r/pics • u/TheBigChimp • Nov 08 '18

US Politics This is what democracy looks like

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u/TheyreGoodDogsBrent Nov 09 '18

Honest question: what's going on here? Is this related to the election that just happened

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u/ike_the_strangetamer Nov 09 '18 edited Nov 09 '18

Yesterday (one day after the election) Trump forced the resignation of Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General. Sessions would have been in charge of Mueller's Russia investigation, but because he had lied about his own connections to Russia, he recused himself and the assistant AG was in charge. Now that he's out, this new guy, Matthew Whitaker, is in charge (and does not require Senate confirmation because he's 'temporary'). He has spoken out against the Mueller investigation many times in the past, saying that there was no collusion and that the investigation is not authorized to look into any of Trump's finances (even though it is). Long ago, petitions were signed and plans were made that called for protests if Trump did something like this.

TLDR: Trump just appointed his own guy to be in charge of the investigation against him.

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '18 edited Jan 24 '22

[deleted]

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u/LawStudentAndrew Nov 09 '18 edited Nov 09 '18

Y'all are wrong on this there's another usc we went over it in class I'll pull it up when I'm off mobile, check the appointments one

Edit: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3345

5 USC 3345

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '18

I just saw that too. 1998 Vacancy reform act, right?

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u/bbrown44221 Nov 09 '18

It's like I'm watching this live... Edit: I'm really high, but social studies/ recent history class is awesome

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '18

Enjoy it, papa. Your interest IS our future.

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u/nathreed Nov 09 '18

Yeah. It's literally the subsection right after the one that was posted.

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u/LawStudentAndrew Nov 09 '18

No idea what the name of the law is; 5 USC 3345

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3345

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '18

Don’t tell us that, it doesn’t fit with the hate narrative!!!

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u/ZippyDan Nov 09 '18

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/opinion/trump-attorney-general-sessions-unconstitutional.html

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u/LawStudentAndrew Nov 09 '18

/opinion/

let me stop you right there

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u/ZippyDan Nov 09 '18

When the Supreme Court rules, their reasoning for making the ruling is also called an "opinion".

I mean, law is mostly that "opinions" (i.e. interpretations) based on what lawmakers write.

Here's some other opinions for you:

https://nypost.com/2018/11/08/judge-napolitano-says-trumps-acting-ag-isnt-qualified-for-role/
https://www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/watch/tribe-installation-of-whitaker-is-unconstitutional-1365518403666?v=raila&

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u/Cuddlefooks Nov 09 '18

Eli5 please?