The King of Crazytown Can't Control The Chaos - Trump Thread #159

[Spandauer]

“Whether you’re a military analyst or a political analyst, whether you’re in the Democratic or Republican party, there’s a reality here. Donald Trump has met the moment of truth. The kind of fictional life that he’s led and evoked over the last four or five decades has now been unmasked as a deadly drama. It’s going to cost the lives of so many people. It’s going to devastate the US economy and the regional economy. It’s going to set back America and its standing in the world. It’s a horrific moment.”
Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.

Heaven Obi-Wan Kenobi help us. You're our only hope.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5506514-bored-of-peace-lets-mambo-trump-thread-158?page=9

Does anyone remember when a Royal Navy crew was captured by Iran and sent home with new clothes ?

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18086822

US source a deliberate choice.

I saw the testify thing too. Amazing how the man at the top of US government appears to also be the man that knows least about how it works.

I predict the 5th.

What's happening on the 14th?

Remember reading a short article in the paper edition of The Guardian about a woman in New York who was charged with murder after she killed her husband. She said she did it because her husband criticised the way she cooked the pasta and it wasn't al dente.

Obviously there was much more to this. Still 😬

House oversight committee. Pam Bondi. subpoena, Epstein.

Thanks - I won't have internet that day cheers, DH so will have to rely on Sky News (and some alcohol).

She could be offered immunity by the committee. If so she can't plead the 5th. It's really a question of how much you are prepared to stomach to try to nail the evil that Epstein corralled.

I mean she could still refuse to testify and get a stay in Club Fed. But then would Trump pardon her ?

In fact has this whole pantomime been set up as more distraction ?

The 5th on anything that might result specifically in charges against her. But who knows what she might 'let slip' about others?

As well as the 'I was just following orders' defense. But we know how well that one worked in Nürnberg.

No need I think. We can do the report now.

"I have no recollection of that"

" Can you repeat the question please ? No I have no recollection of that"

Yes. A case of Presidental Amnesia Excusing Donald Openly.
🤔

Curious as to how the US feels so secure in flying over Iran in a search and rescue operation ? Surely a load of circling aircraft and hovering helicopters are sitting ducks ?

Is there any obligation on a country under attack from another to allow that otehr country free access to recover personnel shot down during an attack ?

I find myself wondering how much the US had to pay for security over Iran ?

Trump must be giving MS13 a run for their money in terms of numbers of associates jailed.

Congressional Immunity from prosecution is limited and usually requires approval from a federal judge. It's pretty rarely used. BUT with the Immunity of Witnesses Act, a committee can compel testimony with "use immunity", which means the testimony can't be used if there ends up being a criminal case. I have a feeling she'll be offered 'use immunity'.

I mean, it's probably sort of a moot point (immunity vs use immunity) unless the prosecuting body can come up with evidence that wasn't part of the testimony. They can use the evidence she gives in order to find other evidence, they just can't use the evidence itself or mention that it was used in court.

If she refuses to testify the sentence for contempt of Congress is 12 months. Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were jailed for that, but only served 4 months.

It's going to be interesting to see what she decides.

I'm praying for 'Hell hath no fury' and she spills her guts with use immunity.

As far as Trump pardoning her, I found this interesting:

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/american-criminal-law-review/in-print/volume-62-number-1-winter-2025/the-pardonability-of-inherent-contempt-and-statutory-criminal-contempt-of-congress/

My reading is that the 5th amendment is only applicable where there is jeopardy. If there is no jeopardy then the witness is compelled to answer or face contempt charges.

I write all that assuming SCOTUS don't find a way to reinterpret the constitution.

@SerendipityJane

Is there any obligation on a country under attack from another to allow that otehr country free access to recover personnel shot down during an attack ?

No...anything but...

The specialists that volunter for the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) job are brave say the least.

The fact C-130s and Helicopters appear to operating over a part of Iran at low level probably means the threat on that area has been assessed as being from small arms or small man portable missiles at most, rather than bigger missiles.

Lets hope the US pilots survived and their transmitters are working.

One of the crew members of the US F-15E jet downed in Iran has been successfully rescued, Channel 12 reports.

And that the Iranians can't tune into the signal ....

Even at this early stage, the numbers are really not encouraging for the US. Remember: they've not even started, really.

Ah, yes, but any beacons would need using with care.....

ETA just seen your follow up - exactly.

(Just seen one very unconfirmed report one of the crew has been extracted)

True. You can only plead the 5th if you feel it will result in charges against you.

But in her position I'd say it's highly likely that she's (at the very least) concealed things or ordered others to do so wrt to the Epstein files. If her 'complicity' is even what they're concerned with.

But it's entirely possible that all they want from her is the 'dirt' on others in the files and ask no questions as to her 'activities'. For that, she 'technically' can't plead the 5th. But I bet she'll try.

Her assertion of the 5th can't be directly 'rebutted', but its legitimacy can be challenged before a judge. However, that ruling applied to criminal cases, no idea if or how it might apply in Congressional hearings.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/03/world/live-news/iran-war-us-trump-oil?t=1775234805064

A bit of levity on the proposed Presidential Library on X - edited to add, not sure levity is the right word. Wouldn't put it past him.

SerendipityJane
Does anyone remember when a Royal Navy crew was captured by Iran and sent home with new clothes ?

Yes, I do. My son was not on boarding duty that day, but that sort of boarding expedition had been his job for most of his tour in the Gulf; he just stuck lucky. They were there, with Iranian permission, to board small vessels and search them for drugs and arms being smuggled into a warzone, not to fight the whole damn Revolutionary Guard when it suddenly turned round and went against what had been its standing orders until that morning. Cornwall wasn't in the business of starting a shooting war, either, so when their RIB crew was kidnapped they didn't fire on the aggressors and probably cause the deaths of their own men as well as extreme retaliation.

US source a deliberate choice.

You mean because they appeared to think these people were "British soldiers"? "It was hardly what the nation expected from the British soldier" forsooth. It was precisely according to the rules anyway: in such circumstances, don't get killed if you can avoid it, hang on and wait for help. Sort of like the people waiting for Napier in Ethiopia had to, to take an example from that article.

Kuwait under more attacks right now. Looks like IRGC works on bank holiday weekends too.

Who was it Trump bombed "as a nice Christmas present"? Nigeria, wasn't it?