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Trump’s Coronavirus Power Grab
His “invisible enemy” may turn out to be the GOP’s best friend.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste.”
— Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s first Chief of Staff and former Mayor of Chicago
It is being widely reported that Attorney General William Barr’s Department of Justice has asked Congress to allow federal judges to indefinitely incarcerate not only suspected “terrorists” without trial, but anybody they do not like. Barr also wants to suspend a whole array of other constitutionally-protected rights as well.
This move is necessary, indeed, imperative, says Barr, Justice and Trump, especially during this current coronavirus pandemic. But! This move may (or must… or will) be deemed “necessary” or at least “useful” during any emergency — as defined by them, of course.
Given the current makeup of the House of Representatives, however, (which controls and prescribes the broad outlines, and jurisdictional boundaries of the federal court system), it is unlikely that the Trump regime will get its way on this one — at least not unless and until Trump voter-suppresses his way into a second term.
Specifically, the DOJ has requested that Congress allow the chief judge of any of the ninety-four federal district courts to halt any court…
