politics

Different case. (Can we pause for a moment to recognize how bonkers it is that a former president has so many criminal cases either in process or pending that it's getting hard to keep track?)

The judge who ordered him not to engage in any witness tampering is overseeing the federal case against him for trying to overturn the election in 2020. In this particular instance, he appears to have threatened a witness in the Fulton County, Georgia case, for which an indictment is expected soon.

I hate to say it, but Trump is correct: he could literally murder the judge in this (or any) case on live TV and get away with it. why? because they let him. they refuse to hold him accountable for anything, and that’s why he keeps doing this shit— and getting away with it.

The only reason I can see for the judge allowing it to continue is to give him more rope to hang himself with

the problem is: HE NEVER GETS HUNG WITH THE ROPE. he just gets away with everything, time and time again. fines are meaningless to him because he just gets his idiot supporters to pay for it.

This is for the Georgia case which hasn't gone to a judge yet, he's just trying to get ahead of things before he gets a gag order here too... which this will be used as evidence for...

But you're right, there's enough going on that it's hard to tell the players without a program, so I made this:

This seemed to be popular information when I posted it (ahem) "elsewhere". Thought it might be welcome to have here.

If you're trying to keep track of where we're at in the Trump prosecutions:

Updated 8/10/2023

Washington, D.C. - 4 felonies, January 6th Election Interference
Investigation
Indictment
Arrest <- You Are Here
(DOJ lawyer Jack Smith has requested a trial date of 1/2/2024, Trump lawyers have yet to supply a counter date. The judge will announce a final date on 8/28)
Trial
Conviction
Sentencing

Georgia - Election Interference
Investigation <- You Are Here
2 new grand juries impaneled 7/11/2023.
Indictment - July 11th to September 1st.
(Grand Jury work expected July 31 to Aug. 18)
(Streets around the Fulton County courthouse will be closed from 8/7 to 8/18.)
Arrest
Trial
Conviction
Sentencing

New York State - 34 felonies, Stormy Daniels Payoff
Investigation
Indictment
Arrest <- You Are Here
Trial - March 25th, 2024
Conviction
Sentencing

Florida - 40 felonies, Federal documents charges
Investigation
Indictment
Original indictment was for 37 felonies.
3 new felonies were added on July 27, 2023.
Arrest <- You Are Here
Trial - May 20, 2024
Conviction
Sentencing

Other grand juries, such as for the documents at Bedminster, have not been announced.

The E. Jean Carroll trial for sexual assault and defamation where Trump was found liable and ordered to pay $5 million before immediately defaming her again resulting in a demand for $10 million is not listed as it's a civil case and not a crimimal one.

I don't know that I'd attribute any actual strategy to this.

I think that's a mistake that everyone had made about Trump from the beginning.

"Oh, he's a marketing genius!"

Why? Because he put his name on everything? Maybe there's a simple explanation: he's a raging narcissist who likes putting his name on everything. The fact that his name is synonymous with being the top, or besting something is just his sheer dumb luck.

The fact is, every single thing he's ever done can be explained as being an expression of his narcissism and impulse control problems, combined with the fact that he faces zero consequences for his behavior no matter how awful.

So, no, I don't think he was testing the judge. I think he was just mindlessly attacking anyone who is a threat to him like he has always done in every situation.

The only reason I can see for the judge allowing it to continue is to give him more rope to hang himself with.

How much rope does one man get? He has already been given the entire rope store, distribution center, and manufacturing plant. He has so much rope he'd have to fall all the way to mars before he reached the end. He has more rope than he could ever use. At some point the hangman needs to do his job.

He'll just continue to say what he's always said, that this judge or that attorney or whoever is against him and this, that, and the other is rigged against him. As far as he's concerned, it's him vs the world.

Did you hear him the other day when he told people at his rally, "I'm being indicted for you." Like he's the second coming of Jesus and he died for his supportters' sins.

As long as his supporters are on board, he'll say whatever shit to make him look like the victim. And his supporters will be all for it.

Why 20? Why not 50, or 500? Why not let him stage a coup and attempt to overthrow the government of the United States of America? Oh right, he already did all that stuff and is still walking free.

How do you provide a secret service detail to someone in jail?

Logistics and stupid wording of laws never intended to protect someone so blatantly corrupt, will keep him from ever seeing the inside of a cell. Would be nice if he could be under house arrest with no visitation/internet access though.

So is he

Quote from January 2016:

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters,”

You're missing a few steps that would occur after the murder. Here's a helpful guide that would explain the path (curtesy of Dayna Craig):

The Narcissist's Prayer

• That didn't happen. <---YOU ARE HERE
• And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
• And if it was, that's not a big deal.
• And if it is, that's not my fault.
• And if it was, I didn't mean it.
• And if I did, you deserved it.

This is a state-level case, so it would be Georgia's criminal code that would apply, not Federal

I hate this, but it's so true.

The governor of Georgia doesn't have pardon power. From a recent article in the Journal-Constitution:

Should Trump be convicted of crimes in Fulton, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp would have no authority in granting a pardon. Georgia is one of only six states in which a board, operating independently of the governor, makes the decisions. Here, it’s the secretive State Board of Pardons and Paroles whose five members are appointed by the governor.

Georgia’s current system was created by constitutional amendment in 1943 after former Gov. E.D. Rivers was indicted on corruption charges, including accusations that he sold pardons.

To be considered for a pardon, a person must first complete all prison sentences at least five years before applying, have lived a “law-abiding life” in the intervening years, have no pending charges against them and have paid all their fines in full.

Governor of Georgia doesn't actually have that power. Pardons in Georgia are managed by a panel, and any applicant for a pardon has to have actually completed all required sentences and be free of criminal behavior for five years.

Source: https://pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration/pardons-restoration-rights/pardons-faqs

In other words, if Trump is found guilty in Georgia, there is no way to wiggle out of it.

It should only ever be referred to as "X, formerly known as Twitter". Much like Prince changing his name, this is a bad move for branding, though I suppose Prince didn't give a fuck about that!