How in the World Does Kash Patel Still Have a Job? (w/ Ben Wittes) | Illegal News
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Supreme Court's stay on the Fifth Circuit's mifepristone ruling means the abortion pill remains available via mail and telehealth, temporarily preserving access.
- ❖Mifepristone is used to end intrauterine pregnancies through 10 weeks of gestation (70 days or less), making its potential ban a politically sensitive issue.
- ❖Donald Trump's proposed $1.7 billion 'weaponization' slush fund is framed as a settlement for 'victims of government weaponization,' implicitly including January 6th insurrectionists.
- ❖This fund is part of a larger pattern of Trump creating impunity for allies, including pardons, dropping appeals, and financial settlements for figures like Mike Flynn and Carter Page.
- ❖The DOJ, under a potential Trump administration, is suing the DC bar to prevent the disbarment of Jeffrey Clark, who attempted to overturn the 2020 election, reflecting an effort to shield allies from accountability.
- ❖Kash Patel, as FBI Director, made false accusations against Senator Chris Van Hollen during Senate testimony, including claims of a drinking problem and calling a detainee a 'convicted gangbanging rapist' (which was untrue).
- ❖Patel has been accused of misusing FBI resources for personal activities, such as partying in Milan and snorkeling at Pearl Harbor over the USS Arizona memorial.
- ❖The hosts argue that an FBI Director should be available 24/7 and maintain a high standard of conduct, which Patel's alleged behavior violates.
Insights
1Mifepristone Ruling's Political and Legal Battleground
The Supreme Court's temporary stay on the Fifth Circuit's ruling means mifepristone, the abortion pill, remains accessible via mail and telehealth. This decision, however, sets the stage for a major Supreme Court case that could significantly impact abortion access nationally. Ben Wittes notes that mifepristone is used for pregnancies up to 10 weeks, a timeframe that enjoys broad public support for abortion access, making any future ban politically contentious. The legal battle hinges on the FDA's authority to regulate federally approved products versus state laws, with the Comstock Act adding a layer of complexity.
The Supreme Court stayed the Fifth Circuit's ruling. Mifepristone is used for intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation (). Ben Wittes discusses the FDA's authority and the Comstock Act ().
2Trump's 'Weaponization' Slush Fund as a System of Impunity
Donald Trump's proposed $1.7 billion 'weaponization' slush fund, ostensibly a settlement for 'victims of government weaponization,' is characterized as an unprecedented act of self-dealing and a 'mafia payroll' for his allies. This fund is part of a broader pattern established in his previous administration, which included mass pardons, dropping appeals for convicted individuals like Steve Bannon, and providing large settlements to figures like Mike Flynn and Carter Page. The hosts argue this creates a system of impunity, rewarding loyalty and violence, and discrediting legitimate prosecutions.
Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit evolving into a $1.7 billion settlement offer (). Ben Wittes details the pattern of pardons, dropped cases, and settlements for allies (). Sarah Longwell describes it as 'seeding a new group of people who will go to the mat and do anything for him because he's essentially putting them on his mafia payroll' ().
3Kash Patel's Conduct and the Erosion of FBI Norms
Kash Patel's behavior as FBI Director, including his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, demonstrates a profound disregard for professional norms and truthfulness. He made false accusations against Senator Chris Van Hollen, including claims of a drinking problem and mischaracterizing a detainee as a 'convicted gangbanging rapist.' Patel has also been accused of misusing FBI resources for personal leisure, such as partying in Milan and snorkeling over the USS Arizona memorial. This conduct, coupled with his continued employment, suggests a preference within the administration for a 'total sycophant' over a director upholding the FBI's integrity and 24/7 availability requirement.
Patel accused Senator Van Hollen of having a drinking problem and referred to Abrigo Garcia as a 'convicted gangbanging rapist' (). Accusations of using FBI resources for partying and snorkeling at Pearl Harbor (). Ben Wittes states, 'the FBI director can never be drunk ever' and 'none of this is consistent with the role of FBI director' (, ).
Lessons
- Stay informed about the procedural developments of the mifepristone case, as its outcome could have significant and immediate impacts on reproductive healthcare access.
- Recognize and critically evaluate political rhetoric that attempts to reframe legitimate legal actions as 'weaponization' to justify self-serving policies, such as proposed slush funds for political allies.
- Pay attention to the conduct of high-ranking officials like the FBI Director; their adherence to ethical standards and professional norms is crucial for maintaining the integrity of federal institutions.
Quotes
"Nobody's ever president has never pardoned and mass and then compensated a private militia."
"He is literally seeding a new group of people who will go to the mat and do anything for him because he's essentially putting them on his mafia payroll."
"My view is that the FBI director can never be drunk ever, right? Because you never know when a plane is going to smack into a building or um you don't and and this you know in a vertically integrated organization like the FBI um the head of the organization has to be available 247."
"The nice thing about Akash Patel is he's embarrassing but you know there's nothing he won't do."
Q&A
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