Posting the link below which is an article published by POLITICO to memorialize this moment in time as it relates to the Department of Justice given how much we depend upon the response of one of the final checks and balances and as a nod to in truth it is in fact an institution that can be brought to heel.
This leaves all to us the people of the United States of America for we represent the last but if united most formidable of all checks and balances.
The time to act was not today but last week, or in fact on the day after Trump took oath and displayed his departure from the rule of law and order when pardoning convicted criminals calling them in so many words good Americans and heroic, the insurrectionists who on 1/6/21 violently moved to overthrow our government and the results of an election.
As to the bravery and courage shown by the best and brightest minds at the DOJ the statement mad in a letter written by Hagen Scotten that rings in all our ears was, "But It was never going to be me." I offer that those words encapsulate our resistance and are equivalent to the famous words that are a symbol of the American Revolution, "Live free or die."
"There is a tradition in public service of resigning in a last- ditch effort to head off a serious mistake. Some will view the mistake you are committing here in the light of their generally negative views of the new Administration. I do not share those views. I can even understand how a Chief Executive whose background is in business and politics might see the contemplated dismissal-with-leverage as a good, if distasteful, deal. But any assistant U.S. attorney would know that our laws and traditions do not allow using the prosecutorial power to influence other citizens, much less elected officials, in this way."
"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me."
"Please consider this my resignation. It has been an honor to serve as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York."
That was excellent. Thank you, Tim O'Brien, for the depth of your experience and ability to bring forth substance and historical references to back up the opinions shared with us. I was disappointed to hear your opinion the performance of the markets will not sway Trump for I saw it as a kryptonite and thus a weapon our allies will use that will benefit us at the cost of the economy; but my feeling is it would be worth the cost because we can recover our economy. Also, as Americans we historically step in to aid the more vulnerable who will be the most impacted even if our government does not. But we cannot recover our democracy once lost.
I wanted to scream yesterday when the broadcasters on the Daytona 500 mentioned the rainstorm over the track had blown in from the "Gulf of America". Heavy sigh.....
Mitch McConnell should not be given any credit for his recent votes. We are here because of his decisions and leadership in Trump’s first term. He only has “courage” now because he is retiring.
But we've been the bully for a long time. And the rest of the world sees us for what we really are, finally. All we have has war and marketing. We don't really offer much else that doesn't mean taking resources from others. Trump is a boil on the ass of thr world but he got there because America has been greedy and selfish for far too long.
Trump is OBSESSED with all things Kennedy: the Kennedy Center, the Rose Garden, the design of Air Force One, Bobby Jr. It’s sick. It’s like when Elvis super fan, Nick Cage, collected the ultimate memorabilia, Lisa Marie (R.I.P.).
Hi Charlie, Given the high quality of Substack content and my limited time, I am unable to go for a "full" paid membership to To The Contrary, but I would like to donate a smaller amount to 'your business' periodically (maybe annually) entirely voluntarily as a gesture of appreciation of your effort and excellent work while remaining a free subscriber. Is this an option that you can offer? E.g. are you game to set up a "Buy Me A Coffee" facility the way Chris Cillizza has done it here... https://buymeacoffee.com/chriscillizza? [[ Please understand that this is a good-faith suggestion out of genuine appreciation for your near-daily newsletters and is totally not intended as a way of disrespecting you in any way. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼]]
Deep dive? That’s a joke, right?
Posting the link below which is an article published by POLITICO to memorialize this moment in time as it relates to the Department of Justice given how much we depend upon the response of one of the final checks and balances and as a nod to in truth it is in fact an institution that can be brought to heel.
This leaves all to us the people of the United States of America for we represent the last but if united most formidable of all checks and balances.
The time to act was not today but last week, or in fact on the day after Trump took oath and displayed his departure from the rule of law and order when pardoning convicted criminals calling them in so many words good Americans and heroic, the insurrectionists who on 1/6/21 violently moved to overthrow our government and the results of an election.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/justice-department-crisis-resignations-adams-00204482
As to the bravery and courage shown by the best and brightest minds at the DOJ the statement mad in a letter written by Hagen Scotten that rings in all our ears was, "But It was never going to be me." I offer that those words encapsulate our resistance and are equivalent to the famous words that are a symbol of the American Revolution, "Live free or die."
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25536274-scottenltr02xx25/
"There is a tradition in public service of resigning in a last- ditch effort to head off a serious mistake. Some will view the mistake you are committing here in the light of their generally negative views of the new Administration. I do not share those views. I can even understand how a Chief Executive whose background is in business and politics might see the contemplated dismissal-with-leverage as a good, if distasteful, deal. But any assistant U.S. attorney would know that our laws and traditions do not allow using the prosecutorial power to influence other citizens, much less elected officials, in this way."
"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me."
"Please consider this my resignation. It has been an honor to serve as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York."
"Yours truly,
Hagan Scotten
Assistant United States Attorney
Southern District of New York"
_________________________________________
That was excellent. Thank you, Tim O'Brien, for the depth of your experience and ability to bring forth substance and historical references to back up the opinions shared with us. I was disappointed to hear your opinion the performance of the markets will not sway Trump for I saw it as a kryptonite and thus a weapon our allies will use that will benefit us at the cost of the economy; but my feeling is it would be worth the cost because we can recover our economy. Also, as Americans we historically step in to aid the more vulnerable who will be the most impacted even if our government does not. But we cannot recover our democracy once lost.
It's cerebrum not cerebellum.
Thank goodness for the dogs Charlie, or this whole read would have made my cower under my blanket.
I wanted to scream yesterday when the broadcasters on the Daytona 500 mentioned the rainstorm over the track had blown in from the "Gulf of America". Heavy sigh.....
Those trucks are called Reich Rover's!
You forgot Coca-Cola
Great episode! I'm so happy you are back!!!
The Tesla trucks look like that thing Sigourney drives in "Aliens"
Mitch McConnell should not be given any credit for his recent votes. We are here because of his decisions and leadership in Trump’s first term. He only has “courage” now because he is retiring.
But we've been the bully for a long time. And the rest of the world sees us for what we really are, finally. All we have has war and marketing. We don't really offer much else that doesn't mean taking resources from others. Trump is a boil on the ass of thr world but he got there because America has been greedy and selfish for far too long.
Trump is OBSESSED with all things Kennedy: the Kennedy Center, the Rose Garden, the design of Air Force One, Bobby Jr. It’s sick. It’s like when Elvis super fan, Nick Cage, collected the ultimate memorabilia, Lisa Marie (R.I.P.).
Hi Charlie, Given the high quality of Substack content and my limited time, I am unable to go for a "full" paid membership to To The Contrary, but I would like to donate a smaller amount to 'your business' periodically (maybe annually) entirely voluntarily as a gesture of appreciation of your effort and excellent work while remaining a free subscriber. Is this an option that you can offer? E.g. are you game to set up a "Buy Me A Coffee" facility the way Chris Cillizza has done it here... https://buymeacoffee.com/chriscillizza? [[ Please understand that this is a good-faith suggestion out of genuine appreciation for your near-daily newsletters and is totally not intended as a way of disrespecting you in any way. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼]]
Love the intro music! Nice to have you back, Charlie!!