Even Nixon didn't try to throw his opponents in jail

[DemocratSinceBirth]

John Dean On Trump: ‘This Is A Level That Richard Nixon Never Went To'


John Dean, who served as White House counsel during Watergate under President Richard Nixon’s administration, offered some biting criticism of President Trump in response to a new New York Times report that revealed Trump once wanted to use his Justice Department to prosecute James Comey and Hillary Clinton.

During an interview on CNN Tuesday evening, Dean said Nixon would probably think Trump was going “too far” with his misuse of his own Justice Department, claiming Trump’s behavior is “what an autocrat does.”

“This is a level that Richard Nixon never went to, where you went after somebody’s personal wellbeing by a criminal prosecution. I’ve listened to all the tapes that are relevant. While I heard him break the law on some of those tapes, I never heard him do it by turning on his enemies and trying to put them in jail,” he said, referencing the infamous Nixon recordings. “This is really very, very heavy sledding.”

According to the Times report, while Trump wanted to use his own DOJ to prosecute his political opponent and his former FBI director, Don McGahn, former White House counsel, stepped in to persuade him against it.

...

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dean-trump-level-nixon-never-went

[DeminPennswoods]

1. Nixon sure tried to use the IRS, though,

and he directed Dean to use the powers of the federal government to harass his enemies. He also had Henry Peterson, at the time head of DoJ's Criminal Investigations division, brief him on the Watergate investigation.

See also Tom Charles Huston's COINTELPRO idea.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I would hate to have the IRS coming after me

But I would hate even more then to have the DOJ come after me. The former usually can take away some of your money. The latter can take away your freedom.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. Al Capone might beg to differ with you

nt

[Merlot]

2. Remeber when republicans investigated Pres. Clinton for anything?

They dug in until they found something.

Remember Senator Clinton and the Bengazi hearings? emails?

Remember when republicans made up all kinds of investigations regarding Pres. Obama? They tried their best to find something.

They used less direct/more acceptable means than trumpft, but the end result is that republicans will do anything to prosecute their political enemies. trumpft just did it in a more obvious way, other republicans know how the game is played.

It's not like trumpft crossed some line, he was following the republican play book in a more clumsy way.

[libdem4life]

6. Sadly, whataboutism does not ever apply to the Republican Nutjob Committee/Party any more.

There is no Universe of comparison. He's off the charts as to what he is getting away with...due to the former House being Republican. I've thought they were just stupid to stand being whatever he does. Have come to think that it's like pulling a string on a sweater...just the starting of it implies the end of the sweater...in a curly heap of yarn.

It's been hard to get my head around the seeming fact, that they are all in it, or they would not be there. Read articles that hundreds are involved...massive prison onslaught...down to the lower echelons. Most of these guys/gals don't have the legal money for legal bills.

What a mess The Cretin has unloaded on many to do his every wish and command who were not formerly inclined to be crooks. Mostly the underlings....who need the job.

[ksoze]

5. Nixon and his "Enemies List"