DOJ Readies for Flurry of Post-Midterm Activity as Trump Insiders Point to Nov. 14th Announcement

An unnamed member of Trump’s defense team told CNN, “It’s a “scary thing because [the DOJ can] crank up charges on almost anybody.” Perhaps this is why Trump insiders are talking about a November 14th announcement that he’s running for president.

The statement about charges is true in the sense that DOJ can crank up charges against almost anybody who has committed a crime. It is very tough to do when speaking of your daughter’s French teacher. But we’re talking about former Trump administration officials, not teachers, and CNN reports that we can all expect a “flurry of activity” just after the mid-terms. It appears to be a race:

From the report entitled: “DoJ Mulling Potential Special Counsel if Trump Runs in 2024”

In the weeks leading up to the election, the Justice Department has observed the traditional quiet period of not making any overt moves that may have political consequences. But behind the scenes, investigators have remained busy, using aggressive grand jury subpoenas and secret court battles to compel testimony from witnesses in both the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his alleged mishandling of national security documents kept at his Palm Beach home.

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We reported just yesterday that Kash Patel has been given limited use immunity. If Kash Patel raises his hand in the air and answers every question about Trump’s January 6th plans and plans to raid documents, it could send the Trump investigation hurdling into entirely new territory.

Now federal investigators are planning for a burst of post-election activity in Trump-related investigations. That includes the prospect of indictments of Trump’s associates – moves that could be made more complicated if Trump declares a run for the presidency.

“They can crank up charges on almost anybody if they wanted to,” said one defense attorney working on January 6-related matters, who added defense lawyers have “have no idea” who ultimately will be charged.

“This is the scary thing,” the attorney said.

Well, yes – it is scary defending a whole group of people caught up in a very serious and complex crime because they could indict damn near anyone involved in the crime. That’s how it works.

It sounds like it might be a race between indictments and announcements:

The Justice Department is also staffing up its investigations with experienced prosecutors so it’s ready for any decisions after the midterms, including the potential unprecedented move of indicting a former president. Top aides to Trump have been eyeing the third week of November as an ideal launch point for his campaign, with two sources telling CNN on Friday morning that the team has specifically discussed November 14.

And this has DOJ considering whether it needs a special prosecutor for Trump himself as a candidate.

Justice Department officials have discussed whether a Trump candidacy would create the need for a special counsel to oversee two sprawling federal investigations related to the former president.

NO. Just, “No.”

Everyone, including Merrick Garland, understands that just because Trump might announce he’s running for president has nothing to do with whether his name is actually on a ballot in Iowa or New Hampshire, and even if it is, the entire weight of the United States Department of Justice should be prosecuting this most serious matter. You do not hand it off to some special prosecutor with a special interest in keeping billable hours going to the maximum extent.

Donald Trump is a citizen. He was a citizen as president and got enough special treatment then. He’s getting MORE than enough special treatment now as an ex-president.  One speech with balloons, an “America First” logo, and talk about American carnage ending here and now doesn’t mean Trump is actually running for president. The only thing it certainly means is he’s actually running to raise a bigger war chest. The decision about whether to “really run” will be made down the road.

These people know better than this. In their fight to appear “fairminded” and “above” all the politics, they don’t have to bend over to the point where they’re again letting Trump dictate terms.

But, yes – do bring on the indictments. How about November 11th at 4:45, the ultimate Friday afternoon news dump?

Jason Miciak

@JasonMiciak believes a day without learning is a day not lived. He is a political writer, features writer, author, and attorney. He is a Canadian-born dual citizen who spent his teen and college years in the Pacific Northwest and has since lived in seven states. He now enjoys life as a single dad of a young girl, writing from the beaches of the Gulf Coast. He loves crafting his flower pots, cooking, and currently studies philosophy of science, religion, and non-math principles behind quantum mechanics and cosmology. Please feel free to contact with any concerns.