people “…the President-elect has identified” for high-level positions. Well, the president-elect has already publicly identified those people. And Biden should respond.
[...]

snip//

Michael Popok at Legal AF goes on a righteous rant, advocating for exactly the same thing.

Why should the CURRENT President and CURRENT Senate Judiciary Committee, give a silent endorsement to all the shady and problematic people Trump has nominated?

What’s it gonna be: “Oh well … Or Hell No!”

snip//

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If his picks were above-board, those Security Checks would have already been submitted by Trump. They have not been.

Remember how Trump 1.0 personally cleared Jared Kushner himself, after the FBI refused to do so? And how that corrupt unchecked situation ultimately turned out?

Have we not learned anything from the first term of Trump?

It is up to our last vestiges of Democracy (for at least a few years), to do what they can to protect American Institutions from wholesale dismantling, or worse — while they still have the power and authority to step up and ACT!

Thank you, concerned reader for your time and attention to this important matter.

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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/26/2288939/-Frank-Figliuzzi-and-Michael-Popok-make-the-case-for-Biden-and-the-Senate-to-Sidestep-Trump-s-Game