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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFrankens first tweet in a month calls out Jeff Sessions.
Lack of candor.
Thats one of the reasons that Attorney General Jeff Sessions used to justify his decision to fire former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe last week, just two days before Mr. McCabe was set to retire from a distinguished 21-year career with the Bureau. Ironic, because, as you may recall, Jeff Sessions has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of candor under oath about his own interactions with Russians.
During his confirmation hearing, I alerted then-Senator Sessions to a breaking report from CNN that there had been an ongoing exchange of information between the Trump campaign and the Russians. When I asked him what he would do as Attorney General if those reports were true, Mr. Sessions decided to answer a different question:
SESSIONS: Senator Franken, I am not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didnt have did not have communications with the Russians, and Im unable to comment on it.
That turned out to be false. Then-Senator Sessions had, in fact, met with Russian ambassador Kislyak at least three times during the 2016 campaign. Id like to claim that I was three steps ahead of Sessions - that I knew Senator Sessions wouldnt answer my question and would pivot to a lie that would ultimately lead to his recusal in the Russia investigation. Id like to claim that but in all candor, I had no idea that was the moment that would lead to the Mueller investigation.
The Attorney General has a different version of this exchange. He said he was taken aback by my question and that in retrospect, he should have slowed down and been more forthcoming about his meetings. Now, Im no lawyer, but its not a good sign if the man nominated to be our nations top prosecutor is so easily flummoxed by a straightforward question.
But in the weeks and months that followed, as Attorney General Sessions was called before congressional committees to explain himself, try as he might, he just couldnt manage to set the record straight. His explanation of his own Russian contacts continued to shift from I did not have communications with the Russians to I did not meet with any Russians to discuss any political campaign to the Justice Department asserting that Sessions did not discuss interference in the campaign with any Russians.
When I asked him in an October hearing whether he believed that other Trump campaign surrogates communicated with the Russians, Attorney General Sessions said no. Im not aware of anyone else that did, and I dont believe it happened, he said.
And you dont believe it now? I asked, slightly slack-jawed.
I dont believe it happened, he answered. Never mind that at that point in time, the public already knew about meetings between Russians and Michael Flynn, Russians and Paul Manafort, Russians and Jared Kushner, and Russians and Donald Trump, Jr. all Trump campaign surrogates.
And never mind that Sessions attended a March 31, 2016 foreign policy meeting at which George Papadopoulos raised his connections with Russians and offered to set up a meeting between Trump and Putin. Sessions first said he didnt recall the Papadopoulos meeting, then testified that he pushed back on the Papadopoulos suggestion of Trump meeting Putin and now three sources have said Sessions didnt push back on this suggestion. More candor problems.
Fast forward to this week, when ABC News reported that nearly one year before Attorney General Sessions fired Andrew McCabe allegedly for a lack of candor Mr. McCabe oversaw an investigation into whether Attorney General Sessions himself lacked candor when he repeatedly misrepresented his contacts with Russians when testifying before Congress. That investigation was opened after my former colleague, Senator Pat Leahy, and I wrote to the FBI last year and requested that the Bureau examine the attorney generals false statements.
That the attorney general would fire the man who was tasked with investigating him raises serious questions about whether retaliation or retribution motivated his decision. It also raises serious questions about his supposed recusal from all matters stemming from the 2016 campaign. But the fact that Attorney General Sessions would claim that a lack of candor justified Mr. McCabes termination is hypocrisy at its worst.
Link to tweet
?s=20
Via: http://www.eschatonblog.com/2018/03/they-dont-navigate-with-dashcam.html?m=1#comment-3820463663
wishstar
(5,270 posts)PatSeg
(47,512 posts)Good to hear his voice.
Response to PatSeg (Reply #3)
Post removed
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)You always vote. We always vote.
And you vote for the Democrat. We vote for the Democrat.
Hold your nose if you want. But go to the polls. And vote for the Democrat.
Our country is at stake. If you vote against the Democrat, or stay home, youre voting to destroy America. Dont do that. Vote for whoever in the primary. Vote for the Democrat in the general.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)Never say you wont vote. Thats a right wing talking point designed to divide us.
elfin
(6,262 posts)Reliable Democrat, with her as my one exception. Will support and vote for all those down ticket.
I suspect I am not alone, but if I am, so be it. That is just how I think and feel.
She has said she will not run in 2020 (sorry, no link), but even if she buffs her image and publicizes other worthy stances - I will remember.
She may go so far as to apologize for her egregious behavior. Too bad.
There may be a further act of contrition by AF, if he seeks another office. But that doesn't count, in that he was DENIED due process by KG.
She does not honor due process, whether for AF or possibly others. I do not care if Repug or Dem, due process is so important to the rule of law and not rule by humans. It is fundamental to our democracy.
I hate Trump, but it is so important that his ultimate demise is due to the rule of law and his due process, no matter how exhaustive that process may be.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)If it is a choice between Gillibrand and a GOP, you vote for Gillibrand. Hold your nose, but vote for her.
That attitude towards Hillary got us in this mess.
Ps I love love love Franken and think he got railroaded. But I always vote for the Democrat, since the GOP is trying to destroy our country to cut taxes on their billionaire donors.
Ligyron
(7,636 posts)KG will never ever win a Presidential primary now.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)It was foolish and cowardly.
I realize the bar has been significantly lowered, but wrong, foolish and cowardly should disqualify a person from office whether Democrat or Republican.
disndat
(1,887 posts)But she brought down a giant like Franken with her sharp elbows. The other progressive Democrats, Warren, etc., cowered resulting in the perfect storm.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)poboy2
(2,078 posts)Hero.
MontanaMama
(23,322 posts)Thank you Senator Franken! Giant of the Senate.
I miss Senator Franken!! In reading his tweet I hear his voice saying it. ☺ They sure railroaded him, which is not a surprise since he was a threat to them big time and far too smart for them!!
LakeArenal
(28,823 posts)And want to remind some certain senators that I havent and wont forget.
Long memories last a long time. At least as far as 2020!!!!
disndat
(1,887 posts)I hoe and wish there is a way to bring Al Franken back and "light weight Gillibrand" replaced.
LoveMyCali
(2,015 posts)has a long memory and is hoping we have choices when we vote in the primaries.
Historic NY
(37,451 posts)Progressive dog
(6,905 posts)since taking office. A big majority of the Democratic Senators believed the accusations against Franken and asked him to resign, which he did.
Fortunately, my former Representative and now Senator (Gillibrand) doesn't need the vote of a handful of single issue voters.
dem4decades
(11,297 posts)A member of the handfull.
Progressive dog
(6,905 posts)hangs on angry Franken-philes.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Progressive dog
(6,905 posts)and that's really a strange single issue for any voter.
You wrote " I look forward to donating to who ever primaries her. She wanted Franklin gone. nt"
Mira
(22,380 posts)what happened to him is deplorable back stabbing at its worst.
And Jefferson Beauregard Cornpone needs to remember that Karma never Sleeps.
True Blue American
(17,986 posts)At this point I am so disillusioned that the crazies seem to be winning and the good guys losing.
disndat
(1,887 posts)Franken is such a gutsy stand-up guy. I hope he still has the fight in him despite the shabby, humiliating way he was
removed, without allowing due process he had requested..
blake2012
(1,294 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts)saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)I have no idea why we Democrats did not fight back. From what I read on the public record, the story was all about a comedy routine before he ran for office.
MyOwnPeace
(16,928 posts)After all, didn't his attorney pay out $130,000 to keep her (that's "her #1" ) quiet? And now "her #1" and "her #2" are letting the public know that "he" was "being a bad boy" while wife #3 was having child #5 (are you keeping up with these numbers?).
Can't you see why this guy should NOT be in public office?
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)I still do not understand why Mr. Weiner was a cause celeb and Mr. Franken was thrown under the bus. Enlighten me, please.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,354 posts)anyone mentioned was guilty, excoriated.
#metoo momentum. he was collateral damage.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)Franken was doing Vaudeville, not actual villiany. We should be teaching the next generation WHY our popular culture is so influential around the world (or was). Jewish Vaudeville, African American and European folk music, Quaker civil disobedience and democratic spiritual rituals, Native American nature communion, German, etc., physics and philosophy...
If we actually were taught where we came from, we would have critiqued Franken for lousy delivery rather than firing him for performing an act of satire.
Also, he's real short and his hands reach everyone's waistes during photo shoots.
Group hug anyone?
druidity33
(6,446 posts)Skittles
(153,169 posts)FUCK the people who fell for that charade - SHAME ON THEM
Tatiana
(14,167 posts)He was an outstanding Democrat and Senator who fought for Minnesotans as well as the rest of the country.
I will never forget what his so-called colleagues did to him.
And, of course, he is CORRECT on all points regarding Sessions.
harun
(11,348 posts)saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)Yes, you and he are correct. Beauregard will be dumped by the rump in a fustian play on justice, imo.
gademocrat7
(10,661 posts)TNNurse
(6,927 posts)is the most polite way of saying "lying asshole" that I have ever seen or heard.
trof
(54,256 posts)He has more class than that.
sdfernando
(4,935 posts)I'll never forgive Gillibrand for what she did!
The Polack MSgt
(13,190 posts)Is one of the most infuriating self inflicted wounds ever witnessed.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)This was an orchestrated effort to bring him down. Come back Al!