A Rosen by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet

My favorite quote over the   weekend come from Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who's chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  He was about about Trump's former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen who testified voluntarily yesterday before the Judiciary Committee.

"He told us a lot -- seven hours of testimony...There's a lot there, an awful lot there, you can imagine seven hours of testimony."

Durbin said even more, of course, and even though he couldn't give specifics, it spoke loudly.   "this was done on a bipartisan basis," he said, "Democratic staff and Republican legal staff asking questions during this period of time. Mr. Rosen appeared voluntarily, which says a lot, and cooperated with us."

And when CNN host Dana Bash asked about what was most shocking to you in Rosen's testimony, Sen. Durban explained that it was "Just how directly personally involved the president was, the pressure he was putting on Jeffrey Rosen. It was real, very real, and it was very specific." Durbin clarified this even more. "This president is not subtle when he wants something, the former president is not subtle when he wants something. It's a good thing for America we had a person like Rosen in that position, who withstood the pressure."

The thing that stands out so significantly about Rosen appearing before the committee is that it was all voluntary.  And further, the Justice Department had waived any question of privilege, so Rosen was allowed to speak to any issue.  And Sen. Durbin noted that the committee was not holding back on what they asked, but that in Rosen’s responses, “I thought he was very open.”

Now, add this to the House Jan. 6 Committee which is investigating everything.  Whether Rosen testifies to them, as well, or they get briefed by the Senate committee and sent a transcript, one of those things will happen.

One can only imagine, especially given Durbin’s comments on seven hours of openness from the top law official in the country, how damning it all was.

And hopefully the first step.  Of many.  At a certain point, one thinks that when people in charge start pointing fingers, others start trying to save their necks.  Or just feel relieved they can follow the leaders because they're not finally asked and given the opportunity to.

One can only hope.

But the former acting Attorney General testifying voluntarily for seven hours?  It’s a really good first step.