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The above drawing is another one I did with my left hand when I broke my right arm a few years back. I don’t know what the catalyst for this drawing was. Sometimes I can look at a drawing that I did a couple of years ago and remember perfectly where it came from, how I thought of it; more often than not I don’t recall. In the world of cartoons, we sometimes take a simple cliché (such as “the buck stops here”) and play with it, which is what I did here. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it’s unclear in either case! I’d love to hear your thoughts on what this drawing might mean, if anything. Or if it made you smile.
News:
A judge today dismissed the case Trump brought against former FBI director James Comey, finding that the appointment of the prosecutor handpicked by Trump was invalid. And so Trump’s case against Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, was also dismissed. Trump has been seeking to prosecute his enemies, and as I understand, this ruling does not preclude him from continuing to try to do so again.
I just learned from journalist Aaron Parnass that Trump announced he will launch an investigation into Democratic senator Mark Kelly, days after calling him a “traitor” and called for his imprisonment and execution. Kelly is one of the members of the Senate who are, like him, former military and who together created a video last week that angered Trump. Basically, saying to members of the military:
“You can and must refuse illegal orders.”
Here’s the video: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fk9Gh3qwW4I?si=zX8T3Bgy-fBhaN9h
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This is Trump’s formal response via his “Department ofWar:”
“The Department of War has received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”
This kind of dangerous rhetoric coming from Trump is part of a campaign of fear. Not just towards Senators and Congress people, but he is trying to set a tone in the country, bit by bit, word by word. It won’t work.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the MAGA Representative who gained notoriety for aggressively supporting Trump, announced Friday she is resigning from Congress. “Standing up for American women who were raped at 14, trafficked and used by rich powerful men, should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the President of the United States, whom I fought for,” she posted on social media. Her announcement came after a public feud with Trump, during which he called her a lot of names.
“I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms. And in turn, be expected to defend the President against impeachment after he hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars against me and tried to destroy me.”
Greene did not rule out a future run for office, suggesting she might run as an independent if she returned to politics.
“When the common American people finally realize and understand that the political industrial complex of both parties is ripping this country apart, that not one elected leader like me is able to stop Washington’s machine from gradually destroying our country, and instead the reality is that they, common Americans, the people, possess the real power over Washington,” she said, “then I’ll be here by their side to rebuild it.”
Before the Congress voted on the release of the Epstein files, Trump ordered investigations into whom among Democrats are mentioned in the Epstein files. Many believe this to be the beginning of an excuse to not release the files, even though both houses of Congress agreed to sign the Discharge Petition, so now it is law. In a report in Politico, it seems that the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, Jay Clayton, is the one who has been given the responsibility to direct this investigation. We will have to wait to see what Clayton. According to Politico he was not supportive when Trump fired James comedy’s daughter, Maureene Comey, a prosecutor in his office, for no valid reason. She one of the lead prosecutors on the cases against Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Under the legislation Trump signed into law ordering DOJ’s release of the materials, however, the department may withhold any documents that ‘would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.’ It’s unclear what might happen if the evidence points to wrongdoing by Republicans — or by Trump himself. Will prosecutors be asked to set it aside, thereby violating one of the most basic tenets of the office, to follow the facts wherever they lead?”
For a really good overview of what is going to happen next with the files, Politico has a breakdown with some explanations, here. From the public’s perception, it seems things are in limbo. The administration is finding a way to avoid releasing the files.
Those concerned for justice for Epstein’s victims--Democrats and Republicans-- must find a way to push back.
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