Today in Politics, Bulletin 41. 1/6/25

… Rudy Giuliani was held in contempt of court today by a NY judge for refusing to satisfy his discovery obligations as well as court orders to turn over certain items of personal property to defamation plaintiffs Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. He was repeatedly given warnings, which he ignored.

… Judge Liman: Plaintiffs have moved for sanctions against defendant. The motion is granted. The Court found that the defendant's objections were meritless. He was ordered to answer by December 20. Defendant violated the order. The court takes judicial notice that the defendant was until recently a barred attorney, and has committed discovery violations in the past. He has lost on both procedural and substantive questions. It was not even close. He violated the court's order.”

… More from Judge Liman, courtesy of Inner City Press reporting from the courtroom: “Defendant could have asked for a confidentiality order but didn't. He has offered a series of shifting, meritless objections. The Court concludes that defendant has been attempting to run out the clock. The objections were pretextual.”

… “The Court also finds Mr. Giuliani in contempt. There was no substantial compliance. He has not produced a single email responsive to the RFPs. He had the emails going to his travel but he failed to produce them. On the contempt sanctions, the Court takes it under advisement and will give it more serious thought. I am reserving judgment on that.”

… Kamala Harris presided over the certification of the election for Trump, with no objections from Democrats. In the past, a small handful of Democrats have made symbolic objections to the results which they were permitted to do under the law. The isolated objections were based on a variety of things - such as wanting to do away with the Electoral College.

… But they did not do that today since Republicans absurdly continue to make a ridiculous false equivalency argument comparing those objections, which hardly anybody even noticed or paid attention to, to Trump summoning and inciting a violent mob to storm the Capitol four years ago and putting over 100 police officers in the hospital with injuries.

… Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who made one of those objections in the past, told Politico: “I’m not intending to do that again, because I think that people don’t differentiate” between that and an insurrection. “I think there was a clear difference between what we did and what they did.”

… Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI): “No election deniers on the Democratic side of the House. Unlike my Republican colleagues 4 years ago, we believe in democracy and respecting the will of the people.”

… No national Democratic leader, party organization, or losing candidate has ever asked any of the Democrats making symbolic objections over the years to do it, and none of them coordinated with other members. But since Republicans seize upon these things to try and both-sides their reprehensible conduct, symbolic objections by Democrats may be a thing of the past.

… Rep. Jamie Raskin, who lodged a symbolic objection in 2017 after Trump’s win, was asked if he expected any Democrats to do that this time: “I have not heard of anybody who intends to vote no, and I would certainly discourage it.”

… Kamala Harris: “Today, I did what I have done my entire career which is take seriously the oath I have taken many times to defend the Constitution, which included today performing my constitutional duties to ensure that the people of America will have their votes counted.”

… But angertainment performance artist Nance Mace posted a dramatic video from the steps of the Capitol assuring MAGA that she was ready for any shenanigans from Democrats: “We will not let them steal the election from President Donald J. Trump!” Stop the Steal is alive and not well in 2025.

… Four years ago, at about the same time of day Harris made this statement, Mike Pence was hiding in a bunker with Secret Service frantically trying to call the WH and get Trump on the phone while he watched gleefully on Fox, with Pence refusing to get in his car because he didn’t trust what Trump would do with him if he did. Quite a contrast between the two days.

… Mike Pence: “The peaceful transfer of power is the hallmark of our democracy and today, members of both parties in the House and Senate along with the VP certified the election of our new president and VP without controversy or objection. I welcome the return of order and civility to these historic proceedings. It was particularly admirable that VP Harris would preside over the certification of a presidential election that she lost.”

… Sen. Adam Schiff: “Today, there will be no organized objection to the results of a free and fair election by the sitting President, no mob marching on the Capitol at incitement of the President.”

… Marge Greene on how today was different from J6, 2021: “This election certification is vastly different. No covid lockdowns, high GOP engagement on election integrity, and a historic win by President Trump.” It seems to me that there were a few other differences between today and that day other than that.

… CPAN posted the time it took for the Joint Session of Congress to certify the last 5 presidential elections:

2025 - 30 minutes

2021 - 14 hours, 48 minutes

2017 - 41 minutes

2013 - 22 minutes

2009 - 36 minutes

… Reminds me of the Sesame Street song about one of these things not being like the others. I wonder if Republicans can tell us why?

… Republicans gave Rep. Don Bacon a bit of a razzing on the floor when it was announced that the electoral vote for his district in Nebraska was won by Harris.

… Adam Kinzinger was asked on CNN if he wanted Biden to preemptively pardon him: “No. I don't want it. The second you take a pardon it looks like you are guilty of something and I am guilty of nothing except bringing the truth.”

… Bloomberg is reporting that Trump will pardon roughly 1,000 of the 1,588 J6 defendants. It is not clear exactly which defendants will not be included. But the inmates in prison serving the longest sentences aren’t happy about this news, as they assumed they were ALL getting pardons.

… The attorney for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio sent a letter to Trump to try and get him on the pardon list. Nayib Hassan: “Enrique is nothing more than a proud American that believes in true conservative values,” and would honor the pardon with the “respect, gratitude, and integrity it deserves.” Tarrio is serving a 22 year sentence for Seditious Conspiracy.

… FL State Rep Anthony Sabatini: “I am deeply troubled by the news that Trump may only be pardoning 1,000 of the J6 protesters The entire group of 1,588 defendants MUST receive a pardon on January 20th. It’s the only way to heal our country and it’s wrong to continue the suffering of these nearly 600 Americans.”

… DC Police Officer Daniel Hodges, injured on J6 by Trump’s mob, attended the certification today with Adam Schiff: “It will be my honor to make it as uncomfortable as possible for the Republican members who try to whitewash that day and lie about what happened and pretend that we didn’t save them.”

… Mike Johnson was asked today why he has continued to violate the law by refusing to post a plaque honoring the police officers who defended the Capitol on J6, when the statute was signed into law almost two years ago. Per CBS, he refused to answer the question. Again.

… Trump’s Counterterrorism Director nominee Seb Gorka was asked on Newsmax what he will be thinking about today as Trump was certified: “I will be thinking about Ashli Babbitt.”

… NYT reporter Maggie Haberman said on a podcast with tech reporter Kara Swisher that Trump is getting tired of Musk: “Trump does complain a bit to people about how Musk is around a lot. It definitely bothers him. The ‘President Musk’ line was always going to be a way to get to him. There certainly are very specific things that can zotz him.”

… More Haberman: “I think a bunch of people around Trump are also struggling with how aggressive Musk can be in their interactions.”

… Canadian PM Justin Trudeau announced today that he is resigning his office effective the date new elections are held to choose his successor.

… Trump responded by posting that he still wants Canada to become our 51st state: “Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st state. The US can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the US, there would be no tariffs, taxes would be way down. Together, what a great nation it would be!!!”

… Meanwhile, Don Jr is visiting Greenland tomorrow to scout things out for his father. Elon Musk responded to news about the trip: “The people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they want to be part of America!” These people are insane. Dangerously so.

… Trump on Truth Social: “I am hearing that the people of Greenland are MAGA. My son Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights. Greenland is an incredible place and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it and cherish it from a vicious outside world.”

… WaPo is reporting that Trump is already planning to walk back his statements about huge aggressive blanket tariffs on foreign products, which he claimed will more than make up for the shortfall in revenue that will result from his planned massive tax cuts.