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Here’s a story you probably missed back in January, as we waited for all hell to break loose: “Appeals court pauses plea proceedings in Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's case.”
Remember Mohammed? He is one of the architects of the 9/11 attacks who is imprisoned at Gitmo. He had reached a plea deal with U.S. attorneys in 2023 to avoid the death penalty, but just before Joe Biden’s presidency ended, his administration filed a motion to pause that plea because of the significance of his crimes.
Why do I bring up this case now? To compare Khalid Sheik Mohammed to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man at the heart of the firestorm over due process. Let’s take a look.
Criminal History
Mohammed: An admitted al-Qaeda terrorist, he is responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.
vs.Garcia: He has never been charged with a crime in either the U.S. or El Salvador.
Citizenship Status
Mohammed: Kuwaiti national
vs.
Garcia: El Salvadoran migrant with legal protected status in the U.S.
Current Location
Mohammed: Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp
vs.
Garcia: Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo or CECOT
Think about this for a second.
One of the planners of 9/11—to date, the worst terror attack on U.S. soil in our history—is being treated more fairly than a man who, to our knowledge, was living a reasonably mundane life in Beltsville, Md. Mohammed isn’t an American citizen, but he was given ample due process and is detained on American territory. Not so for Garcia, a protected resident who was given no due process and was shipped off to a foreign prison.
You might not care about what happens to Garcia, and you might believe the accusations the Trump Administration has lodged against him are true. That’s okay. But as an American, you must care about due process. You must believe that everyone deserves to be heard in court. Because if you don’t, it means our Constitution is dead to you, and only rank politics remain.
It also means that the current or future President of the United States can unilaterally decide that you don’t deserve due process. American citizen? Doesn’t matter. No criminal convictions? No need. Constitutional rights? Gone. That’s one hell of a slippery slope, and we’re already on our way down.
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And if you think any of these people care, I’m sorry, but you’re delusional.
That is why we are fighting for Garcia.
Conversation Tip: When you talk to MAGA folks in your life about this case, try to avoid emotional appeals. Focus on these facts. When it comes to due process, it doesn’t matter whether he is just a husband and father or an MS-13 gang member. It only matters whether it has been proven in court.
Refusing to Lift a Finger for Justice —Persuasion
Two Dictators Walk Into a Bar... —The xxxxxx
Trump’s Policy of Shipping Innocents to the Salvadoran Gulag Shows Utter Contempt for Not Just the Constitution but Law Itself —The UnPopulist
Trump's Deportation Politics —The Great Transformation with Mike Madrid
The Hidden (But Right Out in The Open) Strategy Donald Trump is Using to Bypass Justice – And What It Means for You —Jack Hopkins Now
What’s Your Take?
A list of suggestions as to what Democrats can do to be a bonafide resistance party popped up on social media this week, attributed to various people. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s available here.
These are all interesting ideas, but which will have the most immediate impact?
CHECK OUT TODAY’S PODCAST: Be Prepared to Do What You Have to Do to Defend Free Speech
SUBSTACK LIVE: Sorry, folks, no Substack Live this week. I’m at Holy Thursday Mass. Have a happy Easter, if you celebrate! Please join me next week.
MERCH IS HERE! Get your NO KINGS T-shirts and hats and wear them proudly to the next protest. Remind Trump that we are a free people, not his subjects. Visit the One Flag Initiative website to get yours!
ENGAGE WITH US: Want to host a conversation with Joe in your town? Want to send us a 600-word op-ed or a video clip? Want to appear with Joe on Thursday Night Live? Got another idea to share with us? Send it our way! And please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to support our work. Thank you!
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Here are our Heroes of the Week…
HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Congratulations to Harvard for standing strong against the Trump Administration by refusing pressure from the White House to overhaul its hiring policies, report international students who break rules, and other outrageous demands. It’s paying a big price for its independence—losing $2 billion in grants, eligibility to host international students, and possibly its tax-exempt status. Resistance isn’t easy, but Harvard is showing how its done.
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN. Thank you to Maryland Sen. Van Hollen for at least trying to help Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He flew to El Salvador on Wednesday and has been trying to visit Garcia. However, armed officials initially prevented him from entering the prison where he has been held for the past month. But as we went to publication, he was able to meet with him. Fantastic news.
THE JUDICIARY. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scolded the Trump Administration this week for refusing to comply with the Supreme Court order directing the White House to “facilitate” the release of Garcia. She also ordered documentation and updates on the case. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that “probable cause exists” to hold officials in criminal contempt for violating his orders halting the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.
FIRED FEDERAL WORKERS. According to The xxxxxx, “Democratic groups that help train first-time candidates say they are hearing expressions of interest in running for office from a notable number of former federal government workers—most of whom lost their jobs due to DOGE cuts or resigned from their positions out of frustration and exhaustion.” Awesome! We need some new Democrats with fire in their bellies.
TOWN HALL ATTENDEES. We the People are standing up and holding our representatives accountable at town halls throughout the country—sometimes at personal risk. In Iowa, a constituent asked Sen. Chuck Grassley, “We would like to know what you, as the people, the Congress, who are supposed to rein in this dictator, what are you going to do about it?” Great question! Still waiting for the answer.
Did we miss anyone? Send your heroes our way!
Good Reads for This Week…
Are Any of Us Safe Now? —The xxxxxx
After Trump, America Will Need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission –The Banter
Has America Reached the End of the Road? —Doomsday Scenario
America Is Watching the Rise of a Dual State —The Atlantic
Has Wales Found the Solution to Autocracy? –Just Thinkin’
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Did you catch Walsh Wednesday, my weekly meetup with Michael Cohen? If you missed it, here it is:
I was quoted twice this week on NJ.com. They must like me.
Ex-GOP Rep Has ‘Zero Sympathy’ for Trump Enablers Now Being Threatened by MAGA —NJ.com
Trump Defies Another Court Order —NJ.com
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Here’s what some of you are thinking about this week…
My hero is Rep. Melanie Stansbury. We need more in Congress like Melanie! —Jackie Vollmer
Joe, I appreciate you saying that the individual lawyers (not just “the government”) keeping this man in El Salvador are guilty. The faceless entity known as “the government” didn’t directly snatch this guy — an individual did. Sure, they were paid by the government, but it was still a person who went home that night, had dinner, maybe watched the news, all while knowing they had kidnapped an innocent man and sent him off to be tortured.
Someone flew that plane. They knew what they were doing — and if they didn’t know then, they definitely know now. Are they still going to work like nothing happened? Still doing that job?
What responsibility do they bear?
Isn’t this the kind of tyranny the Second Amendment crowd is always shouting about? Bullshit. Apparently, “tyranny” is just asking folks to wear masks when they are sick. —John Cahill
What we need is to court Republican senators and a few House members to be able to put together a successful impeachment. Running around like chickens with our heads cut off is not effective. Pick the best issues for congressional investigations and call for those, and then acquire Republican buy-in. –Richard Collins
Dear Joe,
Thank God SOMEONE (you) is finally telling the Dems what they need to hear!
For years now, I have been saying, to anyone I think might be listening, that the Dems need to fucking KICK BALLS!
Too often, they shrink back. They’re the “nice” party. Too often, they think that all you need to do is EXPLAIN and provide statistics to back it up. They don’t understand that for millions of people, the critical thing is the impression they give — shuffling, compromising, fearful. It makes no sense that the only exception to this message is Bernie Sanders. —Tom Crane
The Wall Street two-party crap trap is corrupted beyond salvation, so you are wasting valuable time on them! We need a coalition third party to change the course of history for We the People! –Peter White
Hey, I want to hear from you!
What do you think of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh? What are your thoughts about what’s happening this week? How can we fix the political mess we’ve created in our country? How do we mend our frayed social fabric and rebuild an America that works?
Tell us your story and share your ideas with us. Email our editor at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
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