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Merrick Garland really is playing 3D Chess when it comes to Public Relations on Mar-a-Logo case [1]

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Date: 2022-08-27

On Friday, much of the day’s news cycle was consumed by the release of the Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant Affidavit, in spite of the fact that there was little new information released, and most of the redactions were exactly as expected . It served as another opportunity for media outlets to yet again reemphasize the details of criminal wrongdoings committed by the Ex Commander in Thief (allegedly). I’m becoming convinced that the DOJ is deliberately and strategically orchestrating the piecemeal release of information on the Mar-a-Lago investigation using a “drip...drip...drip” approach to continually dominate the news cycles — and they are doing it brilliantly!

I'm among those who have been skeptical about how serious Merrick Garland was in going after TFG for his many transgressions. I wanted to believe that the AG was quietly and methodically compiling cases, playing a shrewd, strategic long game — but my gut, and everything I’d heard about Garland, led me to believe that the deafening silence we were hearing from the DOJ was more likely an indication that they were making little progress out of an abundance of caution. I was quite convinced that my plea to Garland when he was announced as the AG nominee had been in vain.

The Mar-a-Lago search gave rise to optimism. At minimum, it demonstrated that Garland was willing to take bold action at the expense of political caution. I was further encouraged by Garland’s highly effective rope-a-dope moves on the release of the Search Warrant , but as much as I wanted to believe the AG had set a brilliant trap that left Mar-a-Lardo with egg on his face, I was more inclined to believe he was simply following DOJ procedure.

But the manner in which Search Warrant Affidavit information has been released has flipped my opinion on Garland. I no longer believe that the piecemeal release of this information is just the inevitable result of “following the process”. Look at how many news cycles the “drip..drip...drip” of the Search Warrant Affidavit has played out across:

News Cycles Dominated by Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant Affidavit Release 8/15 : Media organizations request release of Search Warrant Affidavit ( Drip! )

Media organizations request release of Search Warrant Affidavit 8/15 : DOJ responds opposing the Search Warrant Affidavit release request, but reveals few new details about the severity of the case ( Drip! )

DOJ responds opposing the Search Warrant Affidavit release request, but reveals few new details about the severity of the case 8/18 : Magistrate Judge verbally orders DOJ to propose a redacted version of the Search Warrant Affidavit for release ( Drip! )

Magistrate Judge verbally orders DOJ to propose a redacted version of the Search Warrant Affidavit for release 8/22 : Magistrate Judge issues written order elaborating on 8/18 order, confirming severity of the case and telegraphing what will and won’t be redacted ( Drip! )

Magistrate Judge issues written order elaborating on 8/18 order, confirming severity of the case and telegraphing what will and won’t be redacted 8/25 : Magistrate Judge approves redacted DOJ Search Warrant Affidavit and orders it released ( Drip! )

Magistrate Judge approves redacted DOJ Search Warrant Affidavit and orders it released 8/26: Redacted Search Warrant Affidavit is released, contains a few more details, although most information was previously released or reported ( Drip! )

This was a total win for the DOJ, on multiple fronts:

They were able to release information justifying their investigation and highly unfavorable to The Slobfather, while protecting their investigation

As opposed leaving themselves vulnerable to accusations of leaking, they positioned themselves as having reluctantly released the information, having done so only under order of the Court and after demands by Drumf and his allies

This value of this favorable PR was maximized by releases that occurred repeatedly over an extended time period, with each “drip” above resulting in a rehashing of the case by media outlets

Although this could all be explained as simply the process playing itself out, there are ways and ways of responding to motions, writing briefs, redacting documents, and evoking responses from the other parties involved in a case, that when skillfully employed can steer proceedings and events to your strategic advantage. I’m going to give Garland and the DOJ the benefit of the doubt and assume that’s what’s going on here. For example, I wouldn’t be surprised if some information was redacted in the Search Warrant Affidavit solely for the purpose of having other shoes to strategically drop to keep the PR fire burning going forward.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/27/2119036/-Merrick-Garland-really-is-playing-3D-Chess-when-it-comes-to-Public-Relations-on-Mar-a-Logo-case

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