Donald Trump Could Be Facing More Than 150 Years in Prison
He Isn’t Going to Jail Anytime Soon.
The coming weeks are going to be chock full of news about Donald J Trump, former President of the United States.
Legal soothsayers on the East Coast are abuzz with predictions about The Former Guy (hereafter, TFG so I don’t have to keep typing his name) being indicted in short order for violations of law under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The anniversary of the January 6 insurrection approaches, and I suspect the House Select Committee will have some news to commemorate the day.
House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi has announced thoughtfully somber commemorative actions to be live streamed from Capitol Hill on Jan 6.
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There will be candlelight vigils from coast-to-coast on Jan 6, organized by Indivisible chapters. The San Diego events are:
County Administration Building
West Grape Street & North Harbor Drive
Southwest corner
1-3pm
Downtown
NW corner of park
Union Street & West F Street
7-8pm
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Three hundred fifty odd-days ago, terrorists ransacked the US Capitol. Hours later 138-of-202 (68%) House Republicans voted to make TFG a dictator. They tried to finish the rioters’ job and end democracy. Sadly, the congressional appetite for dealing with their own messes seems to be limited to press releases.
The House Select Committee will be competing for media oxygen on Jan 6 with TFG, who has promised a press conference, which will no doubt be an overly long and painful recitation of the woes faced by a man so narcissistic that he’s long ago forgotten which lies he told in his quest to retain power.
Think of it like Bin Laden holding a media event on September 11. Yes, it’s going to be that gross.
As former White House correspondent Brian Karen, says:
Of course there have been threats against Donald Trump in the courts for years, and as his minions know, he's dodged every bullet fired his way. But in the end it only takes one to land, and with the House Jan. 6 committee breathing down his neck, the Southern District of New York and even the Manhattan D.A. still investigating him, it appears as if this cheap polyester suit of a man, the ultimate troll and ultimate grifter, will eventually face a paroxysm of litigation even he cannot conquer. But then again, don't hold your breath: There are many who believe Trump will never face justice until he takes his last breath.
It's not that we don't know what went on Jan. 6, 2021. It's not that we don't know Trump was behind it. It's not that we don't know something was done that fundamentally betrayed the principles of our founding fathers. It isn't that we don't know he's a grifter, a con man or a thief. It is merely a matter of whether or not Trump can get away with it.
While the whole story of last year’s insurrection has yet to be told, take a moment to see all the potential legal trouble the TFG will likely not be facing. My hope is that he gets nailed for something, anything, and has to face a jury in a major metropolitan city.
Here’s a list of indictable dirty deeds, via Raw Story:
FEDERAL CRIMES
I. Offenses Related to the Insurrection and the Attempt to Halt or Delay the Certification of the 2020 Electoral College Vote Count.
Inciting an Insurrection, 18 U.S.C. § 2383, maximum penalty: ten years in prison.
Seditious Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 2384, maximum penalty: twenty years in prison.
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, 18 U.S.C. § 371, maximum penalty: five years in prison.
Obstructing an Official Proceeding, 18 U.S.C. § 1512, maximum penalty twenty years in prison.
II. Offenses Related to the Phone Call Pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “Find” Enough Votes to Overturn the State’s Election Results.
Depriving or Defrauding the Citizens of a State of a Fair and Impartially Conducted Election, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, maximum penalty: five years.
Conspiracy to Deprive the Citizens of a State of Rights Secured by the Constitution, 18 U.S.C. § 241, maximum penalty: ten years.
III. Offenses Related to the 2016 Election, the Hush-Money Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, and the 2017 “Reimbursements” to Michael Cohen.
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, 18 U.S.C. § 371, maximum penalty: five years in prison.
Campaign Finance Law Violations, 52 U.S.C. § 30109, maximum penalty: five years in prison.
IV. Offenses Related to the Mueller Investigation, and the Attempts to Halt or Otherwise Derail the Investigation.
Obstruction of Justice, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1505, 1510, 1512, maximum penalty: ten years.
NEW YORK CRIMES
Offenses Related to Private Business Practices.
Falsifying Business Records, New York Penal Law, § 175.10, maximum penalty: four years in prison.
Tax Fraud, New York Tax Law, § 1806, maximum penalty: twenty-five years in prison.
Insurance Fraud, New York Penal Law, § 176.30, maximum penalty: twenty-five years in prison.
Conspiracy, New York Penal Law, § 105, maximum penalty: twenty-five years in prison.
Racketeering and Organized Criminal Activity, New York Penal Law § 460, maximum penalty: twenty-five years in prison.
GEORGIA CRIMES
Offenses Related to the Raffensperger Phone Call
Solicitation to Commit Election Fraud, Georgia Code § 21-2-64, maximum penalty: ten years in prison.
Tampering with a Voter’s Certificate, Georgia Code § 21-2-56, maximum penalty: ten years in prison.
That, my friends, is a HUGE list. TFG’s “legal” team will be throwing everything they can against the wall, hoping something sticks. Expect supportive gestures from what used to be the Republican Party, and right wing media narrative full of apocalyptic suppositions. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sean Hannity cry on air if that’s what he thinks will keep the faithful in line.
Meanwhile, the supposed billionaire is tapping the Republican Party for his legal expenses, as his fundraising machine loads cash into bank accounts controlled by himself.
The good news buried in all this is that the grifting integral to anything related to TFG has his media minions fighting for crumbs and turning on each other. I can only hope they’ll tap into their underground sewage lines long enough for the Congress to do whatever meager accomplishments they’re capable of.
Here’s an inside (and very detailed) look at the TFG citizen army’s campaign of fear and loathing:
https://twitter.com/cFidd/status/1476632750455091213?s=20
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You can be forgiven if you’re bummed out about rolling over into a new year. After all, it can be pronounced “twenty twenty, too, ” and I have a feeling that is as accurate as any prediction.
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Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com