When did we enter ‘Bizarro World’?
Based on the things I am seeing on my TV, I can only conclude that I’ve somehow left my home dimension and somehow entered into an alternate reality.
Earlier this week, Fox News contributor (and former host) Judge Andrew Napolitano argued that President Trump most certainly did obstruct justice during the Russia investigation. To call such an assertion “wrong,” would be an understatement. But that’s not the surprising thing here, people have wrong opinions all of the time. What’s shocking here is that the opinion comes from a man who has generally been a staunch defender of President Trump over the last couple of years. (And on a network where the President is generally defended.)
Here’ what Judge Nap said:
When the president asked Corey Lewandowski, his former campaign manager, to get Mueller fired, that is obstruction of justice. When the president asked his then-White House counsel to get Mueller fired and then lie about it, that’s obstruction of justice. When the president asked Don McGahn to go back to the special counsel and change his testimony that’s obstruction of justice… But ordering obstruction to save himself from the consequences of his own behavior is unlawful, defenseless and condemnable.
What’s even more shocking is … who comes to the President’s defense against Judge Nap. The person who rises to the challenge is none other than the liberal law professor, Alan Dershowitz.
Here’s Dershowitz’s response:
Alan Dershowitz: I do not agree. I think Judge Napolitano is terrific and we often agree about the law, but in my introduction to the Mueller report, I go through the elements of obstruction of justice. The act itself has to be illegal. It can’t be an act that is authorized under Article Two of the Constitution…
It’s not even a close case.
The best analogy is President George H.W. Bush pardoned Casper Weinberger on the eve of his trial in order to stop the Iran-Contra investigation. The special prosecutor said he did it for that reason. Nobody suggested obstruction. It can’t be obstruction of justice if the president is acting within his authority.
Nixon obstructed justice because he acted outside his authority — destroying evidence, paying hush money, ordering his subordinates to lie to the FBI.
Fox News Host: Napolitano said he told people to write letters to the file, he told people to go and deliver messages.
Alan Dershowitz: Not obstruction of justice, those are all legal acts. If he ever told somebody to lie in front of a grand jury, that would be obstruction of justice.
The President appreciated Dershowitz’s eloquent defense:
….Ever since Andrew came to my office to ask that I appoint him to the U.S. Supreme Court, and I said NO, he has been very hostile! Also asked for pardon for his friend. A good “pal” of low ratings Shepard Smith.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2019
These are strange times we are living in.
Strange times.
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