Justice Department: Politics Won’t Trample Rule of Law, But Patience Will Be Required

After Michael Flynn agreed to testify before the January 6 Committee, he  surprised no one by refusing to answer the questions he was asked, invoking his right against self-incrimination as protected by the Fifth Amendment.

What’s the point of all these subpoenas, if no one is forced to provide any useful information?  It seems logical that no headway will be made based on direct testimony from the actual architects of the insurrection themselves, but by:

Information gathered from subpoenaing phone records, etc., and witnesses who “flip,” and testify against one another in exchange for lesser sentences.

The latter seems eminently probable, because the highest level foot-soldiers who actually stormed the Capitol are headed toward long prison terms, and feel betrayed by (from the New York Times):

Trump, His Family and His Inner Circle: Ivanka Trump, Don Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, and Kimberly Guilfoyle; White House Officials, e.g., Mark Meadows and Peter Navarro; Members of Congress, e.g., Kevin McCarthy; and Outside Advisers, e.g., Roger Stone.

As Glenn Kirschner of “Justice Matters” puts it, the Justice Department has promised not to let politics impede rule of law, though he acknowledges  that they move slowly, particularly where “maiden voyages” are concerned, like bringing criminal charges against former U.S. presidents.

He understands that Americans are frustrated by the apparent lack of progress here, but he urges that we be patient.