Thoughts on the special counsel

It's notable that Bill Barr is not being treated as the pariah he should be thought of.

First, this will make it very easy to refuse Jim Jordan’s demands for information about the investigation.

It will ensure the continuity of any prosecution after 2025, no matter who is elected (neither hypothetical Trump prosecution — the stolen documents or the coup attempt — would be done by then, even if it were indicted on December 15, the earliest possible date for either).

[...]

The stolen documents case, which is the first that could be prosecuted (assuming the 11th Circuit overturns Judge Aileen Cannon’s special master order) is fairly self-contained, so would only take a day to be briefed into. The coup attempt is far, far more complex, but I think there was no way Trump himself would be indicted before February or March anyway, probably longer.

[...]

Anyone who crimed at the Capitol will be prosecuted by DC US Attorney Matthew Graves. Anyone who was not physically present at the Capitol would fall under Smith’s investigation.

It’s unclear where Alex Jones would fit in that schema. Roger Stone, though, would be moved under Smith.

[...]

It does have certain other advantages, other than making it easier to subpoena Ginni [Thomas]. It might even make it easy to subpoena Mike Pence.

[...]

It doesn’t change Garland’s role in the process. I don’t think it delays things. I think it carries certain advantages, two of those named Ginni and Jim.

[...]

[I]t’s also not outside the realm of possibility that enough members are under investigation — with [head of the Freedom Caucus Scott] Perry, Jim Jordan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Matt Gaetz — that it could, briefly anyway, alter the majority in Congress.

   Empty Wheel

And that's a pleasant thought.

UPDATE:

UPDATE 11/22:  Jesus wept.  What a cluster fuck.