The raid
First, something of such magnitude would not have happened unless there were serious plans in the works to pursue a case against Trump. For over a year the blogosphere has been full of bleatings that Garland needed to hurry up, that Trump was getting off scot-free -- forgetting that the prosecution of an ex-president would inevitably be a complex and sensitive matter and that it would take time to get things right and make sure the case against Trump wasn't bungled in some way, which actually would let him get off scot-free. These cries of impatience always sounded to me like the kid in the back seat whining "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" at the adult driver. Well, it looks like we're almost there. Be glad the adults took the time to get everything right.
Second, the emerging narrative on the wingnut internet seems to be that the raid shows the US is being reduced to banana-republic status, because the Justice Department and the FBI are being used to harass a political opponent. This is, of course, nonsense. The rule of law means that no one, even the highest, is above the law. If Trump's cult-figure status and former position of power made him immune to facing the same prosecution anyone else would face for the same crimes, that would make the US a banana republic, with one law for the common man and a different law for the high and mighty. If Trump is arrested and charged, he will get a proper trial, with lawyers and a jury and the presumption of innocence, just like anyone else. That's as it should be.
The wingnut blogosphere is predictably outraged. There may even be violence, especially if and when Trump is arrested. But the course of justice cannot allow itself to be swayed by that, either. If the decision whether to prosecute Trump is influenced at all by the threat of mob violence (or threats from elected officials), then the rule of law really is dead, replaced by de facto mob rule.
But so far, it looks like the system is working -- and the rule of law remains supreme.
posted by Infidel753 at 2:42 AM
17 Comments:
I wish I shared your Optimism but I'm skeptical that Justice will prevail since I'm not as confident the System wants to deal with his Lunatic Fringe Cult Followers backlash. They have become like an American Taliban and those kinds of Wars once waged, go on indefinitely since Extremists and Radicalized people are just that devoted to their demented Causes and it's not like American will eliminate them, as they would Foreign Terrorists... so, they're going to be a threat forevermore now to Democracy and Sanity, none will be 'converted' now they've gone deeply down their Rabbit Hole and infiltrated at all levels of our present Government. He should have been stopped way before he rose to Cult Status Politically, but the Party he ran under got completely hijacked by him and now we really don't have a viable Two Party System as a strong Democracy should have. As a Moderate Independent, I know no Independent Candidate would ever Win, so, I feel somewhat resigned at this point in just Hoping the Democrats can at least put up some good Candidates that can resist us becoming a Fascist Theocracy. The uncertainty of it all really disturbs me.
As you said in your comment elsewhere, "Totalitarian corrupt and evil Regimes get what they deserve, eventually". If the authorities weren't prepared to grasp the nettle and risk the consequences, they wouldn't have carried out this raid in the first place.
Thank gawd it's finally starting! However, I have the same concerns as Bohemian. The invadopodia of the cult are deep and hidden.
I hadn't seen that Hillary meme yet. There are some really good ones floating around right now.
I was pretty much resigned to Trump never being held accountable for any of his numerous dangerous idiocies, but with the select committee hearings and now the raid, I am hopeful again. The divisions and craziness aren't unique to Trump, but they were encouraged and rewarded under his presidency, and the breakdown of norms accelerated as a result. He has a lot to answer for, and I hope he is made to do so.
I’m afraid I feel exactly like Bohemian does. I just feel dark times brewing and this is a long game…longer than most of us will be around to see the eventual outcome. And we are also up against climate change and threats from foreign powers. The world is in a very precarious place right now.. I wish I had your hope Infidel, but I’m wary.
Ricko, Mary: Again, if they weren't ready and equipped to move against Trump in a big way, they wouldn't have carried out this raid at all. It astounds me how people can take the most positive news and twist it into moan-groan-doom-gloom defeatism. This kind of despair-spreading is a big part of why people give up on fighting or voting at all. It's actively helping the bad guys. In future, please take the negativity elsewhere.
Mike: I've seen a few of them. I hope she's seeing them as well.
Jenny_o: I feel the same way. I never thought Trump was going to get away with his crimes, because I know that building a prosecution in such a case has to be slow and methodical, so the authorities' superficial inaction didn't discourage me. But it's reassuring to see the dispensing of justice actually begin.
I was surprised that this happened. I am looking forward to seeing what comes of this.
Mary K: Unfortunately it's a slow process. It may be a while yet until the next step. But they wouldn't have done this unless there were definitely going to be a next step.
I don't know if he will get justice but I think they are planning on charging him with enough to keep him from ever running for office..
I agree with nearly all you’ve said, Infidel. It’s a very good sign that DOJ is moving ahead, though I felt it was clear when we learned they’ve had Meadows’ phones since April that they weren’t sitting on their hands.
I don’t think it’s definite, however, that this seizure is tied to Jan 6. That doesn’t mean they haven’t found material that would aid in the larger investigation. But this move seems tied to the documents trump stole when he left the White House. Conjectures range widely, from the timing could be to remain inside the 90-day pre-election window, to there was concern about imminent destruction or dissemination of the most highly classified documents—a major national security threat.
Shame on the Republicans (once again). Christopher Wray, appointed by trump, is or was a Federalist Society member—no left wing Dems in the FBI. And the warrant told trump exactly what the FBI took. He could say, but that might interfere with “I’m the victim again; send money and prepare for war.”
Granny: There are certain offenses for which a conviction does indeed disqualify the perpetrator from ever again running for any political office. There are probably several on which they can get Trump.
Annie: Thanks. It always seemed obvious to me that prosecuting Trump was going to be a slow process. It would be too easy to make a mistake by rushing.
Notice that I didn't suggest that this raid had any connection with the January 6 insurrection -- it's too early to tell whether or not it does, and Trump did many different illegal things over those four years. All we've heard so far is that this raid is about illegal possession of classified information. We don't know what's in the documents he illegally took, but if any of them relate to national security, the authorities might regard retrieving them as more urgent than pursuing the January 6 issue.
Evidently Wray is doing his job rather than acting like a corrupt political toady, as Trump seems to think is the norm.
I just read this article by some very substantive people discussing the relevant possible statutes in play.
https://www.justsecurity.org/82619/expert-explainer-criminal-statutes-that-could-apply-to-trumps-retention-of-government-documents/
I couldn't agree more that this is a complex and sensitive matter that takes time. I'm pleased that it's been handled this way to assure that no stone is left unturned. I'm feeling hopeful!
Criminal investigation is a matter of not tipping one's hand, normally. It's easy to shred hard files and magnetize computers when you have months to do it and the money to buy new ones.
That said, Donald made his criminal past part of his public persona for years, and thinks you can use actual bleach to clean a hard drive.
Hey,
I am impatient too. It was like, can I buy a vowel and take a guess as to where this is going? We finally saw some action and since trump is still trying to be the man in control of his destiny, Garland is taking it a step further and asking the judge to unseal a portion of the warrant.
I had a TS clearance. It did not include my taking work with me to my home. And it has been revealed from the unsealing of the warrant, since trump went public, and at the request of Garland to the court; the nature of the search warrant.
It appears trump supposedly took home nuclear weapons documentation. Obviously, he was not going to construct one. Maybe sell the documentation if it had the "how-to- build" an American nuke plans and a tube of glue.
My next thought(s) being, how did it happen, when did it happen, who knew it happen, and why weren't these missed? You can't just copy these either. "The Guardian" has the story.
Annie: Thanks, I'll include that in the next link round-up.
Martha: It definitely seems that the authorities are determined to pursue this and to get it right.
Anon: the fact that this was done without advance warning suggests that the judge believed there was a real risk of Trump destroying evidence. Luckily it seems they got what they were looking for.
Run75441: I hope the judge does unseal the warrant. If Trump did have classified material on nuclear weapons, it would be entertaining to hear him try to explain what he was planning to do with it.
Maybe sell the documentation if it had the "how-to- build" an American nuke plans and a tube of glue.
Oh, Trump would never do a thing like that. He would sell the glue separately and charge extra for it.
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