This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1434988
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1434988
“…these distractions don’t change one simple fact: Trump is not above the law he swore to uphold.”
Um, yes he is.
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A good survey of the state of play.
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While it drives compelling copy, a sprawling plot to overturn the will of the voters and destroy American democracy investigated by two different branches of government takes time.
Three. Three branches.
Plus the Fourth Estate.
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Well, that’s certainly what he thinks.
And it’s what drives the raw animal panic whenever something happens that suggests that may not be true in the end, like when a bunch of feds show up to search his Florida lair.
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Hope you and I are wrong with this belief.
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Five is right out.
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Trump is above the law in more ways than one.
As it stands, Trump is STILL above any law any one of us might suffer.
That can change, but as yet, it hasn’t.
There really is a separate justice for the wealthy, that is at the footings of this construct, but Trump’s adoption of violent defenders as a cult magnifies the timidity of DOJ to act, on top of the wealth privilege.
Add to that the Jordans and Gaetzes, who run interference on Justice at every opportunity and Trump is even more protected from accountability.
Trump’s above The Law we are all subject to, every which way but Truth. But there is no doubt, he’s protected by layers of inequality most of us could never afford, nor would we ever be afforded it by “the authorities” in charge.
I repeat; Trump is above the law in more ways than one.
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It’s a capitalist based legal system we have.
Of course it’s about money. Not justice.
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He has been committing crimes in multiple states (and overseas) for 5 decades and never once has he been personally indicted for any of them. Make the case he’s subject to the law.
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TBF: With the notable exception of a few independant sites, like, for example, TPM, most of mainstream media is uninterested in discussing the GOP’s past, or on-going, attempts to end democracy… they’re casting it as typical “horse race politics.” It’s kinda infuriating.
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Trump is not above the law. It’s a unique case due to potential contamination of the jury pool because he won’t keep his yammering mouth shut, but he’s going to be indicted when the DOJ has sufficient evidence to overcome that, and after the various agencies have declassified a few of the documents he took so they can be shown to a jury.
The only people who feel the DOJ is being “timid” about applying the law to Trump are those who are impatient with the pace of the process. The system is working, it’s just not working on your preferred schedule.
One of the last people to be sent to prison for willful retention of national defense secrets – one of the three things Trump is accused of – was Harold Martin, mentioned in the header of this thread. It took three years from arraignment to final sentencing due to legal maneuvers. And he wasn’t wealthy.
The DOJ raid on Mar a Lago was just two months ago.
This isn’t going to happen as quickly as many here would like, but due to the importance of the case and the fact that the current DOJ is only guaranteed to be in place until January 2025 with a potential change of government, I don’t think it will take as long as the Martin case.
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The next GOP Prez pardons Trump of all Federal crimes; alleged, confirmed or rumored. The DOJ will be grinding away at bringing him to justice and all their work will go pfffft.
One stroke of the pen and that Prez endears himself for life to the 25% of the electorate that is hardcore MAGA.
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Multiple ongoing federal and state investigations that add up to threats far more serious than anything he’s faced in his entire dreadful lifetime.
All career criminals get away with it right up until the moment when they don’t.
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How many of those that finally had to face their comeuppance were an ex-President?
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None, which is a big part of why this is taking so long. But I’m not sure that actually supports your case. But I know you’re locked in hard on this, so I’m not expecting to convince you. And it’s time to get the coffee pot on, so cheers.
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Possible but unlikely I think. Every President wants two terms, and they need to win more than their base to get reelected for a second term. Pardoning Trump in the first term would kill a GOP President’s chances for a second term. The pardon would happen in the second term. Trump won’t be alive by then.
Even if there’s a pardon in the first GOP Presidential term, we’re talking about 2025 at the earliest. More than two years from now. Trump will already be in prison by then, and that will either kill him or at least permanently remove him from the political scene even if he’s released in 2025. I’d take either one.
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I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, please.
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When the select committee issues its “final report,” likely no earlier than November, it will trigger the 30-day closing period that formally ends its operations under its authorizing statute. It will then be up to prosecutors, policymakers, and voters to appreciate the full scope of evidence presented — and work to assure that we avoid a repeat of the unprecedented attack on American democracy that culminated on January 6, 2021.
What is more important, that Chump is officially nailed to the wall and charged with a crime for J6…or that 150 MoC don’t just sail thru November’s election with barely a glove laid on them for their part in J6? Chump isn’t in government anymore, they are. J6C needs to show some urgency, 2024 isn’t the game…2022 is.
ETA: By the way, DoJ seems to be on the job about Chump’s J6 crimes and the conspiracy there. J6C can now spend some effort in other areas, they were never going to bring charges or be able to successfully ensnare him or punish him very much with their powers. They did a great job with their fact collecting. I think they did a terrible job of using all the truth, facts, and public outrage to help our Democracy by affecting the Nov. elections. The Rs would have used such an opportunity solely for politics, and would have used lies, misinformation, and every other sleazy trick to affect the elections. The Dems could have used truth, facts, video to do their public service AND affect the elections.
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