Read an interesting opinion piece a few weeks ago about Trumps next move. Based on past actions, Trump will go on the offense. He’s not just going to sit back calmly.
Declare for the 2024 presidency this summer. That puts Bidens DOJ in the position of having to charge Biden’s announced political opponent with a crime. That will be sold to America as a clear case of political persecution (Putin/ Navanly) . Sue to have the proceedings stayed until the election is over. A Republican House will obviously stop any further investigations and proceed to impeach Biden.
A Republican win in ‘24 and all charges are dropped.
HH I assure you that Trump won’t be running for anything. He is so fat that he even takes his golf cart onto the putting green.He will be crawling away from numerous civil and criminal suits.He is getting so ensnarled in the BIG Lie and 1/6 coup conspiracy that he hasn’t even had time to throw his lunch against the wall for weeks.
He will NOT rpt NOT be a serious presidential candidate in 2024. Out of ego, he may tease us with a semi-hat-in-the-ring and, perhaps solicit more money from his cultists, but he’s a coward and won’t risk being a public has been in 2024.
I agree that it is unlikely he will be a candidate in 2024, which unfortunately doesn't end the trajectory we are on. There are more dangerous people gunning to take his place.
I'd like to ask you to keep his weight out of the criticism of him, however. As someone involved in the fat acceptance movement, I know that comments like that do not hurt Trump; they hurt other fat people who already have to live with enormous systemic bias against them and regular threats to their safety.
Thank YOU. I steel myself to write comments like this. When I used to do it on Twitter (not on Twitter anymore), there was always unpleasant backlash. I think here it might be more understood, but you never know.
Being fat won't stop an aggrieved autocrat like Trump from seeking revenge. Look at the man's history. Let's hope he will be embroiled in major criminal and civil lawsuits. That won't stop him. He will declare himself persecuted and figure out how to discredit the rule of law. The man is monstrous and unbending. Even if he can't touch his toes.
I agree. Between his narcissism and the criminality of the republican party, I'm not taking anything off the table. As far as I am concerned 2016 is the second election they fixed. I don't see them changing their mindset anytime soon.
Exactly, but nobody wants me to start again about the Electoral College. With the Reps' iron grasp on State governments, the Electoral College, and the corrupt Supreme Court, I continue to feel helpless about this country's future.
Nancy Ditto about Trump in 2016–and in 2020. Trump ain’t going to risk it in 2024, as his star is falling and some of his Mafiosos are beginning to squeal like stuck pigs.
So, Keith, do you see the next year as one of political detente with Trump and Biden promoting the idea (myth, ploy) the 2024 will repeat 2020 to keep a lid on speculations and agressive pre-campaigning before real candidates come out of from under a rock or the woodwork?
Fred Though an historian should stick to analyzing the past, I’ll venture a guess that neither Trump nor Biden will be 2024 candidates. There will be younger candidates—with DeSantis a scary prospect—a more intelligent Trumpist.
Trump may announce White House bid this fall, despite GOP fears of disrupting midterm elections
Some Republicans fear that Trump announcing he will run in 2024 could undercut them at a time when they have a strong chance of retaking the House and Senate. But as possible rivals become more aggressive, an increasing number of allies are urging the former president to launch his campaign now as a way to shore up his standing in the party and drive turnout in November's midterms.
See my comment up-thread quoting Dan Pfeiffer on why it's not in TFG's interest to declare early. "News" stories that start with "may announce" and source "some Republicans" aren't especially good for buttressing arguments.
I think any announcement now by Trump will only galvanize voters to support Democrat candidates - at least those Republican & Independent voters who are following the Jan. 6 committee public hearings. Perhaps an announcement by Trump now will be as effective as his admonitions in Georgia before the 2020 elections.
Dan Pfeiffer in his most recent Substack doesn't believe TFG will declare this summer, and he has a fairly compelling reason focusing on campaign finance: "Launching a presidential campaign is not just a rhetorical matter. It requires filing a statement of candidacy with the FEC, which immediately triggers a series of fundraising limits and disclosure requirements. To put those strictures in perspective, Trump’s current political activities (travel, ads for candidates, state, polling, etc) are funded by Super PACS with no limits on contributions from any individual. Peter Thiel could write a billion-dollar check if he so desired. Once Trump announces, Thiel could give a total of $2900 to Trump’s campaign from the day Trump announces until the day he officially assumes the nomination at the 2024 Republican Convention. Announcing now would be an act of abject idiocy (so it’s possible Trump will do it after all)."
Yes, but this is DJT. He does not care about rules and nobody holds him accountable. That is what really gets me, not a single indictment over J6, except for the small time players.
Holy Sh_t batman. What a terrifying scenario. I had not thought through the idea of TFG throwing his hat in the ring for 2024 at such an early stage. It throws a political wrench into the workings of DOJ. If I know Trump (and I think I do) - one can predict what he will or won't do based solely on what is in it for him. This seems like a possible way out of his big predicament (at least he will think so). To the rest of the world though, I would hope such a move is taken exactly for what it is.
I continue to wonder/ponder WHO is coaching Trump. Seriously. He is not even close to being smart enough or creative enough to orchestrate such a plan.
This is an excellent question. He's not close to smart enough, and I don't think "the crazies" are grounded enough in reality to pull it off, although Flynn might well have connections to the paramilitary groups. One part that surprised me was the extent to which *someone* -- maybe Eastman? -- dug up constitutional ways to undermine the election, specifically the Electoral Count Act of 1887. I also wonder how much of it was orchestrated and how much it was improvised. Trump was/is quite capable of tossing a match into a heaping pile of gasoline-doused kindling, and that heaping pile was a-building all through his so-called administration. He knew that because he'd been working hard to build it, and he was very aware of the "stand back and stand by" crowd. Was there a mastermind? I don't know, but if I had to come up with three top suspects, Mark Meadows would be one of them.
As much as I despise Flynn, he does have the Military background to create strategy and tactics. As to Trump gaslighting, that IS the one thing he is good at. And he is manipulative enough to deflect it onto someone else. Reminds me of Sgt. Schultz from "Hogan's Heroes": I know nothing!
Good point about Flynn's background, and gaslighting is instinctive with Trump. Whether he's capable of telling the truth, or even figuring it out, is open to question.
What if BIDEN doesn't run? AND, if Trump can ran for president as an indicted or incarcerated felon, then justice and the office of the president are two separate entities and any crimes he's involved in shouldn't impact his candidacy - he admitted to sexual abuse in 2016, no problem!
Hmmm. A very possible scenario. Will Trump be indicted? I think so. Incarcerated? I think not - the lawsuits and the ponderous process might take years. Trump will die of natural causes before that happens, I suspect. So that means Trump has to win his primaries as an indicted criminal. I would not put anything past that electorate, so that is indeed a possibility. Will Biden run? Gosh I don't know. If he stays healthy and maintains his mind and doesn't succumb to dementia like Reagan did, probably so. And if so I doubt the Democratic party would fight it. If not, then who? VP Harris is just not popular and has not been the shining star many had hoped for. I do think there is a pretty good list of stellar candidates who could do well. Whitmer comes to mind but there are others. I like our chances in 2024 for popular vote, but not necessarily the electoral vote.
Sandy, you have been around long enough to know that cutting off the head of the monster is not enough - the monster will regrow another head. I've always believed that focusing on Trump as the evil-doer is a mistake. If you lock him up and no other Republican, Trump will only serve as a martyr for the cause.
This is far greater a problem than one man. This is a massive failure in our government because we have essentially installed foxes in the hen house with no security protections or guardrails in place to prevent or stop a coup. Clearly, the one agency of the government that should be the country's firewall is the Department of Justice, but they are not demonstrably engaged in doing everything possible to preserve the Republic and uphold the Constitution.
May I suggest this would not be happening in any other democratically formed country? There would be a relentless investigation and indictments following a coup attempt. I also firmly believe the vast majority would demand and expect every effort be made to bring the treasonous seditionists to justice ASAP!
There are other democratically formed governments which quickly desolve into illiberal democracies. We do have Poland and Hungary eating at that table. Ours has just taken baby steps to get there......or has been until tfg's coup. The cult Republicans have tried to " capture the referees" and have missed a few but I suspect there are still many in the administration and institutions wearing the striped shirts of the GOP.
Some of us are demanding justice, but at least 70 million prefer kleptocratic autocracy to a democracy that doesn’t do everything it can to preserve systemic white advantages. Even if by an Abrams-level miracle we retain control of the legislature the 70 million will still be living among us, and most of them like to brandish guns with large magazines.
While "we" are, clearly not enough people in any positions of power are. And the Democrat party does not seem to be doing a whole bunch.
We continue to have an egregiously corrupt and stacked court. Yet the Democrats have not made one move to pack that court and rectify the situation.
Are we really to be saddled with this knife in the back to our Supreme Court? For a lifetime?
No announcement has been made to move on the results of the Mueller investigation, and no move has been made to address the false constraints with which that investigation was saddled.
Now we're having this 1/6 hearing. But all I hear are rumblings that it has no teeth, and that it will be going nowhere. And quite honestly, if that is what happens, what power do any of us have to do anything about it?
"We" is not just you and me and a million other people. You may disagree, but I think there's a reason for calling the silent majority, silent. Since January 6th, the outrage has decreased and there clearly is not an overt nor overwhelming public demand for justice. People should be outraged and alarmed for how the Republican Party has betrayed this country in their willingness to stop at nothing to establish authoritarianism in the U.S. I fear most people have lost faith in government and the justice system.
I also think that Biden's low poll numbers and why Democrats aren't favored in the midterms is because they have not lead the charge against the traitorous Republicans. The propaganda wars are being won by the Republicans who lie with impunity. i.e. Democrats never have learned to give as good as you get. Taking the high road means getting undercut at every turn. Biden is the wrong man for the job in these times - the country needs a fighter who believes their number one priority is preserving majority rule in a democratically formed government. A radical minority is oppressing and suppressing the majority. How is that possible in a country that holds itself out as the best democratically formed government.
Finally, I think most people in the world who are paying attention to what is happening in the U.S. are completely baffled at our timidity in pushing back against a seditious and corrosive anti-democratic party. I've noticed a difference in coverage about politics in the US between the Washington Post and the Guardian. HCR recently had one of her letters published in the Guardian and the comment section was illuminating.
Observing the demeanors of the members of the Jan 6 Committee, I am feeling increasingly confident that Trump will be charged, convicted and jailed, even though it's not the Committee will be doing that. No longer does it seem to be "wishful thinking" or "I feel hopeful." Hope can be a debilitating attitude. Definitely Justice and the AG are in charge!
At his current pace, MG will be ready to indict the inner circle, including TFG, in about 3 more years. I am not waiting for DOJ to rescue us, my hopes are on GA, or maybe Manhattan if they get rid of their current prosecutor, who dropped the case.
Because Trump has lifetime Secret Service protection, putting him in prison would represent too much risk for the lives of the agents. That doesn't preclude him being sentenced to home confinement. My dream is that he's remanded to his golden palace in NYC, prohibited from playing golf and is as limited in his ability to communicate with the outside world as if he were in prison.
Unless he could be convicted for the deaths that occurred on Jan 6, the types of felonies he might be convicted for wouldn't lead to a federal maximum security prison. I know that these fantasies are satisfying but I fear that when they are crushed by reality there will be an unwarranted distrust of the judicial system. YMMV
Judiciary has zero say on where prisoners are housed, all a sentencing judge can do is 'suggest' to Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP). Length of sentence plays into level of security where prisoners are housed, but other factors such as risk of break out and security of both inmate and society and others are also factors. FBOP can assign inmate to any facility in their system, it is their discretion.
Treason is the only crime that is mentioned in the US Constitution, and the maximum penalty is death. The trick is getting a conviction for treason because these are different times. i.e., there is hardly a more serious crime than treason and the penalty can most certainly be put to death.
I think there is a consensus among legal scholars that the crime of treason cannot go unpunished even if it was committed by a former president and elected officials - all of whom have violated their oath of office to uphold the Constitution.
I'm thinking it is inaccurate to call this a fantasy. There is a reality here that is all too real and must be addressed!
Yes, treason is mentioned in the COTUS but it has more to do with providing aid and comfort to external enemies. Sedition is also mentioned in the COTUS. To me that seems more applicable to this case. https://thelawdictionary.org/article/treason-vs-sedition/
All will depend on the justice department and on the Attorney General. I share your belief. I believe Trump will be charged convicted and jailed.
Let's hope so Sandy. This has to stop and a clear message like that might have his enablers thinking twice about their next move.
Read an interesting opinion piece a few weeks ago about Trumps next move. Based on past actions, Trump will go on the offense. He’s not just going to sit back calmly.
Declare for the 2024 presidency this summer. That puts Bidens DOJ in the position of having to charge Biden’s announced political opponent with a crime. That will be sold to America as a clear case of political persecution (Putin/ Navanly) . Sue to have the proceedings stayed until the election is over. A Republican House will obviously stop any further investigations and proceed to impeach Biden.
A Republican win in ‘24 and all charges are dropped.
Looks to be a very interesting summer.
HH I assure you that Trump won’t be running for anything. He is so fat that he even takes his golf cart onto the putting green.He will be crawling away from numerous civil and criminal suits.He is getting so ensnarled in the BIG Lie and 1/6 coup conspiracy that he hasn’t even had time to throw his lunch against the wall for weeks.
He will NOT rpt NOT be a serious presidential candidate in 2024. Out of ego, he may tease us with a semi-hat-in-the-ring and, perhaps solicit more money from his cultists, but he’s a coward and won’t risk being a public has been in 2024.
I agree that it is unlikely he will be a candidate in 2024, which unfortunately doesn't end the trajectory we are on. There are more dangerous people gunning to take his place.
I'd like to ask you to keep his weight out of the criticism of him, however. As someone involved in the fat acceptance movement, I know that comments like that do not hurt Trump; they hurt other fat people who already have to live with enormous systemic bias against them and regular threats to their safety.
I agree Nomi. Thanks.
Thank YOU. I steel myself to write comments like this. When I used to do it on Twitter (not on Twitter anymore), there was always unpleasant backlash. I think here it might be more understood, but you never know.
Also agree.
Being fat won't stop an aggrieved autocrat like Trump from seeking revenge. Look at the man's history. Let's hope he will be embroiled in major criminal and civil lawsuits. That won't stop him. He will declare himself persecuted and figure out how to discredit the rule of law. The man is monstrous and unbending. Even if he can't touch his toes.
I agree. Between his narcissism and the criminality of the republican party, I'm not taking anything off the table. As far as I am concerned 2016 is the second election they fixed. I don't see them changing their mindset anytime soon.
Keith, I truly hope you are correct that being said if we don't proceed in charging tfg soon he will strike back and again be in the race.
Bill, are you Mary Carter's brother?
That's my take, also, Keith. On the other hand, I totally rejected the possibility that he'd win in '16.
Actually, you were right. He lost the popular vote, but the electoral college played whack-a-mole again.
Exactly, but nobody wants me to start again about the Electoral College. With the Reps' iron grasp on State governments, the Electoral College, and the corrupt Supreme Court, I continue to feel helpless about this country's future.
To say nothing of the GOP controlled Senate..
How true, David. I dislike Manchin and Sinema even more than the Reprehensible Reps. At least they tell you up front what they are!
Nancy Ditto about Trump in 2016–and in 2020. Trump ain’t going to risk it in 2024, as his star is falling and some of his Mafiosos are beginning to squeal like stuck pigs.
I really hope you are right.
I sincerely hope you are right.
So, Keith, do you see the next year as one of political detente with Trump and Biden promoting the idea (myth, ploy) the 2024 will repeat 2020 to keep a lid on speculations and agressive pre-campaigning before real candidates come out of from under a rock or the woodwork?
Fred Though an historian should stick to analyzing the past, I’ll venture a guess that neither Trump nor Biden will be 2024 candidates. There will be younger candidates—with DeSantis a scary prospect—a more intelligent Trumpist.
A WaPo News Alert.
Trump may announce White House bid this fall, despite GOP fears of disrupting midterm elections
Some Republicans fear that Trump announcing he will run in 2024 could undercut them at a time when they have a strong chance of retaking the House and Senate. But as possible rivals become more aggressive, an increasing number of allies are urging the former president to launch his campaign now as a way to shore up his standing in the party and drive turnout in November's midterms.
See my comment up-thread quoting Dan Pfeiffer on why it's not in TFG's interest to declare early. "News" stories that start with "may announce" and source "some Republicans" aren't especially good for buttressing arguments.
I think any announcement now by Trump will only galvanize voters to support Democrat candidates - at least those Republican & Independent voters who are following the Jan. 6 committee public hearings. Perhaps an announcement by Trump now will be as effective as his admonitions in Georgia before the 2020 elections.
Dan Pfeiffer in his most recent Substack doesn't believe TFG will declare this summer, and he has a fairly compelling reason focusing on campaign finance: "Launching a presidential campaign is not just a rhetorical matter. It requires filing a statement of candidacy with the FEC, which immediately triggers a series of fundraising limits and disclosure requirements. To put those strictures in perspective, Trump’s current political activities (travel, ads for candidates, state, polling, etc) are funded by Super PACS with no limits on contributions from any individual. Peter Thiel could write a billion-dollar check if he so desired. Once Trump announces, Thiel could give a total of $2900 to Trump’s campaign from the day Trump announces until the day he officially assumes the nomination at the 2024 Republican Convention. Announcing now would be an act of abject idiocy (so it’s possible Trump will do it after all)."
Yes, but this is DJT. He does not care about rules and nobody holds him accountable. That is what really gets me, not a single indictment over J6, except for the small time players.
Holy Sh_t batman. What a terrifying scenario. I had not thought through the idea of TFG throwing his hat in the ring for 2024 at such an early stage. It throws a political wrench into the workings of DOJ. If I know Trump (and I think I do) - one can predict what he will or won't do based solely on what is in it for him. This seems like a possible way out of his big predicament (at least he will think so). To the rest of the world though, I would hope such a move is taken exactly for what it is.
I continue to wonder/ponder WHO is coaching Trump. Seriously. He is not even close to being smart enough or creative enough to orchestrate such a plan.
This is an excellent question. He's not close to smart enough, and I don't think "the crazies" are grounded enough in reality to pull it off, although Flynn might well have connections to the paramilitary groups. One part that surprised me was the extent to which *someone* -- maybe Eastman? -- dug up constitutional ways to undermine the election, specifically the Electoral Count Act of 1887. I also wonder how much of it was orchestrated and how much it was improvised. Trump was/is quite capable of tossing a match into a heaping pile of gasoline-doused kindling, and that heaping pile was a-building all through his so-called administration. He knew that because he'd been working hard to build it, and he was very aware of the "stand back and stand by" crowd. Was there a mastermind? I don't know, but if I had to come up with three top suspects, Mark Meadows would be one of them.
As much as I despise Flynn, he does have the Military background to create strategy and tactics. As to Trump gaslighting, that IS the one thing he is good at. And he is manipulative enough to deflect it onto someone else. Reminds me of Sgt. Schultz from "Hogan's Heroes": I know nothing!
Good point about Flynn's background, and gaslighting is instinctive with Trump. Whether he's capable of telling the truth, or even figuring it out, is open to question.
The Federalist Society? I read that he was given a list of recommendations with regard to Supreme Court.
Okay, I am at a loss. I do not see a reference to The Federalist Society. What am I missing?
Washington Post reporting he'll likely announce after Labor Day, which conceivably could help Democrats in the midterm elections.
But the wind could suddenly change direction, and Trump will change his mind — what's left of it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/14/trump-2024-announcement-fall/
wow that would suck
There isn't much of this summer left! Are you talking about next summer?
The last day of summer is September 22.
Lots of time.
How awful. I could never such a crime and it's not over.
What if BIDEN doesn't run? AND, if Trump can ran for president as an indicted or incarcerated felon, then justice and the office of the president are two separate entities and any crimes he's involved in shouldn't impact his candidacy - he admitted to sexual abuse in 2016, no problem!
Hmmm. A very possible scenario. Will Trump be indicted? I think so. Incarcerated? I think not - the lawsuits and the ponderous process might take years. Trump will die of natural causes before that happens, I suspect. So that means Trump has to win his primaries as an indicted criminal. I would not put anything past that electorate, so that is indeed a possibility. Will Biden run? Gosh I don't know. If he stays healthy and maintains his mind and doesn't succumb to dementia like Reagan did, probably so. And if so I doubt the Democratic party would fight it. If not, then who? VP Harris is just not popular and has not been the shining star many had hoped for. I do think there is a pretty good list of stellar candidates who could do well. Whitmer comes to mind but there are others. I like our chances in 2024 for popular vote, but not necessarily the electoral vote.
Sandy, you have been around long enough to know that cutting off the head of the monster is not enough - the monster will regrow another head. I've always believed that focusing on Trump as the evil-doer is a mistake. If you lock him up and no other Republican, Trump will only serve as a martyr for the cause.
This is far greater a problem than one man. This is a massive failure in our government because we have essentially installed foxes in the hen house with no security protections or guardrails in place to prevent or stop a coup. Clearly, the one agency of the government that should be the country's firewall is the Department of Justice, but they are not demonstrably engaged in doing everything possible to preserve the Republic and uphold the Constitution.
May I suggest this would not be happening in any other democratically formed country? There would be a relentless investigation and indictments following a coup attempt. I also firmly believe the vast majority would demand and expect every effort be made to bring the treasonous seditionists to justice ASAP!
My hope and expectation:
All will depend on the justice department and on the Attorney General. I share your belief. I believe Trump will be charged, convicted and jailed.
The question is when. Not if.
Timing? When a national frustration and awareness rise with a force that renders the indictment of a president decision long, long overdue.
Cassidy Hutchinson’s youthful conscience should do it. She’s addicted to the truth. Never lies. Never denies.
Our Republican women will shame the ossified old white males that have simply lost it.
We will be led by Rep. Liz Cheney and Cassidy Hutchinson.. or we will fail as a world leader.
There are other democratically formed governments which quickly desolve into illiberal democracies. We do have Poland and Hungary eating at that table. Ours has just taken baby steps to get there......or has been until tfg's coup. The cult Republicans have tried to " capture the referees" and have missed a few but I suspect there are still many in the administration and institutions wearing the striped shirts of the GOP.
What on Earth makes you think we are not demanding justice?
Some of us are demanding justice, but at least 70 million prefer kleptocratic autocracy to a democracy that doesn’t do everything it can to preserve systemic white advantages. Even if by an Abrams-level miracle we retain control of the legislature the 70 million will still be living among us, and most of them like to brandish guns with large magazines.
While "we" are, clearly not enough people in any positions of power are. And the Democrat party does not seem to be doing a whole bunch.
We continue to have an egregiously corrupt and stacked court. Yet the Democrats have not made one move to pack that court and rectify the situation.
Are we really to be saddled with this knife in the back to our Supreme Court? For a lifetime?
No announcement has been made to move on the results of the Mueller investigation, and no move has been made to address the false constraints with which that investigation was saddled.
Now we're having this 1/6 hearing. But all I hear are rumblings that it has no teeth, and that it will be going nowhere. And quite honestly, if that is what happens, what power do any of us have to do anything about it?
My sentiments too. The democrats need to fight harder and show up.
"We" is not just you and me and a million other people. You may disagree, but I think there's a reason for calling the silent majority, silent. Since January 6th, the outrage has decreased and there clearly is not an overt nor overwhelming public demand for justice. People should be outraged and alarmed for how the Republican Party has betrayed this country in their willingness to stop at nothing to establish authoritarianism in the U.S. I fear most people have lost faith in government and the justice system.
I also think that Biden's low poll numbers and why Democrats aren't favored in the midterms is because they have not lead the charge against the traitorous Republicans. The propaganda wars are being won by the Republicans who lie with impunity. i.e. Democrats never have learned to give as good as you get. Taking the high road means getting undercut at every turn. Biden is the wrong man for the job in these times - the country needs a fighter who believes their number one priority is preserving majority rule in a democratically formed government. A radical minority is oppressing and suppressing the majority. How is that possible in a country that holds itself out as the best democratically formed government.
Finally, I think most people in the world who are paying attention to what is happening in the U.S. are completely baffled at our timidity in pushing back against a seditious and corrosive anti-democratic party. I've noticed a difference in coverage about politics in the US between the Washington Post and the Guardian. HCR recently had one of her letters published in the Guardian and the comment section was illuminating.
I hope I answered your question.
Observing the demeanors of the members of the Jan 6 Committee, I am feeling increasingly confident that Trump will be charged, convicted and jailed, even though it's not the Committee will be doing that. No longer does it seem to be "wishful thinking" or "I feel hopeful." Hope can be a debilitating attitude. Definitely Justice and the AG are in charge!
God, I hope you are correct Sandy!
I pray!
All will depend on the justice department and on the Attorney General. I share your belief. I believe Trump will be charged, convicted and jailed.
At his current pace, MG will be ready to indict the inner circle, including TFG, in about 3 more years. I am not waiting for DOJ to rescue us, my hopes are on GA, or maybe Manhattan if they get rid of their current prosecutor, who dropped the case.
Because Trump has lifetime Secret Service protection, putting him in prison would represent too much risk for the lives of the agents. That doesn't preclude him being sentenced to home confinement. My dream is that he's remanded to his golden palace in NYC, prohibited from playing golf and is as limited in his ability to communicate with the outside world as if he were in prison.
When he is a convicted felon his Secret Service protection must be rescinded. This guy needs real prison…..death Row would be an extra bonus.
Maximum security prison, solitary confinement separated from other inmates. Super safe. One Secret Service person just sits outside the cell.
Unless he could be convicted for the deaths that occurred on Jan 6, the types of felonies he might be convicted for wouldn't lead to a federal maximum security prison. I know that these fantasies are satisfying but I fear that when they are crushed by reality there will be an unwarranted distrust of the judicial system. YMMV
Judiciary has zero say on where prisoners are housed, all a sentencing judge can do is 'suggest' to Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP). Length of sentence plays into level of security where prisoners are housed, but other factors such as risk of break out and security of both inmate and society and others are also factors. FBOP can assign inmate to any facility in their system, it is their discretion.
Treason is the only crime that is mentioned in the US Constitution, and the maximum penalty is death. The trick is getting a conviction for treason because these are different times. i.e., there is hardly a more serious crime than treason and the penalty can most certainly be put to death.
I think there is a consensus among legal scholars that the crime of treason cannot go unpunished even if it was committed by a former president and elected officials - all of whom have violated their oath of office to uphold the Constitution.
I'm thinking it is inaccurate to call this a fantasy. There is a reality here that is all too real and must be addressed!
Yes, treason is mentioned in the COTUS but it has more to do with providing aid and comfort to external enemies. Sedition is also mentioned in the COTUS. To me that seems more applicable to this case. https://thelawdictionary.org/article/treason-vs-sedition/
I agree about rescinding his protection but it would take Congress to do so and realistically that's not going to happen.
Unless being a convicted felon takes away his Secret Service protection.
I wish I could share your optimism.
As an aspiring curmudgeon and a constitutional enthusiast I'm almost praying that you are on the mark Mr. Lewis.