Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Trump's Arraignment on Criminal Charges Today






NYTimes:  "Trump is expected to turn himself in and be arraigned today. Here’s what to know. Donald J. Trump is expected to surrender to the authorities in Manhattan on Tuesday and appear in court for the first time as a criminal defendant to face more than two dozen felony charges, a remarkable spectacle that will play out before a divided nation. 


[S.K.:   We are NOT a divided nation on this: 

"Sixty percent of Americans approve of the indictment of former President Donald Trump, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS..."]



 "The charges, the first ever against a former American president, stem from a hush-money payment to a porn star that was made days before Mr. Trump was elected in 2016. He is expected to be accused of playing a role in covering up the payment, even as he led the nation as commander in chief."



Joe Walsh is a former REPUBLICAN congressman:


Today he becomes a criminal defendant. This is just the beginning. There will be other indictments.

12 comments:

Shaw Kenawe said...

via Democratic Underground:

"Bragg is expected to argue that hush-money payments to adult actress Stormy Daniels and/or ex–Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal were made by setting up a fake retainer agreement with Trump’s ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid the cash up front and later got reimbursed by Trump’s company for nonexistent legal services. Creating phony business transactions to hide the payments could constitute the misdemeanor offense of falsifying a business record, with the intention of committing or concealing a second crime of not reporting what was, in effect, a campaign contribution. (New York election law defines a contribution as “any thing of value, made in connection with the nomination for election, or election, of any candidate.”)

This is where things get sticky for Trump. Falsifying a business record in order to commit or conceal a second crime would bump the matter up from a misdemeanor to a felony, punishable by one to four years in prison. In fact, New York courts have found that the second crime need not even be proved: Mere intent to commit or conceal a crime can be sufficient to make records falsification a felony.

...................

Trump has lost or settled so many damaging lawsuits that it’s easy to forget that he used his businesses to cheat before and during the 2016 campaign. But that is why we have a judicial system that uses courts, prosecutors, juries, judges, and meticulous rules of evidence and procedure to discover truth and hold the powerful accountable.

Trump, an expert at distortion and distraction, is betting that the public will focus on threats, theatrics, public outrage, and personal insults rather than a formal investigation of his actions."

Dave Miller said...

Here's where we're at, Part Who Can Keep Count...

Conservatives are apoplectic about "liberal" and "progressive" DA's and political leaders letting mostly lower level petty criminals walk free or get cash free bail. This is extensively an extension of the broken windows policing methods that used to be popular in New York.

Charge and be hard with the petty criminals they said and the more nefarious types will see that and know they should not engage in crime.

But now, without a sense of irony, they're up in arms about a former US President being charged for a crime. It's selective prosecution, posturing, harassment, and over reach they say.

And yet anytime a lib or progressive even hinted at that when mostly poor folks and POC were arrested and sent to prison for years for essentially victimless crimes, we... heard... crickets.

Why?

What is it that caused this self proclaimed tribe to change stripes? Is it a forever change, or is it only for Donald Trump? Will the tribe that calls this all BS and a posturing show snap back and once again take a law and order stance.

Today, regardless of the final outcome, the people have indicted Donald Trump, a private citizen. Soon we will hear for what he is being charged. And then we will await the motions, trial and potentially, a verdict.

Just like the great majority of others DA's charge everyday all across the US.

Proof that no one is above the law.

Anonymous said...

A Nothing Burger

Shaw Kenawe said...

Anonymous

You've seen the 34 counts in the indictment? Tell us why they're "A Nothing Burger."

Disgusted with Trump said...



Imagine it’s the day of your arrest and the only two people you can find to show up and defend you are George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene

Paula said...

I'm not sad that a former president is arrested. I'm sad that someone of this corrupt and poor character was once the president.

skudrunner said...

Paula, Which president are you referring to when you say corrupt and in poor character because there has been many who fit that profile. Nixon, LBJ come to mind. It is fortunate that incompetent is not illegal or we would have a sitting president being arrested. He is surpassing his incompetence now that gas prices are rising due to his attacking the US petroleum industry now the poor will have to live in the dark or pay for LED light bulbs. Not to mention resupplying our oil reserves at high prices. I don't see him touting his accomplishments on energy and jobs lately.

Ray Cranston said...

I know its not nice to gloat, but the new meaning of MAGA after today:

"MY ASS GOT ARRESTED"

Couldn't help myself.

Shaw Kenawe said...

It's so like skudrunner to come here on a day when Donald Trump was arrested, fingerprinted and arraigned in court for his crimes and post his grievances because the worst POTUS in modern times is getting what's been a long time coming: Facing consequences for his actions.

And all skud wants to talk about is what OTHER presidents may or may not have done.

Sorry, skud. This is an historic day.

It is the first time a POTUS was arraigned in a court of law for his crimes.

Nothing you can say about any other POTUS can surpass that fact.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Ray,

LOL!

skudrunner said...

I do like Ray's explanation on what MAGA stands for. Quite cleaver and who ever believed that America could be great again.

Ms. Shaw, Paula was vague when she said former president and I was just trying to make sure I knew who she was referencing in corrupt and in poor character. As I said there are a number who fall into that description.

Now that trump has been indicted we will have to wait years before anything happens. We will wait several months to see which indictment's will be dismissed and which will go forward. Swift justice is just a myth and I will be on the edge of my seat anticipating the outcome.

Dervish Sanders said...

LOL Ray!