After 99 days, DHS retracted an administrative subpoena targeting a man following his exercise of his First Amendment rights — but never explained why it was investigating him.
It amazes me that there are still those who insist that while it 'looks like' we 'might be' headed for 'something like' an authoritarian government, 'we're definitely not there yet.'
ICE (and CPB) have become the secret police; SCOTUS issues Shadow Docket “opinions” without reasoning nor opinion; now that WaPo has capitulated to Trump it’s former motto has become a MAGA reality: “Democracy dies in darkness.”
Did you notice that the first and most complete coverage of this story was found in the Washington Post as stated above? Even though the Post has measurably capitulated to Trump, especially on its editorial pages, it is still publishing some very important stories.
No lawyers from the governmennt made an appearance in this case. The name and title of the person signing the "subpoena" are redacted. The person who told Doe's lawyers that the subpoena had been withdrawn is not given, although it's reasonable to think she's an employee of the US Attorney for ND Cal. In the email withdrawing the subpoena, names and titles are redacted.
No one can be held accountable for this Kafka-esque proceeding.
They aren't targeting the mere judiciary. They're attacking and undermining all of us and our Constitution in knowing violation of their oaths of office. For good reason the People in Article II of our Constitution required every president every term to acknowledge that his first, foremost and constant duty was to "preserve, protect and defend [our] Constitution" and in Article VI required all legislators and "all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of [all] States" to acknowledge that their first, foremost and constant duty is "to support [our] Constitution."
For good reason, Congress and a prior president enacted a law (5 U.S.C. Section 3331) requiring every federal employee except the president to acknowledge that his or her first, foremost and constant duty is to "support and defend [our] Constitution" against "all enemies, foreign and domestic" and to "bear true faith and allegiance to" our Constitution.
These are “police state” tactics that will likely escalate, unless they be vigorously challenged. We are at mortal risk — every mother’s son and daughter of us — under such arbitrary, excessive, and retaliatory abuse of authority.
Other nations — not the U.S. — have been famous for lawless tyranny, to chill the exercise of fundamental civil rights. This is viciously new. Voters must end it.
This checks all the boxes for totalitarian government, in which anyone who expresses or implies even a shadow of disagreement with the government is threatened, bullied and hauled in for questioning...or worse. Jon's request was reasonable, civil and without the slightest hint of threat or even anger, so the fact of his differing perspective and --heaven help us --his expression of empathy--apparently triggered this intimidating, illegal, overkill response to his exrcise of his First Amendment rights. This needs bold headline reporting so that every American knows what is afoot. If there is any further harrasment of Jon on account of this, we all need to hear about it. DHS is sneakily keeping this out of court, which indicates they know they would lose, but this needs to be submitted to the court of public opinion in the widest possible way, and it should be put before Congress ASAP.
Well said. Repost....repost and repost. Also reference this piece in reader comments of other Substack authors such as Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Hubbell, Robert Reich, Jay Kuo and any other Substacks we read.
It amazes me that there are still those who insist that while it 'looks like' we 'might be' headed for 'something like' an authoritarian government, 'we're definitely not there yet.'
Thanks for posting this.
ICE (and CPB) have become the secret police; SCOTUS issues Shadow Docket “opinions” without reasoning nor opinion; now that WaPo has capitulated to Trump it’s former motto has become a MAGA reality: “Democracy dies in darkness.”
With Bezos and others facilitating that in real time.
The Washington Post! Katharine Graham must be twirling in her grave …
Did you notice that the first and most complete coverage of this story was found in the Washington Post as stated above? Even though the Post has measurably capitulated to Trump, especially on its editorial pages, it is still publishing some very important stories.
Good point! (And no, I am unaware of that coverage.)
Trump uses the DOJ as his personal revenge and intmadation machine. Thank Jon Doe and the ACLU for stopping at least this one instance.
No lawyers from the governmennt made an appearance in this case. The name and title of the person signing the "subpoena" are redacted. The person who told Doe's lawyers that the subpoena had been withdrawn is not given, although it's reasonable to think she's an employee of the US Attorney for ND Cal. In the email withdrawing the subpoena, names and titles are redacted.
No one can be held accountable for this Kafka-esque proceeding.
This is part of a larger pattern of abuse of process. One example is the hearing at which Minn. District Judge Blackwell examined non-compliance with his orders in Habeas cases. Here's Chris' description: https://www.lawdork.com/p/the-minnesota-julie-le-show-cause-transcript
It's an effort to neuter the judiciary.
They aren't targeting the mere judiciary. They're attacking and undermining all of us and our Constitution in knowing violation of their oaths of office. For good reason the People in Article II of our Constitution required every president every term to acknowledge that his first, foremost and constant duty was to "preserve, protect and defend [our] Constitution" and in Article VI required all legislators and "all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of [all] States" to acknowledge that their first, foremost and constant duty is "to support [our] Constitution."
For good reason, Congress and a prior president enacted a law (5 U.S.C. Section 3331) requiring every federal employee except the president to acknowledge that his or her first, foremost and constant duty is to "support and defend [our] Constitution" against "all enemies, foreign and domestic" and to "bear true faith and allegiance to" our Constitution.
Or, in this case, bypasss the judiciary completely.
These are “police state” tactics that will likely escalate, unless they be vigorously challenged. We are at mortal risk — every mother’s son and daughter of us — under such arbitrary, excessive, and retaliatory abuse of authority.
Other nations — not the U.S. — have been famous for lawless tyranny, to chill the exercise of fundamental civil rights. This is viciously new. Voters must end it.
This checks all the boxes for totalitarian government, in which anyone who expresses or implies even a shadow of disagreement with the government is threatened, bullied and hauled in for questioning...or worse. Jon's request was reasonable, civil and without the slightest hint of threat or even anger, so the fact of his differing perspective and --heaven help us --his expression of empathy--apparently triggered this intimidating, illegal, overkill response to his exrcise of his First Amendment rights. This needs bold headline reporting so that every American knows what is afoot. If there is any further harrasment of Jon on account of this, we all need to hear about it. DHS is sneakily keeping this out of court, which indicates they know they would lose, but this needs to be submitted to the court of public opinion in the widest possible way, and it should be put before Congress ASAP.
Well said. Repost....repost and repost. Also reference this piece in reader comments of other Substack authors such as Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Hubbell, Robert Reich, Jay Kuo and any other Substacks we read.
There is a chill in the air; the cold wind is blowing. The night is not ending soon enough.