Go directly to jail. You are familiar with the board game. However, we are not talking about a board game. The four Trumpers already “invited” to testify to Congress are in varying stages of refusal, with possible eventual jail time awaiting those refusals.
Unfortunately, there is nothing “direct” about these folks going to jail. If it does happen it will take some time. Judicial processes being what they are, time would be a factor here even if it weren’t for the upcoming elections. And time is, as always, part of the strategy employed by DJT. Manufacture irregularities and claim widespread fraud. Become the victim. Proclaim yourself the hero. Then when legal challenges emerge, use the slow pace of the judicial process to run out the clock. Do whatever you can do to obstruct the process. Basically, it is foot dragging taken to a whole new level.
Donnie’s cronies and stooges have learned these lessons well. Tie it up in the courts. Regain Republican control of Congress and make the whole thing just disappear. The trouble is, for the cronies and stooges, it won’t just disappear.
Steve Bannon is so far the only subpoena recipient to blatantly refuse, so his is the first case to get a recommendation for a Contempt of Congress charge. The three others seem to be playing a slightly different game. They appear to be delaying the process in another manner, seeming to be willing to cooperate just a little. It is probably just another delaying tactic, but who knows? Still, they (and their lawyers) can plainly see what the road ahead for them is going to look like if and when their game includes a refusal to submit documents or come in for a deposition. Regardless of their choice of tactics, if they ultimately refuse, contempt charges are in order, and jail time could be the outcome. My guess is they are not too fond of that idea.
Whatever the investigation yields, ultimately jail time is a possibility if you simply tell Congress to Buzz off. Contempt of Congress doesn’t just go away if and when Republicans resume control of Congress. The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but no amount of obstruction is going to stop them entirely. At least for these four guys, how far out on that limb they are comfortable crawling is the key question. But aside from their personal concerns, what does it all mean for the investigation? I don’t think it means that much.
Steve Bannon’s January 5 podcasts are known to have contained some very interesting language. In them he blurted out the following:
“You made this happen and tomorrow it’s game day. So strap in. Let’s get ready.”
“All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.”
“It’s all converging, and now we’re on the point of attack tomorrow.”
It is little wonder that Bannon doesn’t want to testify before Congress. But the committee already seems to have enough information to make some serous conclusions. They really don’t need his testimony. Since it appears they are going to get the additional documents that have already been requested (and maybe even more of them), there is little doubt they will have enough information to tie the pieces together. Trump’s role should be pretty clear. The clown’s goin’ down.
By that I don’t mean to say he’s going to jail, like his cronies might. Unfortunately, that is probably unlikely. But Trump is definitely going to feel some heat. And an indictment would likely kill his aspirations for another run for president. I would love to see his orange face behind bars, but I will settle for him being a washed-up has been, unable to pay his huge debts. That would be the very least he deserves for trying to subvert and effectively destroy our democracy.