Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski issued statements concerning the Justice Department’s indictment of former President Donald Trump, an indictment that was unsealed on Friday — the first ever indictment of a former president. Rep. Mary Peltola issued no statement.
Trump had announced on Thursday that he had, indeed, been indicted, but the Justice Department remained quiet until unsealing the 38-count indictment, which says Trump mishandled classified documents that contained involving sensitive nuclear program information and the nation’s possible military vulnerabilities, and that he obstructed the government when it tried to reclaim the documents.
The indictment developed after a raid of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s resort home in Florida last August, where the FBI discovered many boxes of material, some marked classified. Trump was not in the state of Florida at the time of the raid, and watched it on video from the closed circuit cameras in the building.
The indictment contains pictures from throughout areas of Trump’s home, where documents had been stored in a ballroom and in a bathroom. Eventually, the boxes had been moved to a ground-floor storage room that was accessible from outside.
In December 2021, a Trump aide found boxes with their contents spilled on the floor of the storage room. One document was marked “SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY,” which means it can only be released within an intelligence matrix known as Five Eyes.
Murkowski said, “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty. Still, the charges in this case are quite serious and cannot be casually dismissed. Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. The unlawful retention and obstruction of justice related to classified documents are also criminal matters. Anyone found guilty – whether an analyst, a former president, or another elected or appointed official – should face the same set of consequences.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan said, “The worst thing for our country is for Americans to start to believe that the Justice Department and FBI provide two tiers of justice, and that the indictment of a former president and current candidate for the White House is unprecedented and will almost certainly do lasting damage to our polarized nation.
“The American people know that for years Joe Biden stored classified documents in his garage and that Hillary Clinton mishandled classified emails stored on her private server in her home. But with this Justice Department there seems to be far more interest in pursuing former President Trump – President Biden’s chief political rival – than others.
“Equality before the law is a fundamental tenet of our republic. The Biden administration is shoving our country into dangerous territory that is eroding trust in critical institutions of our government.”
The indictment was voted on by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida, where Trump will be arraigned on Tuesday.
“The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk,” said Special Prosecutor Jack Smith of the Department of Justice.
“Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice. And our nation’s commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Applying those laws. Collecting facts. That’s what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more. Nothing less,” he said.
“The prosecutors in my office are among the most talented and experienced in the Department of Justice. They have investigated this case hewing to the highest ethical standards. And they will continue to do so as this case proceeds.”
Trump is a candidate for president and is already facing state charges in New York for a separate matter involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. According to Morning Consult, Trump enjoys 56% of the Republican electorate’s support, in the most recent polling from last week, with his closest competitor, Gov. Ron DeSantis, polling with 22% support.
Comments from Murkowski and prosecutor Smith are ridiculous. They go on about equal treatment for everyone while knowing full-well Hillary and Biden more egregious activities are overlooked. At least Sullivan acknowledges the of disgraceful optics.
What about Pence?
Sullivan stated things accurately.
Too many irregularities and coincidences, continuing to feed the burgeoning fire (with volatile fuel such as Ether), fueling the distrust // suspicions of anything and everything associated with he Government.
That was some spin job by Mr Sullivan. The American public did NOT know ‘for years’ that President Biden had classified documents that weren’t put back in their proper storage area. In fact by all reports, he didn’t even realize that. And, once in an exploratory search they were found, he returned them quickly without fuss or muss to their proper repository. Same for Pency-boy.
Thank you, Senator Sullivan! As it becomes a game between the Democrats and Republicans. Politics has gotten very very nasty and anybody with a half a brain to see that we have two standards of justice! Well, all the fake news is talking about Trump. Nobody mentions much if anything about sleepy Joe and the monies he’s taken from foreign countries at this point we can talk criminal.
What is the motive for these people to hold on to classified documents at their private residences? Is it money in the future?
I do understand why people are upset at Biden not being indicted. He has the AG in his pocket.
“We have one set of laws in this country”
My backside.
Wanna prove it? indict Joe Biden for the same crime spread over a much longer period.
MA, am I mistaken or wasn’t an Independent Special Counsel appointed to investigate Biden’s retention of classified documents. You seem to be suggesting that Biden should be indicted prior to the conclusion of the Special Counsel’s investigation? What then would be the basis for the indictment? His age or onset of dementia? And then there is Pence, who I understand has been appropriately exonerated by the DOJ with no Independent Special Counsel appointed. I am struggling to see an inequity, please help me.
One more thing, doesn’t DOJ have a long standing policy not to indict a sitting president? A policy established long before Biden and Garland and a policy that saved Trumpy’s backside on multiple occasions! I believe you will need to rally MTG and gang and strive for impeachment.
Thank you.
Does that policy apply for events that happened before that President was elected?
If a sitting President is guilty of a murder that happened before he was elected, with clear evidence showing so, does the DOJ turn a blind eye to it? What about other criminal actions? Is election to the Presidency a complete and total pardon for every crime the President made before being sworn in?
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That, is the distinction. If the DOJ gave Trump a pass for actions he took while President, then Biden gets the same consideration. However… Biden took those classified documents to an unsecure location without authority to do so long before he was President. Even long before he was Vice President.
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Not seeing how the two situations are equivalent actually.
Good question. I believe you mean that after election substantial evidence was found supporting the crime of murder? Shouldn’t matter, I must have faith enough that he would be impeached, removed from office, and then tried for murder. If that didn’t happen, not much else would matter as the country would be doomed. Also, the matter of jurisdiction may be an issue, was the murder a federal, state, or local crime? Impeachment and removal would solve that issue.
Trump is not being indicted for taking classified documents. In addition to obstruction, withholding and concealing, he is being indicted for willful retention of defense department documents. I have not heard anything about the nature of the classified documents that were in Biden’s possession or that he concealed, withheld or outright refused to return any. We will find that out when Special Counsel Robert Hur completes his investigation.
All the republican deflection is only distracting from the real issue, which is changes are needed to the process of handling and accounting for all types of classified documents. Something is not working.
As always, Princess is classy.
Translation of Princess’s remarks: “yes I suppose he has the presumption of innocence, but he’s guilty and I hope he fries”
Trump must have turned her down for a date or romp. She’s got that scorned woman thing down with him.
Sullivan hadn’t even read Trump’s indictment when he embarrassed himself with his comments.
Only the Democrats within the Biden Department of Justice know how to take us down the path to civil war. Democrats are dividers. Watch them run for cover when Trump’s artillery and infantry move in for the kill shots.
Equal justice under law. It’s the only way.
Then indict Biden and Hillary for the exact same crime.
Talk with your congress people and ask for the same type of investigation. Granted you’ll need evidence of a crime.
You’ll have to wait on Biden a sitting president and all…
Why wait?
When Biden took classified documents without authority to do so, and left them unattended in an unsecure location he was a Senator. Should a sitting President get a free pass for crimes they committed before they were elected President?
“Should a sitting President get a free pass…?”
Trump did, as president. Remember the DOJ explaining the policy against indicting a sitting president that he took advantage of? It’s only now that Trump isn’t a sitting president that these cases are moving forward.
Maybe investigate first
Until then, equal justice, at least as far as Trump is concerned, is an illusion.
Then all politicians should be trued for crimes they have committed. We can start with money laundering , lying to the public , theft , treason and we can add more later.
Justice, Whidbey, what a laugh! You certainly must have aced an elementary course on American government! However, you’re no longer in high school or junior college but among the marginalized and the dispossessed: we know that “justice” is one of high arts of razzle-dazzle, slight-of-hand, and caprice; that the court houses are but great halls of smoke and mirrors where the judges work their wonders of shameless contortion!
Oh, yeah, Thedog, once the buggers get their bony hands on your quivering, little body–rhetorically speaking–you’ll definitely start whistling in accompaniment to the old spiritual song “Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya!”
Edit: “[W]e know that ‘justice’ is one of the high arts of razzle-dazzle, slight-of-hand, and caprice…”
You sound like someone with a history of failed encounters with the courts.
Paola, justice being “divine,” what’s all the political clamor about abortion, affirmative action, transgender “rights,” and the appointment of Supreme Court “justices”?
Ah, your pen-name has the “tinge of Latin” to it: maybe that’s where the hot blood comes from. And whether you go by either he-she-or-they or whether you prefer her-him-or-them, I don’t care! Why presume? It very well might be purely “circumstantial!”
Did they have comments when Hillary left those top secret files in her hotel room and in the cab?
After listening to Jay Secklow this morning I can see why pardoning President Nixon by President Ford was made in the best interest of America. That’s how historians viewed Ford’s decision, and thinking of JFK’s book, Ford was another profile of courage he lost his own political career and political reputation after pardoning Nixon. If President Biden, FBI had their way to send President Trump away for 75 years, it too would’nt be good for America. There is a providential reason America wasn’t dragged through a Nixon impeachment trial back then.
He resigned beforehand. They were going to do it. He was pardoned from any charges. Nixon sat in with Eisenhower and the joint Chiefs with Thor. They didn’t want that out. Nor the show and tell with Gleason.
Murkowski is an idiot. Trump is right about her.
Repeal the Ranked Voting System. That is the only way she stayed in office.
Such efforts to jail (for his entire life) this US President for personal documents is destabilizing to our democracy; isn’t it?
They aren’t personal documents. They are top secret information about military and intelligence. Ten bucks says the Saudis gave kushner two billion in exchange for secret information on Iran. If true, that would make Trump the most evil destructive traitor since forever.
Evidently Murkowski believes, Hillary, Joe Biden, and Hunter Biden are due to spend time in the Gray Bar Hotel…
Murkowski said, “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty.”
Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. The unlawful retention and obstruction of justice related to classified documents are also criminal matters. Anyone found guilty – whether an analyst, a former president, or another elected or appointed official – should face the same set of consequences.”
What do the sovereign we, the people say? We don’t say that. A FEW privileged BAR card carriers have said this in an attempt to end run the people’s vote as usual lately.
Peltola stays mum; that’s how she campaigned …. Smiling, never saying anything substantial;
except “I’m like Don Young, own guns, was a teenage boat captain & I’m pro fish”
Now she votes 100% lib & is biding her time until she enriches herself like everyone else on the Hill.
Hey Mary …. are you silent on this to protect your well paid Fed job?
Or perhaps you’re too busy working to reverse your lefty friends as they shut down commercial fishing in Alaska; one species at a time
I here if you catch a fish in Sitka, you are starv an Orca in Washington ….these are YOUR people Mary.
Not us.
Clintons, Obama and Bidens! Don’t even try to sweep this shit under rug! Everybody knows this is wrong
What ya gonna do aboutit?? Vote?? They’ve already taken care of that for you!!
According to the photo, it appears that these highly classified documents, that were required to be stored in security containers of even a SCIF, ended up being Trump’s bathroom reading material. This is very disappointing.
They were in a locked safe until the Feebs opened it and spread them around for the publicity photos
Chucky, all the photos contained in the indictment were taken long before the FBI legally searched Trumpy’s unsecured classified document storage areas. All the photos were taken off Mara Lago/Trumpy employee phones you knucklehead. When in doubt cast dispersions on the FBI. Trumpy trained you well, he would be proud! Try reading the indictment as suggested by Jack Smith.
Read the indictment. There’s some jargon but it’s short and easy to understand.
At least they appear to have been photographed there conveniently enough.
I’m not a big fan of Trump, but find it interesting that every time there is extremely damaging news for Biden, ( chi-com payola and Ukraine bribes) Trump gets hit. Trump is the Deep State whipping boy who makes reports of criminal activity by Democrats disappear!
I’m right there with you, Robert.
The arrogance and blatantly hyper-partisan hypocrisy of today’s Democrats are simply unbounded.
As my good friend Auric Goldfinger said: “Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.”
Sedition fishing has been really good lately.
Mr Trump has the financial means to hire good lawyers and will be tried by a jury of his peers in the state where he resides. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
« There are none so blind as they who will not see, read or learn. »
Lisa says: “Murkowski said, “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty. Still, the charges in this case are quite serious and cannot be casually dismissed. Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. The unlawful retention and obstruction of justice related to classified documents are also criminal matters. Anyone found guilty – whether an analyst, a former president, or another elected or appointed official – should face the same set of consequences.”
Response: That all works right up until the prosecution is simply making it up as they go. For additional information, ask Ted Stevens, Princess. Cheers –
If the Republicans are truly for law and order, nobody is above the law
Murkowski said, “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty.
Senator Murkowski’s statement about no one is above the law is not accurate. I’ve been writing to Senator Murkowski for over a decade because there is no crystal clear roadmap for all Alaskans in the great state of Alaska. I have requested many times to meet with her and to testify before Congress because I believe every Alaskan needs to know and have a crystal clear roadmap to ensure truth and justice prevail, and their constitutional rights shall be protected.
When a Judge violates the constitutional rights of an Alaskan(s) that is wrong. When a Judge violates the constitutional right of Alaskans to appear before a grand jury that is wrong. When a Judge violates the Alaska Statutes, best interest of a child, doesn’t understand domestic violence, etc., that is wrong.
Why are so many Alaskans suffering such horrific abuses and loss of our children, grandchild, right to a fair trial, right to work, etc.? The State of Alaska has no remedy to correct a wrong(s) that has been committed against an Alaskan(s). SCO 1993 severed every Alaskans right to go before a grand jury to investigate and make recommendations concerning the public welfare or safety. Some Alaskans have been denied due process. ‘https://ltgov.alaska.gov/information/alaskas-constitution/
Senator Murkowski has failed many Alaskans by not providing a crystal clear roadmap that shall ensure every Alaskans constitutional rights shall be protected and every Alaskan is innocent until proven guilty in every jurisdictional government entity in Alaska.
Until truth and justice prevails for all Alaskans, Senator Murkowski’s statement that no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty I believe and know is not a true for all Alaskans.
Money, politics, and sovereignty should never protect a person(s) who obstructs justice, commits domestic violence acts, commits workplace harassments, commits fraud, doesn’t protect our children and grandchildren against abuse, neglect or abandonment, etc. in any and all jurisdictions of governments in Alaska.
I want to stress the importance that no person in Alaska should ever be above the law and get away with horrific violations of Alaska laws and our constitutional rights. ‘https://www.google.com/search?q=is+life+liberty+and+the+pursuit+of+happiness+in+the+constitution&oq=is+life+liber&aqs=chrome.0.0i51
Thank you Senator Sullivan for your words in the article.
Now send your piece to the Attorney General and Biden.
Murkowski you stated “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty”
Will you or why have you not called for Biden and Hillary Clinton also be charged for their mishanding of classified documents. Why is Hunter Biden protected from being charged for his illegal activities?
As Senator you and Sullivan are obligated to ensuring the law of the land are enforced
James Comey:
“Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. Prosecutors necessarily weigh a number of factors before bringing charges. There are obvious considerations, like the strength of the evidence, especially regarding intent. Responsible decisions also consider the context of a person’s actions, and how similar situations have been handled in the past.
In looking back at our investigations into mishandling or removal of classified information, we cannot find a case that would support bringing criminal charges on these facts. All the cases prosecuted involved some combination of: clearly intentional and willful mishandling of classified information; or vast quantities of materials exposed in such a way as to support an inference of intentional misconduct; or indications of disloyalty to the United States; or efforts to obstruct justice. We do not see those things here.
To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.
As a result, although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing to Justice our view that no charges are appropriate in this case.”
Reference:
‘https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system
Thank you Senator Sullivan. We can clearly see the games being politically played.
Ohio Dan is ok with 5 time draft dodger exposing our foreign undercover agents and military personnel to harm. What a patriot!
Murkowski: “It is only bad when a Republican does it, especially Trump.”
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All the rest of her statement is meaningless.
Government has turned into a three ring circus with Biden being the leader of the clowns. Makes one wonder if the timing of the Trump indictment is a distraction from the investigation into the Biden crime family. It is time for the wicked Towers of Babylon to fall. It is time for the Great Awakening and the perps of the great reset must answer for their crimes against humanity.
The Towers of Babylon ARE falling. Yes awaken to what law and order means.
Maureen. If you truly believe that Trump is guilty of these charges are you willing to support the same charges on the biden and clinton clans?
Yes.
Paul. I am. The law is the law. If there any valid claims against the Bidens, they should be investigated. Though if the poorly educated who want to defund the FBI get their way, there will be no one to investigate them.
The witch hunt will never end. Russia, Stormy Daniels, Impeachments, secret documents….whatever they can conjure up. It’s meant to be a warning to anybody who attempts what Trump did, take office without their permission and you will be ruined. They will attack you, family, friends, and professional associates. Don’t underestimate their wrath.
Barr said trumpy was a victim in the past, but not today. He is a felon to be.
At least Sullivan got it right! Murkowski is just an arrogant and ignorant fool. As Vice President, Sloppy Joe Biden had absolutely no right to have classified documents in his homes and offices. For that matter, neither did Trump’s Vice President, Pence. Neither of them were charged by the corrupt DOJ! Ex President Trump, however, was legally allowed to possess classified documents in his home and offices, just as Obama, Bill Clinton and a host of former Presidents stretching back to Eisenhower, did in fact, do. This is a dark chapter in American history.
Peltola having no credibility, should remain silent.
Lisa is a liberal and hates Trump. Her comments are no surprise. Sullivan is a weeny and lacks courage. He talks a good game, but where’s the action Dan? If Biden is such a criminal, and there is a double standard of justice, what have you done about it? The answer is nothing. Alaska deserves better senators.
GOP stands for Grifters , opportunists and pimp party ! Can’t make it up ! Which team are they on ! Love it ! I call it the expose’ !
It’s cute to see the same people who were whining about Trumps very existence and demanding he be removed before inauguration….
to be whining about the Biden comparison and attempting to hide behind “due process”.
Suddenly when it affects the left, they are all about the alleged letter of the law. While doing everything possible to deny it to Trump for almost 8 years.
And controlling the most corrupt DOJ in over 70 years.
The left set these rules of engagement. And now they’re butt hurt these rules may be used against them.
If you don’t see this as Capitol corruption political witch-hunting, you probably never pay attention or are probably not very bright or are an advocate of totalitarianism. You should recall what they did to our own Ted Stevens where they hid evidence of his innocence. He was targeted by the Deep State and The charges should never have been filed. They succeeded and Stevens lost the election and after was vindicated of the charges. This is clearly more election interference, And they don’t care that it’s obvious. Sadly, We have a RINO for a Senator who feeds the Communist propaganda machine. If you are proud to be an American Citizen and proud of our Country you have to vote.
They used Bill Allen and his stooges from Veco ( along with Robt Mueller) to get Ted Stevens out of the most powerful senate position in DC . Bill Allen was hauling teenage girls ( sisters in fact ) in his private jet to Seattle to Service his oil company executives he was getting contracts from on north slope . Bill Allen was a bad man and a tool of the FBI . Never spent a night in jail and was having sex with teenage girls.
Can’t make this stuff up
Ted Stevens was loosely associated with Bill Allen ! Like my mother in law used say “ lie with dogs and you’re gonna get fleas “!
I like Sullivan’s statement far more than Murkowski’s.
Trump for president 2024. Murkowski should be tried for treason. Sullivan keeps walking the fence…so that he won’t be hung? Peltola is going to be a short-lived puppet. Trump 2024.
Ginny – Peltola has secured her future in Congress by voting 100% with the Deep State establishment in Washington, DC. Ranked Choice Voting, mail in ballots & Dominion Voting machines will make sure of that!
Love him, hate him, don’t care either way, there is one sad truth about the Trump era.
It was the catalyst for the greatest split in the nation since slavery. Please God it doesn’t lead to the same bloody result.
If there’s no dichotomy of “standards” Trump will be “detained until trial” at his arraignment tomorrow – just as Jack Teixeira was about a month ago. Who wants to bet?
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