Spies Are the New Journalists

Brian Cates:

To understand how SpyGate unfolded as a seamless operation with both intelligence agency operatives at the intelligence agencies…and intelligence agency operatives embedded in the US News media…read this from Lee Smith back in 2019.  https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/spies-are-the-new-journalists

There are two sets of laws in the United States today. One is inscribed in law books and applies to the majority of Americans. The other is a canon of privileges enjoyed by an establishment under the umbrella of an intelligence bureaucracy that has arrogated to itself the rights and protections of what was once …

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The Washington Pundit:

Stephen K. Bannon Indicted for Contempt of Congress

Stephen K. Bannon was indicted today by a federal grand jury on two counts of contempt of Congress stemming from his failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon indicted on 2 counts by a federal grand jury for refusing to comply with House Jan 6th Committee

Things to know: 

– The counts are both criminal misdemeanor (2 U.S. Code § 192 – Refusal of witness to testify or produce papers)

– Charges are in the DC District, but Bannon should have the opportunity to contest responding the contempt charges in local US District Court; most likely the Southern District of Florida (SDFL)

– These types of Contempt of Congress charges are usually brought as civil cases if brought at all, not criminal. This represents an egregious escalation and further weaponization of the Dept. of Justice to target political opponents.

– The House Select Committee only has the power to subpoena information pertinent to drafting new legislation. The Jan 6th is not an Investigative Commission. That proposal was rejected by Republicans back in May.

– Bannon is exerting Executive Privilege. The privilege belongs to President Trump and is his alone to waive. It doesn’t matter that Bannon was a private citizen. The President has the right to seek counsel from individuals outside of government without the contents of those discussions having to be disclosed to the other branches of government. This is a Separation of Powers issue.

– The privilege does not transfer from Trump to Biden simply when Trump leaves office anymore than hiring somebody’s attorney as your own after the fact transfers their Attorney-Client Privilege to you.

Prediction: This will bounce around in a lower court for a year or more, and ultimately be dismissed. The SCOTUS might decide however to take up the case in order to clarify matters of Executive Privilege in the future.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/stephen-k-bannon-indicted-contempt-congress

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