On Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trump took some time away from his efforts to portray the Democrats impeachment proceedings as a deep-state conspiracy to present a Presidential Medal of Freedomthe highest honor that the U.S. government can bestow on a civilianto Ed Meese.
Yes, that Ed Meese: the longtime Reagan aide and conservative legal activist who, when serving as Attorney General, from 1985 to 1988, was directly implicated in not one but three major scandalsthe secret sale of arms to Iran to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, a corruption scam involving efforts by the construction firm Bechtel to build an Iraqi oil pipeline, and an even bigger scam involving the allocation of U.S. military contracts to a New York company called Wedtech. Meese was never charged with any crimes, but the evidence suggested that he misled Congress about Reagans knowledge of the Iran-Contra scheme, which Oliver North ran out of the White House; turned a blind eye to the bribery of foreign governments in the Bechtel case; and did favors from the White House for his close friend E. Robert Wallach, a lobbyist for Wedtech, who, in 1989, was sentenced to six years in prison for racketeering and fraud. In 1988, half a dozen senior Justice Department officials, including the Deputy Attorney General and the head of the criminal division, resigned to protest Meeses leadership of the department.
Arguably, Meeses involvement in these three scandals wasnt even the worst of his sins. As Attorney General in 1985, he infamously spoke out against the Supreme Courts Miranda ruling, from 1966, which confirmed a suspects right to remain silent when being questioned by police and to have an attorney. Miranda only helps guilty defendants, because most innocent people are glad to talk to the police, Meese declared. And, he added, We managed very well in this country for one hundred and seventy-five years without it. Not for nothing did Meese Is a Pig T-shirts and posters become cult items during the Reagan era.
Without any hint of irony, Trump lauded Meese as an absolute titan of American law and a heroic defender of the American Constitution. The award ceremony took place in the Oval Office. In addition to Trump, the eighty-seven-year-old Meese, and several generations of his family, those present included the Vice-President, Mike Pence; the Attorney General, William Barr; the acting director of the Office of Budget and Management, Russ Vought; Kay Coles James, the president of the Heritage Foundation, which Meese joined after leaving the Reagan Administration; and a number of other prominent conservatives.
Apart from Trump, this was a conclave of the conservative establishment celebrating the battle scars of one of its oldest members. But coming on the same day that the White House announced its refusal to coperate in any way with the Trump impeachment inquiry, the ceremony also highlighted an important dynamic that is now playing out on the right. After listening to the President shower praise on him, Meese, who started out during the 2016 campaign as a critic of Trump but eventually endorsed him, returned the compliment. In doing so, he helped explain why so many prominent Republicans have continued to defend Trump despite all his outrages, and why, almost certainly, they wont desert him now, when he needs them the most.
In praising Trump, Meese singled out three policy areas. He cited the Presidents support of the armed forces and his emphasis on religious liberty. But the first item on Meeses list was your commitment to the Constitution and your commitment to making sure that its interpreted it as it actually reads. Referring to the fact that Trump has already appointed a hundred and fifty-two conservative judges to the federal bench, and two to the Supreme Court, Meese declared this to be a monument to justice and the rule of law that will last literallyliterally, for decades.
There it was. To movement conservatives like Meese, the remaking of the American courts, particularly on rulings about constitutional and economic matters, is the great crusade that they have been on for forty years or more. And in this key area, Trump has done everything that the conservatives demanded when they threw their support behind him. By effectively outsourcing the appointment of judges to institutions like the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, he has more than kept up his end of the bargain. In return, conservatives have gone all in with him, and none more so than the current Attorney General.
Barr, who didnt speak at Tuesdays ceremony, isnt usually portrayed as a movement conservative, but dont be fooled. As a young lawyer, he worked on the domestic-policy staff of the Reagan White House. Hes long been an active figure in conservative legal circles, and hes a proponent of the unitary executive theory, which claims that the Constitution grants the President enormous leeway in virtually anything he does. During his remarks, Meese singled out Barr and said that he wanted to wish you well in the fine work youre doing. Given the makeup of the crowd, Meese didnt need to explain what this fine work consisted of. (Since taking office earlier this year, Barr has misrepresented the Mueller report, accused the F.B.I. of spying on the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, and ordered and personally overseen a Justice Department investigation into the origins of the F.B.I.s Russia probe.)
The bonhomie between Meese and Barr highlighted the fact that Trumplike Reagan when the Iran-Contra scandal blew upnow has a pugilistic loyalist as his Attorney General, which is what he hoped he was getting with Jeff Sessions. In Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, an ex-speechwriter for Barr, Trump has another low-profile but very conservative lawyer, who, as he demonstrated in a letter that he sent to House Democratic leaders on Tuesday explaining why the White House would not be coperating with the impeachment inquiry, is willing to make the most contentious legal arguments on his bosss behalf. And on Wednesday evening it was confirmed that Trey Gowdy, the former G.O.P. congressman who led the Partys Benghazi investigations, is joining Trumps legal team.
As the Presidents apologists and attorneys go about their unedifying task of defending the indefensible, Meese may serve as their role model. The key evidence showing that he misled everyone to protect Reagan in the Iran-Contra case emerged years after he left officetoo late for Lawrence Walsh, the independent counsel, to bring charges. In Walshs final report to Congress, which was published in 1993, he wrote of his efforts to investigate Meeses role, Six years after the pivotal events had occurred, the trail was cold. With the principals professing no memory of often critical events, the OIC did not uncover sufficient evidence of an obstruction to justify a prosecution. Meese got off. So did Reagan.
See the rest here:
What Ed Meeses Presidential Medal of Freedom Says About the G.O.P. and Impeachment - The New Yorker
- if democracy and freedom got in the way of making money in the USA would they be eradicated? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1984 by George Orwell? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Propaganda in 1984 by George Orwell? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- If America supports freedom and democracy, why have we done the following? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Another fine example of Bush supporting freedom and democracy? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Do you think that people have the right to the freedom of thought without influence anymore? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Forrest Gump - Need a thesis relating to freedom and democracy? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1984 by George Orwell’s statement? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- How do you spread freedom and democracy without being in contradiction with the terms? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What’s the difference between democracy and freedom? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 3. The American Solution - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 4. Relating to Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 5. Representing Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 6. Exploring Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 7. Understanding Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 8. Acting Upon Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 9. The Paradigm Shift to Generativity - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1. Totalitarianism and Variability - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 2. Freedom and Changeability - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 3. The Freedom Culture - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New Web Special: China and 60 Years of Communist Party Rule - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cuban Regime Intensifies Opposition Crackdown with Sham Trial - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Postponing Dalai Lama Meeting Sends Wrong Message - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Freedom House Sends High-Level Delegation to Egypt - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Detained Syrian Opposition Figure Must Be Immediately Released - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Activist's Upheld Conviction a Troubling Sign for Justice in Kazakhstan - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Tunisia's Electoral Process Severely Damaged by Pre-Election Rights Violations - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Lifting of EU Arms Embargo on Uzbekistan Sends Wrong Message on Human Rights - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Pakistan Assembly Urged to Reject Restrictive Amendments to Press Law - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Freedom House Launches Web Feature on Fall of Berlin Wall - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Resolutions on Defamation of Religions Do Not Belong at United Nations, Organizations Say - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Bloggers' Jailing Threatens New Media's Emergence in Azerbaijan - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Support Chinese Human Rights Activists, Freedom House Tells Obama on Eve of Visit - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- UN Should Pass Resolution Condemning Iran Human Rights Abuses - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Congress Urged to Lift Ban on U.S. Travel to Cuba - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Filipino Massacre Reflects Climate of Impunity - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Switzerland Vote Disappointing Blow to Religious Freedom - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Freedom House Launches Campaign to Defend Freedom of Expression - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Poll Shows Zimbabweans Want Elections and Democratic Constitution - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Clinton Speech Signals Greater Emphasis on Human Rights in U.S. Policy - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- The Prosperity Problem - January 5th, 2010 [January 5th, 2010]
- Freedom in the World 2010: Global Erosion of Freedom - January 12th, 2010 [January 12th, 2010]
- Freedom House Congratulates Memorial on Human Rights Award - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Recent Blogger Arrests a Troubling Trend in the Middle East/North Africa Region - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Freedom House Calls Upon the Government of Uzbekistan to Release its Jailed Activists - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Citing Iran Crackdown, Freedom House Launches Net Freedom Initiative - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Google Response to Chinese Cyber-Attacks Appropriate - January 14th, 2010 [January 14th, 2010]
- Ombudsman Statements Reflect Culture of Intimidation in Chechnya - January 15th, 2010 [January 15th, 2010]
- Bloggers Stifled Again in Egypt - January 15th, 2010 [January 15th, 2010]
- Google Applauded for Stance on China Internet Censorship - January 16th, 2010 [January 16th, 2010]
- Latest Convictions Reflect Crackdown on Freedom of Expression and Association in Vietnam - January 21st, 2010 [January 21st, 2010]
- Integrity of Elections in Sri Lanka Endangered, Says Freedom House - January 22nd, 2010 [January 22nd, 2010]
- Freedom House Welcomes Clinton Speech on Internet Freedom - January 23rd, 2010 [January 23rd, 2010]
- Group wants same military benefits for gay spouses - Washington Times - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal - Boston Globe - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- THE VA FIRST INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF CHANGE FOR GULF WAR VETERANS OF 1990-91 DOES ... - Veterans Today Network - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Freedom Driver System Receives Medical Device CE Mark - Today's Medical Developments - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- NxStage Announces New FREEDOM Data Showing the Positive Impact of its Daily ... - CNNMoney.com (press release) - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Phil Lewis: Coach fumbles lesson on freedom of the press - Naples Daily News - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Report: Prescription drug prices vary drastically in NY - Poughkeepsie Journal - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Bill Bell: Surgeon models success on international scale - Whittier Daily News - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Justin Trottier: Time to call time on homeopathy - National Post (blog) - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Voice of the Day Initiative would aid rights of patients - News-Leader.com - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Free Speech under Attack in Morocco - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Freedom House, Russian Rights Groups Announce New Partnership - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Egyptian Government Must Live Up To Its Human Rights Commitments in Geneva - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Global Human Rights Advocates Meet With President Obama on U.S. Human Rights Agenda - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Death of Political Prisoner in Cuba Exposes Systemic Prison Maltreatment and Torture - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- New Study Finds Gains for Women's Rights in the Middle East - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Egyptian Government Continues to Use Emergency Law to Crack Down on Freedom of Speech - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Human Rights Advocates Issue Plan of Action as Human Rights Council Meets in Geneva - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Sri Lankan Government Heightens Intimidation Campaign Against Voices of Dissent - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Nigerian and Indonesian Activists Challenge Repressive Measures in "Defamation of Religions" Debate - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Healing Healthcare: Restore Medical Freedom - Gather.com - March 15th, 2010 [March 15th, 2010]
- Putting the "I" back in medicine - McGill Daily - March 15th, 2010 [March 15th, 2010]
- Freedom House Calls on Kyrgyz Government to Loosen Controls on Media - March 16th, 2010 [March 16th, 2010]
- Talking Points - FOXNews - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- The Battle Over Health Care At America's Medical Schools - FOXNews - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- News Article Ceremony Honors Fallen Medical Servicemembers - Department of Defense - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- Vietnam Temporarily Frees Prominent Catholic Priest - Christian Post - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]