The two most important presidential investigations in U.S. history – Watergate and Trumpgate – came together and were discussed extensively at the Longboat Key Democrat Club’s monthly luncheon.
The Topic: Where Are We and Where Are We Going with The Trumpgate Russia Investigations?
Jill Wine-Banks, famed, former Assistant Watergate Prosecutor and MSNBC legal analyst, traveled on the Boulevard of the Presidents to Longboat Key, Florida, to discuss the just-released Mueller investigation report and its impact on the nation.
It’s been nearly two weeks since Mueller submitted his findings to Attorney General William Barr. Conspiracy, collusion, co-conspirator and impeachment weigh heavily on the minds of many Americans.
“We’re excited to have Jill here at our meeting to talk about threats to our democracy. We began with her in October and are ending our program with her in April,” said Ken Marsh, president of the Longboat Key Democrat Club.
Like most Americans, Wine-Banks admitted that she is grappling with events that are unfolding.
For nearly three hours, Wine-Banks methodically and carefully shared her assessment of the Mueller investigation and told the crowd of nearly 250 that like most people, she has “lots of questions.”
“I can’t wait to see Mueller’s report,” she said.
Why The Rush?
“How could Barr make the decision so quickly,” Wine-Banks wonders. “It makes no sense. We need facts. Barr misled us in his four-page memo. He must know that eventually the truth will be coming out and he’s going to look like a fool.”
Wine-Banks Does Not Approve of Barr’s Handling of the Report
“He’s trying to interpret a document we have not read. When will we get the report? What does it say? Will it be redacted beyond meaningless?”
More Questions Than Answers
As a seasoned prosecutor, with an eye for the truth, Wine-Banks has questions she would like answered.
“Why all the lies? There has to be a reason. What did the President know and when did he know it? What did he do about it,” she asked.
According to Wine-Banks, Russia did attempt to interfere in our election and sanctions are not strong enough. “Even a not guilty verdict does not mean a person is innocent. Presidents need to be held to a much higher standard to protect our interests.”
Wine-Banks continued, “We need to have better laws. No one can run for President without first revealing their tax returns.”
Now What?
Despite the White House’s claim of exoneration, Wine-Banks assured the audience that there’s more to come because Barr used partial sentences from the Mueller report in his memo. “Allen Weisselberg (C.F.O. of the Trump Organization) is the greatest threat to Trump. He knows everything,” she stated.
Wine-Banks strongly encouraged the audience to be proactive. She recalled some powerful comments made by former President Obama. “What can we do? We have to be informed and involved. We have to vote!”
The audience applauded enthusiastically. And, she continued, “Americans have the right to know the facts. Get out the vote in 2020. The key issue is, who will beat Donald Trump?”
Wine-Banks amusingly noted that she wasn’t on the White House’s recent list of people not to put on air. “But I know I am doing something good when I am attacked by Breitbart and Judge Jeanine.”
Reaction to Wine-Banks presentation was overwhelmingly encouraging. “She covered a lot of information. She knows how to synthesize everything. I am thrilled to be here,” said Arlene Skversky, a resident of Longboat Key and a Democratic Precinct Captain.
“It was wonderful to see so many people turn out to hear an authority like Jill Wine-Banks talk about corruption in the Trump administration and the Mueller report,” said Barbara J. Katz, a resident of Longboat Key and member of the board of the Longboat Key Democrat Club.
Wine-Banks was a crucial legal force during the Watergate investigation. Her experiences and wisdom are as valuable today as they were in the 1970’s.
During her presentation, she mentioned names that are etched in the minds of many who were absorbed by the Watergate hearings nearly 50 years ago. Ervin, Magruder, Porter, Cox, Halderman, Jaworski, Dean were just some of the newsmakers from that time.
“Richard Nixon wasn’t as dangerous as Donald Trump is. Richard Nixon believed in the rule of law.”
Democracy in Action
Questions for Jill
Was Mueller influenced because he’s a Republican?
JWB: No.
Are you disappointed in the Mueller report?
JWB: Yes.
Is the President a Russian operative?
JWB: He could be. He had a motive to cooperate.
After the luncheon, Wine-Banks continued to answer questions and spoke exclusively to SouthFloridaReporter.com
Do you think we may have a Watergate moment?
JWB: It would take something like the smoking gun tape. I hope there is.
The 18 ½ minute gap
One of the questions from the audience was about Watergate. “What was one of the most dramatic moments you remember?” Without missing a beat, Wine-Banks replied, “The cross-examination of Rose Mary Woods.”
Wine-Banks was the prosecutor who exposed to the world that the Nixon tapes could not have been accidentally erased. She remembers the historic moment like it was yesterday.
Woods, President Nixon’s secretary, had to explain to the court the 18 ½ minute gap in a Nixon recording. “The White House threw her under the bus,” Wine-Banks stated.
Woods testified that while she was at her desk she kept her left foot on the pedal, reached for the phone and by accident erased part of a conversation on the tape.
Wine-Banks had her demonstrate in court. Woods told the court that being in a courtroom was different than being at her desk typing, transcribing and answering the phone.
“So off we went to the White House. It was the first time I had ever been anywhere near the Oval Office,” Wine-Banks revealed.
Wine-Banks had Woods recreate her actions at her desk. “You can see she was honest and the picture proved what was so obvious, that she couldn’t have done it. The rest is history. The next day, the historic image was on the front page of every newspaper in the country.”
“To this day,” Wine-Banks revealed, “this is the last remaining mystery of Watergate. And, you’ll have to read my book when it comes out if you want to know more.”
Jill Wine-Banks is currently an MSNBC Legal Analyst, appearing regularly on primetime and daytime shows. She also appears on PBS, Canadian and Australian networks, Sirius XM, NPR and other radio shows, including Stephanie Miller’s, and podcasts. A sought-after speaker, Jill appears before professional, political, women’s and business groups, universities and law schools. She has been featured in several documentaries and films, including Robert Redford’s All The President’s Men Revisited, ABC 20/20, and Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9.
Ms. Wine-Banks began her career as the first woman to serve as an organized crime prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. After just over four years, her trial capabilities and win record led to her selection as one of the three Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutors, where she was again the only woman, in the obstruction of justice trial against President Nixon’s top aides, including his Attorney General, Chief of Staff, and Chief Domestic Adviser. President Nixon was named an unindicted co-conspirator in that case.
Her team delivered a briefcase of evidence to the House Judiciary Committee as a road map to impeachment. She was also a major player in the Watergate tapes hearing, cross-examining Rose Mary Woods, President Nixon’s secretary, about the 18 ½ minute gap in a key White House recording.
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