Barb McQuade

Barb McQuade

@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Wife, Mom, UMich Law School Professor from Practice, MSNOW legal analyst, The Contrarian contributor, former U.S. Attorney, EDMI

356.7K followers783 following2.6K posts

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

No. The charges are already time barred. Under the relevant statute of limitations, an indictment must be filed within 10 years of the offense, which allegedly occurred on October 5, 2016. This DOJ is out of control.

Allison Gill@muellershewrote.com

I believe that DOJ has 30 days to get a grand jury indictment after charging on information unless Comey waived his right to a grand jury indictment, which I kind of doubt. That 30 days would expire 11/4. Is that correct @joycewhitevance.bsky.social @barbmcquade.bsky.social @rparloff.bsky.social ?

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

New charges against Jim Comey, now for alleged disclosure of classified information in 2016. I can’t tell you anything about the merits, because the language is so vague, but I can see that this is an information, not an indictment issued by a grand jury. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com#1 in United States v. COMEY (D.D.C., 1:26-cr-00229) – CourtListener.comSEALED INFORMATION as to JAMES BRIEN COMEY, JR (1) count(s) 1, 2. (NOTICE OF FORFEITURE) (zstd) (Main Document 1 replaced on 10/26/2026) (zstd). (Entered: 10/05/2026)
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Court rules firing of Maureen Comey without cause or due process violated the law. The president’s duty is to execute the law “faithfully.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.comMemorandum & Opinion – #96 in Comey v. United States Department of Justice (S.D.N.Y., 1:25-cv-07625) – CourtListener.comOPINION AND ORDER on 67 MOTION for Judgment on the Pleadings and 76 CROSS MOTION for Judgment on the Pleadings: Accordingly, Comey's cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED as to Counts ...
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

The Justice Department represents the United States of America, not the president. That’s what White House counsel is for. 

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

BASH: Do you see your job as helping Republicans keep this seat? AG TODD BLANCHE: *a lot of words that aren't a denial*

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

“You can’t con people, at least not for long. You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. But if you don’t deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on.” - Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "Our country is making hundreds of billions of dollars on oil. and then on top of it we have Venezuela, and we have Greenland! 'We're making trillions of dollars. But my people said 'please don't mention that, sir, because people are paying a little higher'... we're making a frickin' fortune"

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Gift link to this story about Alina Habba’s $50 million deal with a Venezuelan billionaire that coincided with a pardon for him. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/u...

nytimes.comA Billionaire Wanted a Trump Pardon. His Family Gave Alina Habba a $50 Million Deal. (Gift Article)Julio Herrera Velutini, a prominent Venezuelan, was seeking clemency. He got it not long after his daughter gave Ms. Habba, a lawyer close to President Trump, an extraordinarily lucrative job.
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

The dirty money pays for more than just ads.

Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social

Huge follow-up reporting to my scoop: The Guardian confirmed America Next—the conservative nonprofit founded by Bobby Jindal that was offering students $ to disrupt El-Sayed events—paid a firm registered to Tommy Teepell’s dad Timmy $250k for “canvassing and influencer marketing” against El-Sayed.

theguardian.comMichigan heckler the son of Republican adviser paid for ‘influencer marketing’ against El-SayedTimmy Teepell’s firm paid $250,000 by America Next, which has been trying to gin up ‘organic’ opposition to El-Sayed
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

“The judge is ruling against me” is not a valid basis for recusal.

Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

BREAKING: Judge Reyes denies DOJ's "baseless recusal motion" filed on Friday night by Associate A.G. Woodward in the case over the East Potomac Golf Course. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Case background: www.lawdork.com/p/federal-ju... Recusal coverage: substack.com/@chrisgeidne...

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

One of the most disturbing aspects of the MAGA era is the willingness of people to go along with lies when it advances their political agenda.

Tom Joscelyn@tomjoscelyn.bsky.social

This is a lie. Abdul El-Sayed clearly disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood before delivering a masterclass on the First Amendment and religious freedom - a constitutional rebuke of Tommy’s Christian nationalism. Sen. Ted Cruz is lying.

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

At some point, voters will understand that corruption and unregulated corporate greed are deepening an unsustainable wealth gap. We need to rise above the scare tactics are designed to distract and divide us.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Ossoff: "The crisis we must meet is deeper than this presidency. Trump's rise is proof that business as usual has failed, that our politics, sickened by corruption, is failing the American public and compromising our national integrity. And that the hour is late to fix what's broken."

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Mike Rogers has joined the disinformation campaign. What part of “absolutely” did he not understand? Just amazing how El-Sayed’s opponents are trying to gaslight us. Disqualifying.

The Bulwark@thebulwark.com

Mike Rogers: "[El-Sayed] did not disavow the Muslim Brotherhood." Bash: "He did. He said, 'Sure, yeah.'" Rogers: "I don't know why the press is so eager to protect this guy."

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

In the law, we call this willful blindness. Or, in lay terms, gaslighting.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

JD Vance: "I've not seen a single shred of evidence that Donald Trump participates or sanctions in that corruption ... I've not once seen evidence that Donald Trump has enriched himself"

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

I’m disgusted that this passes as leadership in America in 2026. Clearly afraid of a candidate like Talerico who possesses kindness and faith.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

JD Vance: "I love you too sir. In a totally platonic way, to be clear. I'm the vice president, not James Talarico."

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Lies, lies, lies. At what point do voters see through the stoking of fear?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "They want to cut your children. It's unbelievable what they do. Your son leaves as Jimmy and comes home in three days as Janet, and they don't even ask you. They can take your child out of school and do whatever the hell they want. Minnesota is one of those states."

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Well, that’s refreshing. A court orders Trump campaign ads to stop, finding plaintiffs likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that DHS is misappropriating taxpayer funds to pay for them.

Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

BREAKING: Federal judge orders Trump administration to stop DHS's pro-Trump propaganda ads immediately, including ordering the canceling of ads set to run as soon as this evening. Background: www.lawdork.com/p/doj-does-n...

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Executing Hassan makes him a martyr. Livestreaming his death dehumanizes us all. 

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

BRENNAN: Nidal Hasan is in a wheelchair. Doesn't the administration risk livestreaming this and making him a martyr? Couldn't this be a risk to the homeland? MARKWAYNE MULLIN: No one has to watch it B: Well then why are you livestreaming it? MULLIN: The president is restoring American values

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Caught red-handed with sensitive national defense documents he was not legally entitled to possess, Trump obstructed justice by moving them around to evade detection. Now, he has the audacity to blame the investigators. His mentor, Roy Cohn, would be proud. Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/10/11/u...

nytimes.comHow the White House Manufactured a Narrative About a Trump Aide’s Call Logs (Gift Article)A release of selected records from the classified documents inquiry is a case study in how omitting context can create political ammunition.
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Death threats should not be part of public service. It’s no coincidence that this climate of fear coincides with Trump‘s rhetoric. I’m grateful for the public servants who serve anyway, but there are also good people unwilling to risk the safety of their families.  www.nytimes.com/2026/10/11/u...

nytimes.comThreats of Political Violence Have America’s Elected Officials Living in Fear (Gift Article)A Times investigation has found that violent threats have become a new normal among public officials, reshaped private lives, cost millions in security and pushed people out of office.
Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

Citizens United could be overturned on the basis of a new understanding of the facts. Limits on expenditures that are narrowly tailored to achieve the compelling objective of fair elections could pass First Amendment scrutiny. But I don’t see this Court doing so, so we must amend the Constitution.

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social

Billionaire families have spent $1.7 BILLION on the 2026 midterms so far — a 5,200% increase since the 2010 midterms. Citizens United is among the worst decisions in history. It corrupts our system every day. Big Money is the root of our dysfunction.