Posted on 03/22/2022 12:46:38 PM PDT by Signalman
Attorney General Merrick Garland is not going to save democracy. Nor is the attorney general of New York, Letitia James; the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg; nor the Fulton County district attorney, Fani Willis. As the apparent collapse of the New York district attorney’s investigation makes clear, criminal cases are hard to make. Donald Trump, despite his many seemingly criminal acts, is unlikely to ever spend a day in jail.
Observers of the Trump malignancy have an unfortunate habit of wish casting—believing that their most optimistic fantasies will become reality. They did this with the Mueller investigation—remember “It’s Mueller Time”?—and they did it with both of Trump’s impeachments. Their dream has always been that somehow, somewhere, someone would call Trump to account for his actions and, in doing so, save American democracy.
Today, many invest the ongoing criminal investigations of Trump in New York, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., with the same hopes. Even my good friend George Conway has speculated that this time things might be different.
I don’t see it happening. Please don’t misunderstand; I am as convinced as anyone of the criminality of Trump’s conduct, and nothing would please me more than to see him get his deserved comeuppance. He should, and very well may, be indicted in one or more of these jurisdictions. And the civil suits against him may have legs.
But years of experience prosecuting fraught political cases (and defending others) has taught me that the criminal law is a blunt tool for achieving justice and a poor means of resolving political issues. In my judgment, the chances that Trump will be convicted of any crime are slim to none. And though I am no political analyst, my guess is that a failure to convict will only embolden him and his followers.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Convicted of what, not being part of the swamp? Of standing up for America? Of trying to represent the people instead of the swamp in DC? These people are sick and they need to go to jail themselves!
Convicted of what? “Save democracy” from what?
The pinkos have gone totally bonkers.
Yes. The “malignancy” of the patriotic Trump Americans is growing. And it’s going to come after you too, Rosie.
What "seemingly criminal acts"? List them.
Nobody is ever convicted for a "seemingly criminal act" anyway. The prosecution has to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in reference to an _actual_ criminal act.
my lefty adversaries are sure he is guilty of something, but when i point out nothing has stuck, they always say “yet”...
now hillary on the other hand, deserves to go to jail.
Mentioning Letitia James in a sentence that includes “saving democracy” is an oxymoron.
Wow. Has hell frozen over?
The Atlantic is waving the white flag here. Without actually admitting it, they are, between the lines, acknowledging that Trump has done nothing wrong.
> “Donald Trump, despite his many seemingly criminal acts, is unlikely to ever spend a day in jail”
Oh! Oh! The wise and wonderful reporters saving democracy at “The Atlantic” are holding back! Please Oh Please do tell, what crimes Trump has committed, even though we know in our own minds he is the nastiest criminal to ever been born, please repeat his crimes to the masses until every one knows and we can all save our democracy, and climate change too! Sonething or the other.
Not investigations to solve a crime, investigations trying to find a crime.
“the Trump malignancy” (shakes head)
Of course, this “journalist” has no interest in any of the issues swirling around the Bidens or Hillary Clinton. And no condemnation of the intelligence officials who lied about the Hunter Biden computer, calling the story “Russian disinformation.”
Well since it is such a waste of time and resources to keep after Trump, perhaps the talented author of this story will spend a lot of his time writing about Hunter’s crimes and the family clan that is profiting from those crimes.
from an article in 2020, march
So with that caveat in mind, here are 14 criminal acts by Trump that he has gotten away with—for now.
1. Freezing Ukrainian assets
A federal watchdog released a report that stated that Trump broke the law when he froze military aid to Ukraine. According to NPR, a 1974 law does not allow the Office of Management and Budget to withhold funds based on policy.
On July 25, 2019, the OMB withheld funds “pending a policy decision” until September 12.
If the White House so wishes to delay funds, it must consult Congress first. This is written out in the Impoundment Control Act, meant to help Congress control the purse.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MA) said. “We now have a GAO decision stating conclusively that the Trump administration violated the law. We know the president ordered that violation of law.”
2. Extortion
Why Trump and GOP want to expose the “Ukraine Gate” whistleblower? 1
Source: Flickr
“Whoever, being an officer, or employee of the United States or any department or agency thereof, or representing himself to be or assuming to act as such, under color or pretense of office or employment commits or attempts an act of extortion, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both”
The threat of withholding military aid was what drove Ukraine to promise cooperation in the investigation of Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. If the president of Ukraine had a “fear of injury” and was compelled to act, then this counts as a felony.
3. Refusal to testify
2 in 3 Republicans think Trump’s aides should testify & he should let them
Source: White House/ Shealah Craighead
Trump said that he would refuse to cooperate with subpoenas, an act that is worth at least a year in jail, according to the law. Threatening non-compliance could be seen as a criminal act in and of itself, particularly in an investigation.
Fortunately for Trump, Attorney General William Barr was not going to press charges against him.
4. Coercion of others
Trump throws Giuliani under the bus too: ‘He didn’t go Ukraine on my behalf’
Source: Flickr
Some of the text messages from officials in Ukraine to the Trump administration indicate that they were acting against their better judgment. Indeed, some of them might have suffered a metaphorical arm twist.
“I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign,” said Bill Taylor, one of the Ukrainian diplomats.
The sentence for coercion is three years.
5. Election interference
‘A self-centered man-child’: California Rep slams Trump for ‘disrespecting’ national anthem in video
Source: Screenshot/YouTube
A government official is not allowed to use his authority or position to interfere in an election. To say nothing of an elected government official interfering with his own election.
Trump used his position to attempt to smear someone potentially running against him in the 2020 presidential election.
6. Illegally soliciting aid from a foreign government in an election
‘Dangerously incompetent and incapable’: Joe Biden trolls Trump with new ad - WATCH
Source: Flickr
Trump violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by asking for dirt on the Bidens, according to Business Insider.
An elected official is not allowed to ask for help in gaining an election. By providing information that could damage Joe and Hunter Biden, Trump was setting up the scenario for the 2020 election.
7. Misappropriation
Cruz, Cornyn and Graham rake in $160,000 from judicial nominees in pay-to-play scheme
Source: Canva
Business Insider also stated that Trump could be guilty of misappropriation of funds. Since the president was using government funds and military aid for his own personal gain, this counts as a theft of taxpayer money. In a situation with a quid pro quo, where Trump was trying to bribe the Ukrainian administration, the use of funds could be seen as theft.
8. Failing to keep records
Trump joins with Putin in blocking UN Security Council statement opposing Turkey’s attack on our Kurdish allies
Source: Kremlin
In a lawsuit initiated by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Trump was accused of breaking the law. He and Jared Kushner failed to keep records of their meetings with foreign leaders from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and North Korea.
Trump had five different meetings with Vladimir Putin with no one else in the room to take notes. This means there was no official record of the meeting, which violates the Presidential Records Act.
Kushner also had meetings with Saudi Arabian officials with no official record of these meetings existing.
9. Stormy Daniels Hush Money
Christianity Today sees subscription spike after anti-Trump op-ed
Source: Screenshot / YouTube
Evidence from Michael Cohen shows that Trump knew, and indeed, might have ordered, payments to be made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Cohen told George Stephanopoulos on ABC that no payments or decisions were made unless Trump had ordered them.
“It is perfectly legal for Person X to pay $100,000 to Person Y who would otherwise allege an affair with Candidate A — as long as Candidate A and his campaign aren’t working with Person X on the payment,” writes the Washington Post. But it seems as if Cohen, who wasn’t on the campaign payroll, was working with Trump to pay off Stormy Daniels.
Cohen testified in Congress that Trump knew about the payments and approved of them. Cohen was reimbursed.
10. Market Manipulation
Trump’s reckless actions in Iran and Iraq are handing the region to his biggest foe: China
Source: Kremlin
Trump told reporters while in France for the G7 meeting that he had spoken to Chinese government officials and that trade negotiations were happening soon. However, the Chinese government denied that this phone call even happened, and in fact said that they had no idea what Trump was talking about.
White House officials said Trump was trying to be optimistic in order to boost markets. According to Alternet, this is market manipulation and its considered criminal activity.
11. Letting Obamacare implode
Trump’s administration is tricking healthcare insurance shoppers into buying “junk plans”
Source: InvestmentZen
Four cities sued the Trump administration for letting Obamacare implode, according to Fortune. Trump’s attempts to weaken the Affordable Care Act through budget cuts, discouraging enrollment, and driving costs up are all a failure to follow through on acts and enforce laws, argues the lawsuit.
Columbus, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Chicago all said that Trump violated constitutional law by not actually repealing Obamacare and letting it die instead. The lawsuit also said that the administration was misappropriating funds meant to restore Obamacare, instead using those funds to attack it.
12. Altering a weather map
Trump draws in a new path for Hurricane Dorian #sharpiegate
Source: Imgflip.com
When Hurricane Dorian threatened the east coast of the U.S., Trump presented a map with the hurricane threatening Alabama. However, weather officials from the National Hurricane Center did not include Alabama on the map.
“Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both,” according to U.S. law.
Of course, Trump called it “fake news” and refused to admit that he might have been in the wrong.
13. Breaking Treaties
Trump open-mouthed
Source: Flickr/Evan Guest
The Treaty Compliance Campaign alleged that Trump violated the law when he destroyed the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty in August 2019.
Treaties signed and ratified by presidents become “supreme law of the land.” Withdrawal from a treaty requires an “extraordinary event,” otherwise it becomes illegal. Trump withdrew from the treaty with no extraordinary event compelling the action.
14. Using nonprofit funds to enrich himself
Trump Hotel uses fundraiser to pocket donor money as profit
Source: Screenshot/Showtime
Orange Drumpf is soooooo stupid that he legally out maneuvers all our best and brightest legal minds.
Or....he did nothing illegal.
Either way, they mad!! Grrrr......
I wouldn’t wait either. It only took the American people a little over a year to realize how much they miss President trump, LOL! -
Rich “The People’s Pundit” Baris
@Peoples_Pundit
·
1h
1. It would appear we are not alone.
@EmersonPolling
clearly found Donald Trump’s image not only improving significantly but also rapidly compared to prior presidents.
Quote Tweet
Emerson College Polling
@EmersonPolling
· 3h
NATIONAL POLL:
#Trump favorability
Very favorable 35%
Somewhat favorable 24%
Somewhat unfavorable 7%
Very unfavorable 32%
Unsure 2%
This was a well written article, with clearly stated assessments. It confirms my initial impression that this was flurry of New York lawsuits vs Trump not being much more than political theater, but explains the logic behind each likely outcome. I know the writer is a leftie, but one can learn from almost anybody. See “Rules For Radicals” as reference.
Hahahahahahahaha! They probably threw that dog’s breakfast of a collection of “charges” in there because they didn’t have any proof he pulled the tag off of a mattress!
Mean Tweets are a criminal offense, in the Land of the Perpetually Offended. :)
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