Irony . . . oh, sweet irony

Donald Trump's lawyers plan to file an appeal of the Federal District Court's decision that requires Trump's accounting firm to turn over his financial records that have been subpoenaed by the House committee.    The appeal will go to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

And who, you may wonder, is the chief judge on that court?    None other than his honor, Judge Merrick Garland, the distinguished appointee that President Obama nominated to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy -- but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ruled that it was too close to the election of a new president and it should wait for "the people to decide."

There was, of course, no legal basis for that claim.   It was close to a year before the election, Obama made a timely nomination, and there was ample time to vet, debate, and make a decision about confirmation.

Now, if the roles were reversed, I'm sure the Republicans would be rejoicing, sure that "their man" would rule in their favor and against their opponents.

But I'm rejoicing because I know that Garland is a principled lawyer who will do the right thing, whatever that it.    I want him, by example, to give the Republicans a lesson in integrity.

First, the law is clearly on the side of Congress.   The federal district judge made that very clear when she wrote that it was simply not fathomable that the Constitution would give Congress the power to remove a president for wrong-doing and then not also give them the right to investigate whether there was wrong-doing.

Second, if Garland feels he cannot be completely unbiased in this case, I'm sure Garland's integrity is such that he will recuse himself.

Frankly, I hope that is the outcome -- and the the other judges follow the law and decide in favor of Congress and not Trump.    Because I want the Republicans to see an example of integrity and the law applied correctly, without special favors or manipulations.  But, frankly, the law is so clear, there really should be no need for him to recuse.  And if he doesn't then Republicans may falsely claim that he should have.

And then I want Trump to lose the election, and I want the new Democratic president to fill the next vacancy on the Supreme Court by nominating Merrick Garland for the seat.

Ralph