If they can do that to TRUMP, they can do that to YOU

Original Content | 6/1/2024 | By Laz A. Mataz

[Lazamataz]

(At the end of this editorial, I'm offering the opportunity to get a bumper sticker to spread this message)

A long time ago, in 2005, I saw something George W. Bush had done, and I remarked: "First we beat the Soviet Union, then we became them." Little did I know that in under twenty years, we would see Soviet-style Show Trials. We just witnessed the most high-profile Show Trial in American history, where the President (and current candidate for a second term) was put through a trial where all of the elements were crafted to ensure a guilty verdict on manufactured crimes.

Consider the following elements:

• This judge was specifically selected to handle this case. This case was judge-shopped.
• The venue was specifically selected to ensure a Trump-hating jury.
• "Judge" Merchan took over Federal jurisdiction of election law, even though this was a state court.
• Further, Trump stood accused of a crime in which he had zero personal participation. Some nameless accountant filled out the expense information offered as evidence.
• Merchan refused to allow the defense to present witnesses that could refute the prosecution claims, most notably, one of the nation's foremost experts on Federal election law)
• The New York law (falsifying records) requires a predicate crime, none of which were proven or even formally alleged.
• Merchan instructed the jury to ignore the above fact and assume that a predicate crime exists.
• Multiple federal and state prosecutors passed on even charging Trump with any of those predicate crimes.
• The state crime that Trump was accused of, falsifying business records in pursuit of any other fraud, had long passed the Statute of Limitations, and could not legally be used as a charge.
• During the entire fraudulent trial, he out a gag order on Trump to ensure Trump could not defend himself in the court of public opinion.
• Merchan allowed elements of character assassination to be entered as evidence. How, exactly, was the Access Hollywood tape pertinent to this case?
• Merchan allowed a convicted perjurer and serial liar (Michael Cohen) to be the lead prosecution witness.
• The timing of the prosecution and sentencing of this case was carefully timed to inflict maximum political damage.

In short, a "hanging judge" was selected in a politically-hostile jurisdiction, wherein which the judge defied nearly every rule of evidence and law, muzzled the defense, and promoted every prosecution request, no matter how outrageous.

This harkens back to the Soviet Show Trial era that Josef Stalin used to eliminate his opponents. Joe Biden personally showed that this fake trial was politically motivated by flashing a demonic grin when he was asked about the verdict, as he shuffled away from reporters.... and he sent a Trump-hating actor (Robert DiNero) to the courthouse to further assassinate Trump's character.

The so-called judge in this case, Juan Merchan, Merchan violated President Trump's Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights in so many ways.

• Trump's Sixth Amendment right to "an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed" was denied to him by Bragg and Merchan by not moving the venue to a more balanced location outside of New York City.
• Trump's Sixth Amendment right to a trial in "which district shall have been previously ascertained by law" was denied to him by Bragg and Merchan by trying a federal campaign finance law in a county court in New York.
• Trump's Sixth Amendment right "to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusations" against him was denied to him by Bragg and Merchan by not revealing what the underlying charge that bootstrapped the misdemeanors was. Even after conviction, nobody knows what the underlying crime was.
• Trump's Sixth Amendment right to "have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor" was denied to him by Bragg and Merchan by not letting Trump put the former Chairman of the Federal Elections Commission on the witness stand to give expert testimony on what constitutes illegal campaign spending.
• Trump's Sixth Amendment right to have a unanimous jury verdict was denied to him by Bragg and Merchan by letting the jury pick from several possible underlying crimes without all agreeing on what that crime was.
• Trump's Fifth Amendment right to "due process of law" was violated when Bragg and Merchan instructed the jury to presume guilt of the underlying crime that resuscitated misdemeanors that were past their statute of limitations.

To point out the motivations of this so-called judge (besides, of course, Trump Derangement Syndrome), it was revealed that Merchan's daughter (a Democrat consultant) is poised to receive $125 Million in fees, and was given unlimited access to his court.

If such a political, Soviet-style Show Trial can happen to a former President who also is a billionaire, is most certainly can happen to you.

[Regulator]

It’s a great summary, but one big thing is missing.

The entire case rests on an extortion.

“Stormy” and her attorney extorted Trump.

Instead of prosecuting her, Bragg prosecuted the victim with a fabricated charge. That’s what Bragg does: he’s pro-crime.

Where is Trump’s right to equal protection? The government isn’t supposed to side with the burglars.

[Lazamataz]

I am special enough for a petition. Seriously.

Yes. Rabid liberals are always a good target for me to acquire.

You that much of a safe space snowflake?

Yes. You rabid liberals literally own ALL the other media sources, and in many cases, permit only their side of the argument. I've always treasured FR as the one place I can have conversations with people of like mind, uninterrupted by liberal lunacy or trolling.

My question to you is, with all the hundreds of thousands of other outlets for your liberal lunacy, why do you feel compelled to bring it here... when it is clearly outside the mission statement of the forum?

[Lazamataz]

It’s a great summary, but one big thing is missing. The entire case rests on an extortion. “Stormy” and her attorney extorted Trump.

I didn't include it because it presumes facts not in evidence. Yes, you and I know that's what happened, but it cannot be completely proven.

Therefore I omitted it.

[Lazamataz]

That is an outstanding post! Reminds me of the good old days on FR!

Thank you, madam. I try to recapture the spirit of early Free Republic when I can.

I am, after all, one of the Old Guard.

[central_va]

The FBI can manufacture fake evidence and corrupt DAs can prosecute ANYONE they want to. You, me, anyone. What I am trying to figure out was it ALWAYS like this?

[GOPJ]

That's a great bumper sticker Laz...

[Lazamataz]

I think it was like this no later than 11/22/1963.

[joesbucks]

No political affiliations. There are a couple of concerning media consumption . But there are a few that if I were the prosecution that leans conservative like Fox, NY Post and the WSJ. Your graphic is the only place I’ve seen the Cohen podcast. The to me gives better background: https://www.reuters.com/legal/who-are-12-jurors-donald-trumps-hush-money-trial-new-york-2024-04-22/

[Lazamataz]

Order some! :^)

[combat_boots]

The axis is global

The crowd is chanting for TRUMP at Tommy Robinson rally.

Tommy says Trump is the only leader who can save the West.pic.twitter.com/kSoEuQWMWx— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 1, 2024

[central_va]

They can indict a ham sandwich if they wanted to. We are all ham sandwiches now.

[MayflowerMadam]

“The FBI can manufacture fake evidence ... What I am trying to figure out was it ALWAYS like this?”

Ironically, DH and I JUST asked the exact same question a half-hour ago while watching re-runs of NYPD Blue. The episode was about how the FBI screwed up an investigation. I guess they weren’t crooked, but were major arrogant assholes.

Seems that they always were bad, but the level of bad-ness fluctuated.

[central_va]

What is a DH? Designated hitter?

[MayflowerMadam]

“What is a DH?”

Dear Husband.

[joesbucks]

Because not all of what I opine or link to is liberal lunacy. In fact much of it. And if you’re not consuming all sides of the narrative, you aren’t well informed.

I know many here stick fingers in their ears and scream La La La when it comes to differing perspectives. But just as they whine when Coulter (when she was still welcome here) or Benson or some other bomb thrower is a speaker at a college campus and people protest, this forum in general makes fun of those seeking safe spaces from the hurtful words of those speakers. You are doing the same with those who have differing worldviews here. When was the last time you watched CNN or MSNBC or CBS et al for news?

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

"https://eji.org/news/supreme-court-limits-relief-for-people-who-were-wrongly-convicted/"

https://eji.org/news/supreme-court-limits-relief-for-people-who-were-wrongly-convicted/"

Please learn how to post links.

[WarANDPiece]

So the NY state government is going to prosecute me for filing false shell company business records to hide hush money payments?

You mean metaphorically, right?

[luvie]

Yep. Remember January 6th.

[WarANDPiece]

Exactly what evidence in this case against Trump was manufactured by the FBI?

[WarANDPiece]

Well the prosecution and the defense both have to agree on jurors.

Some of you guys act like this is the first court case you’ve ever seen!