745 Comments
User's avatar
тна Return to thread
DLM's avatar

Mike, until the indictments are unsealed and trump is charged, we do not know what or how many crimes trump will be charged.

This is the beginning of the beginning.

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

DLM, it is true we do not know what the indictments will actually be, but, we know what the targeted crime was: Using campaign money to pay off a hooker to keep her quiet.

Now, it is not illegal, that I know of, for a man in NY City to pay a hooker although it is illegal, but, mostly tolerated, to BE a hooker; however, it is illegal to use campaign money to do it.

I feel that this is a crime that is tiny compared to what I have seen of Trump.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Why did you call Stormy Daniels a 'hooker' and in another post a 'prostitute'? She was a striper before directing and acting in the 'adult entertainment' business. otherwise known as a porn star.

Expand full comment
Louis Giglio's avatar

Oh the derogatory terms the boys use!

Expand full comment
DLM's avatar

Sad we don't call trump a whore for not being able to keep his penis in his pants. Or a rapist. Or a pedophile.

Expand full comment
DLM's avatar

Marj, Me too.

Expand full comment
David Herrick's avatar

I've heard there is plenty of room in his pants for his penis.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

тАжand it is a pleasure to have a gentleman in the house.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Hale, my line, which you responded to with 'Wtf' was a 'thank you' to Louis' understanding that some men sound like 'boys' when speaking of women. As for your 'Wtf''?

Expand full comment
Bongo-1, VT's avatar

Sorry, I apologizeЁЯМ┐

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Thank you, Hale. ЁЯШ╕

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Stormy Daniels is a business woman. Period!

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

Hi Fern,

good question. I assumed that Stormy was being paid when she and Trump got together because, well, who would get together with that guy for free?

could be I was wrong. no doubt.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Yes, a good question to be asking ourselves as we search for the facts.

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

Mike,

Teflon Donald is an asshat who thinks he's Hugh Hefner and thinks with his dick. It's quite possible that Stormy outsmarted him. But we can't ass/u/me anything. Circus arraignment on Tuesday. 34 counts. Should be interesting.

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

One might say that Stormy handled the situation and saw him coming ЁЯШЙ

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

Fern,

Above all, Stormy Daniels is a brave woman and we wouldn't have an indictment of Trump without her. And I don't know or care why she went into his hotel room. I just hope it wasn't one that I've slept in.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

What exactly are you concerned about catching?

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

It's been quite a while since I've slept there. Just a joke in reference to the infamous story about Trump in a Moscow hotel in 2013, in a room that the Obamas slept in.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

I thought there was a wink attached to your post, Jay, and that wasn't that first time your sense of play peeped through.

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

Yes. I should have used the wink emoji. Now you may not believe this, but I also once attached a bachelor party in a suite there, and yes, a stripper was involved. I'm afraid the rest is classified. ЁЯШЙ

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Was that 'attended'?ЁЯШЙЁЯлгЁЯЩД

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

Yes, typo. I swear. That would be hilarious though.ЁЯШЕ

Expand full comment
Justin Sayn's avatar

Actually it would be awful if there was a video of the "dance". Because I would be in it. Luckily this was before everyone had cameras and video recorders in their pockets.

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

She took money on account of a sexual encounter with tfg. The fact that the payment was delayed by several years and associated with a post-hoc NDA doesn't change that fact. When you take payment, you become a hooker. When you pay, you become a john.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

She took money to keep her mouth shut not to open her vagina.

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

Fern, she took money to keep her mouth shut but we actually don't know exactly the process that occurred leading up to her encounter with Trump.

However, I am pretty sure no self respecting porn star would sleep with Trump for free.

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Exactly, Mike S. You called her a prostitute and hooker without knowing and without anything in print or interviews to substantiate your claims.

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

KA-BOOM!ЁЯСПЁЯП╝ЁЯСПЁЯП╝ЁЯСПЁЯП╝ЁЯСПЁЯП╝

Expand full comment
Judith Dyer's avatar

She knew her "news" could change the election results. She kept her mouth shut for $130,000. THAT is a bigger crime: helping that %#$@!!! win the Presidency. She finally opened her mouth. She got $130,00 and then press.

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

I think she knew he was associated with some very dangerous people and thatтАЩs why she kept quiet untilтАжshe was able to lawyer up. Unfortunately, Avenati convinced her to choose him. He messed with her and she got him back big time! She lawyered up again but with one who had a different strategy. Look, sheтАЩs a business woman and she wasnтАЩt going to drag her business of film-making into this show.

Expand full comment
Gina Ramson's avatar

Bingo. That's why its a crime.

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

So maybe I'm spinning the story just a little bit, but...when money changes hands over a sexual encounter, what would you rather call it?

Expand full comment
Joan Friedman (MA, from NY)'s avatar

From that viewpoint, every woman who benefits financially from a man with whom she has sex is a hooker. Given our social/financial system, you are effectively calling all heterosexual women prostitutes.

Expand full comment
Donna Burrell (LI, NY)'s avatar

Joan F., I keep coming back to your comment. Thank you for seeing straight to the heart of it.

Expand full comment
Joan Friedman (MA, from NY)'s avatar

Not quite all, nearly all

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

only if you say so...my comments are all in relation to two discrete individuals and one discrete encounter and it's sequelae.

Expand full comment
Christy's avatar

And more than one person here is suggesting you might try to clean the smudges from your glasses so that you may see more clearly

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

I'm going to walk away before sharing my opinion of your 'thinking cap'.

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

you're no fun at all...do you think that going public about the encounter, which she did more than once, was motivated by something other than the expectation of financial gain? Tfg's usual move against someone he wants to intimidate would be to slap a lawsuit on them, but that doesn't result in silence; rather it generates more news and publicity. The one party is in it for the money, the other wants it to be a clandestine event. It sounds a lot like prostitution to me, just poorly executed on the part of both parties

Expand full comment
Maggie's avatar

Nathan -why is this turning into a criticism of this woman - when the twit at the center of this is the guilty party. Not to jump on the bandwagon, but somehow (and I've been around a LONG time) the woman seems to end up as the person to blame. Sort of like the prostitute who is charged & not the "johns"? Supply and Demand, Nathan!

Expand full comment
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

You are way too time consuming and wrong. Trump promised to have her appear on The Apprentice. And...the dealmaker = $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Expand full comment
Carole Berkoff's avatar

So what does that make the congress critters who vote with whom ever pays their way?

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

It seems paltry when compared to his history of felonious behavior, but it's huge for the justice system to finally cross the chasm and label a former president, particularly this one, as equally beholden to the law as the rest of us. I'll take this as the down payment on a very large debt he owes to all of us.

Expand full comment
LeMoine Surlamont's avatar

Nathan: Exactly! And while it may be too much to expect from the DOJ that there is a level of coordination between themselves, NYC, and the State of Georgia, there is certainly a hint of serendipity.

Consider, as Heather points out that there is probably less sympathy for Trump in NYC than in most other places, therefore the absence (so far) of civil protest over this development, which could help set the tone for future indictments on the more serious charges of say, sedition and even perhaps treason. And also as stated тАЬA Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.тАЭ So if the indictment turns out to be criminal in nature it cuts off the possibility of Trump taking refuge in Florida. This in turn enables that jackal, DeSantis, to howl to the heavens over "the injustice" (while privately wringing his hands in glee), further splitting the Republican Party's base for 2024. And finally, it "breaks the ice" of an indictment of a former president as being unprecedented. Baby step, perhaps, but an important first step.

Is this the squeaky sound of "the fickle finger of fate", finally slipping on its rubber glove? We can only hope.

Expand full comment
Dave Smucker's avatar

Since it is almost Easter it is more like DeSantis washing his hands and saying "he is yours, take him to be crucified".

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

Yes; as soon as the announcement was made, the bloom came off the rose, s.t.s. And, at least some of the country will take their cue from New Yorker's disdain for the defendant, as the NY press swings into action during proceedings. The outrage will inevitably extinguish to a degree on both sides of the gallery as a long winded, drawn out trench war evolves. Even the MAGA crowd can only be whipped so far. Maybe the feds are intentionally allowing the states to issue their indictments first in order to take heat off of the federal court when it kicks off its proceedings.

Expand full comment
Dave Smucker's avatar

I think you have hit the key or should I say even the plan. Most of the MSM just doesn't get it. Georgia will be next and will drop before the judge set deadline of May 1.

Expand full comment
Marj's avatar

I had not thought of the civil uprising aspect you made. Thx!

Expand full comment
Jen Schaefer's avatar

Love this -тАЬa down payment on a very large debt he owes usтАЭ. Perfectly stated! Thank you!

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

Nathan,

good point. thanks.

Expand full comment
DLM's avatar

Mike, like I said, this is the beginning of the beginning.

trump is being investigated for a multitude of crimes. Jan 6 is another one in a long line.

The grand jury decided to indict now. This is where the first axe falls. More to come.

Expand full comment
Mike S's avatar

Let's see what happens. I think the most probable outcome is he, Trump, is the next President and pardons himself.

Expand full comment
tinfoil hattie's avatar

"Hooker"? Such a demeaning, misogynist word.

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

Sex for money in front of a camera; such a demeaning, misogynist behavior.

Expand full comment
Just Sayin''s avatar

this kind of post is going to ruin SubStack...

Expand full comment
tinfoil hattie's avatar

Aww, can't stand the vile truth of misogyny. Poor man.

Expand full comment
Christy's avatar

I would argue Substack is the perfect place to encounter resources to enrich your mind to the reality of lives lived by people unlike yourself.

Expand full comment
Derek Smith's avatar

Ms. Daniels was -not- a hooker.

Expand full comment
Fred WI's avatar

IMO, once fingerprinted and mug shot, he is in the criminal system. Like the geni that escape the bottle, you can't ever not be a part of the criminal/justice system. His life will always be different, diminished, caught, a failure in his own mind, despite the rants and redirects he does to get public attention. He will always be one of the "usual suspects" eligible to be looked at more seriously by the legal system and no longer eligible for the passes he might have received in the past because judges that he appeared before considered him among the powerful. In the future, IMHO, it will become easier to cuff him, mirandize him, and wreak havoc on his defense fund raising. No mater how he appears in the public mind, as a narcissist he will always see himself in an orange jumpsuit because he has been lowered in his own impression of his superiority, his infallibility, his fantasy, because his whole personality is based upon never getting caught, never having to follow the mores of the ordinary, never one the failures he derides. His narcissistic self is based upon never getting caught out. Indictment, printing, and the photo of him pasted in every criminal record system and on every bus in NYC and TV station in Florida will be the irreparable crack that makes him ordinary, most of all a petty criminal, an actual loser. Thanks, Mr Bragg.

Expand full comment
David Herrick's avatar

In short, he is a very self-destructive person.

Expand full comment
Fred WI's avatar

The swamp monster now on dry, hot land created from draining that swamp. Yes.

Expand full comment
Bongo-1, VT's avatar

That is not the issue.

Expand full comment
tinfoil hattie's avatar

Misogyny is always the issue, sir. You just don't have to care.

Expand full comment