Indicted
31/03/23 05:40
March 31, 2023 (Vol. 17 No. 17) - April Fool's Day came two days early for Donald "The John" Trump and seven years too late for the rest of us. He was informed yesterday that he has become the first former President of the United States to face an as yet unspecified number of criminal indictments. Some reports suggest that he may face as many as 34 separate counts. It may not be until next Tuesday during an arraignment hearing in a New York courtroom that we will learn the particulars of the case. However, based on what we know, the defeated and now indicted former president is in a whole bunch of trouble. I think something Trump's neice Mary Trump said during an interview last night makes sense. To paraphrase her, it's OK to feel a sense of sadness and joy about Don "The John's" pending arrest. By now, everyone knows the backstory: Tycoon pays hush money to porn star to hide an extramarital affair that could derail his campaign for President of the United States. Another thing we know - at least based on the assessment of legal scholars of various political persuasions - is that this case is not a slam dunk. But is anything having to do with this lifelong grifter ever a slam dunk? The very fact that he was once elected president by a minority of voters should be a cautionary tale. Still another thing we know is that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has a brilliant legal mind with a lot of experience in trying cases such as this, a case of falsifying legal documents. Trump may have added to his list of charges by his recent attempts to bully the prosecution. On several occasions in the past week, he has called for violence by his supporters in the same manner he did on January 6, 2021. Here's another interesting factoid: The United States Supreme Court has ruled on several occasions that no one, not even a President, is above the law. And yes, that shouldn't matter in this case because Trump is not president. Here's another little nugget: It doesn't matter whether Trump was indicted on misdemeanor or felony charges. A crime is still a crime and should be prosecuted. Of course, a felony conviction would cost him his right to vote and make him ineligible to hold any public office. Oh, and there's this: This is not the only criminal investigation Trump is facing. There are far more serious matters under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Georgia. There's a real chance Trump may face charges of sedition. There's certainly enough evidence on the public record to justify it. But for now, New York is the only game in town. As for the charges, should know a lot more by Tuesday's arraignment. So stayed tuned. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.