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diva77

(7,630 posts)
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:35 AM Nov 2020

Trump must be held to account for his crimes. And Biden needs to accept that

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/17/1996364/-Probing-and-prosecuting-Trump-s-transgressions-is-vital-to-preserving-our-democracy-for-generations?pm_source=story_sidebar&pm_medium=web&pm_campaign=most-shared

Kerry Eleveld
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday November 17, 2020

SNIP
In some ways, it makes perfect sense that Biden doesn't want his entire presidency consumed by probes into Trump, his minions, and an inevitable cycle of recriminations. But Donald Trump so misused and abused the federal government that his entire tenure represents an assault on American democracy itself, not to mention a series of crimes against humanity, ranging from literally ripping children away from their parents and caging them to intentionally slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Americans through coronavirus denialism and weaponization of disinformation.

For those reasons, Trump and those who did his bidding must be held to account through both criminal inquiries and uncovering information that could mar the reputations of certain individuals for life. This is absolutely critical to preserving the integrity of our republic moving forward. Using the U.S. government to commit crimes against humanity cannot be tolerated at any level.

Biden can preach unity all he wants, but it is incumbent upon the incoming administration to make it glaringly clear that efforts to subvert our democracy and use the federal government for malign political purposes carry with them a steep cost for everyone involved. This is a fundamental part of safeguarding our democracy. Otherwise, the next autocrat—who will surely be far more competent than Trump—won't think twice before trodding the same paths Trump did, but with greater efficacy and fervor.

Biden clearly wants to make his presidency about healing our nation. Part of that healing includes inoculating it against the fascist impulses that are pulsing through the conservative movement right now. If House Democrats want to limit their number of inquiries by focusing on several key areas or specific transgressions, that's a reasonable approach. But don't pull any punches in those investigations—they must be thorough, relentless, and unsparing.
SNIP


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Trump must be held to account for his crimes. And Biden needs to accept that (Original Post) diva77 Nov 2020 OP
The jury is the voters tirebiter Nov 2020 #1
Not For War Crimes DanieRains Nov 2020 #2
Family separation may be a crime against humanity but is certainly not a war crime. TomSlick Nov 2020 #31
not sure I understand what you mean - can you elaborate? thanks diva77 Nov 2020 #3
No LizBeth Nov 2020 #6
No. nt Maven Nov 2020 #10
The jury will be the juries. meadowlander Nov 2020 #17
No. Losing an election is not criminal punishment. whopis01 Nov 2020 #21
By setting the bar higher, we can avoid tRump '24 Blue Owl Nov 2020 #4
All of us, are owed . LizBeth Nov 2020 #5
There have been a lot of posts on this topic over the last little while.... A HERETIC I AM Nov 2020 #7
Being nice to Trump won't get us any votes. Republicans would not Pardon a Dem to beg for votes Quixote1818 Nov 2020 #8
Can you imagine what they would have done if the shoe was on the other foot? A HERETIC I AM Nov 2020 #9
No need to imagine, they chant to lock us up even for fake crimes. unblock Nov 2020 #12
Plus if laws were broken Biden must enforce the rule of law. UCmeNdc Nov 2020 #20
Like Bush and Cheney were punished for their war crimes? ansible Nov 2020 #11
I've been saying for years at this stage that the"establishment" OnDoutside Nov 2020 #13
I call it "The Presidential Crimes Commission" ... aggiesal Nov 2020 #19
My biggest concern is that there is no chance of reaching most of the 70 million who voted OnDoutside Nov 2020 #23
Why would that be a concern? ... aggiesal Nov 2020 #24
We Can't Just Let trump Slide .Otherwise.. StaunchDemocrat1957 Nov 2020 #14
Its not just Trump though its those in his administration as well as Republicans in the House and cstanleytech Nov 2020 #16
By what mechanism do you propose to "not allow" him to run in 2024? ehrnst Nov 2020 #25
What is needed is a hands off independent investigation team that is given carte blanche to cstanleytech Nov 2020 #15
Trump must be investigated. To ignore his criminal activity will invite others to UCmeNdc Nov 2020 #18
It's not the job of POTUS to investigate. It's the job of the DOJ, who must be independent of POTUS ehrnst Nov 2020 #27
Genocide, stochastic terrorism, treason Python boot Nov 2020 #22
If he hires the right AG AwakeAtLast Nov 2020 #26
+1000. ehrnst Nov 2020 #28
👆 crickets Nov 2020 #29
Biden can stay out of the way Mz Pip Nov 2020 #30

TomSlick

(11,092 posts)
31. Family separation may be a crime against humanity but is certainly not a war crime.
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 10:13 PM
Nov 2020

By definition, a war crime is a violation of the international laws of war - during an international armed conflict.

meadowlander

(4,388 posts)
17. The jury will be the juries.
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 04:00 AM
Nov 2020

You can't have it both ways - he can't be indicted as long as he's president and he can't be indicated after he is voted out of office...

The voters decide whether he is fit to continue holding the office. Juries decide whether he committed a crime or not. And he committed multiple felonies including bank, tax, insurance and campaign finance fraud. He should stand trial for them. Why is Michael Cohen sitting in prison at the moment for a crime he committed on Trump's behalf, with his knowledge and for his benefit? And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

whopis01

(3,491 posts)
21. No. Losing an election is not criminal punishment.
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 05:40 AM
Nov 2020

If a murderer was fired from their job instead of being investigated and tried, could you accept that?

Blue Owl

(50,291 posts)
4. By setting the bar higher, we can avoid tRump '24
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:48 AM
Nov 2020

He can’t run from a prison cell. And then the GOP’s got nuthin’. Win-Win for America!!!

A HERETIC I AM

(24,363 posts)
7. There have been a lot of posts on this topic over the last little while....
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:53 AM
Nov 2020

here on DU, quoting various articles and many OP's on the subject.

So here's my take;

We as a Constitutional Republic, one that holds itself to a standard we hope other nations would emulate, simply can not allow what Donald Trumpy has done to this country go unanswered, full stop.

What he has done to this country just can not be allowed to go away without a full on investigation. Every single one of his immediate family needs to be brought up on the charges they are clearly guilty of, from insider dealing, to obstructing justice to lying to congress to just being fucking assholes who think no one will or can touch them.

Every single one of his cabinet members need to be fully investigated and charged if they are guilty of wrongdoing.

They can not be allowed to walk away with no repercussions, and to those that would suggest otherwise, I say

F U C K .. T H A T ... S H I T!

Quixote1818

(28,921 posts)
8. Being nice to Trump won't get us any votes. Republicans would not Pardon a Dem to beg for votes
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:56 AM
Nov 2020

Totally stupid idea.

A HERETIC I AM

(24,363 posts)
9. Can you imagine what they would have done if the shoe was on the other foot?
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:01 AM
Nov 2020

Last edited Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:56 AM - Edit history (1)

Imagine how out of control Moscow Mitch and Lindsey would be if Chelsea Clinton had secured special copyrights from China? Or any of the other bullshit that has gone on for the last 4 years?

The list is fucking endless!

The Republicans would be literally calling for Hillary's head.

It is a "Totally stupid idea", no fucking doubt.

UCmeNdc

(9,600 posts)
20. Plus if laws were broken Biden must enforce the rule of law.
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 04:52 AM
Nov 2020

Biden cannot arbitrary decide to enforce some laws and let criminals slide on others. Can he?

 

ansible

(1,718 posts)
11. Like Bush and Cheney were punished for their war crimes?
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:12 AM
Nov 2020

As much as I'd like to see Trump in jail, yeah right. Laws for you and me, not for thee!

OnDoutside

(19,948 posts)
13. I've been saying for years at this stage that the"establishment"
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:23 AM
Nov 2020

won't want to see a President of the United States in a prison cell, and have that reflected shame on the country.

That said, I've come to the conclusion that there has to be justice, and justice that's seen to be done. If Trump walks away, with half the country stuck under the spell of his malevolence, how can America move on ? At the very least, there needs to be some sort of commission to expose all the biggest crimes committed during the last 4 years. You will never reach the core Trumpers, but if at least you can reach the Republicans who voted for Biden in November and maybe other moderates who ended up voting for trump out of tradition, holding the GOP to account above all.

I don't think you can sweep it all under the carpet.

aggiesal

(8,907 posts)
19. I call it "The Presidential Crimes Commission" ...
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 04:45 AM
Nov 2020

And it should be one of the first things Biden creates.
We need to go after all enablers including members of both the House & Senate, cabinet, staff & family.
We are either a nation of laws or we're a banana republic.
We can't have it both ways,. We can't be a nation of laws and act like a banana republic.

Someone has to pay.

OnDoutside

(19,948 posts)
23. My biggest concern is that there is no chance of reaching most of the 70 million who voted
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 08:11 AM
Nov 2020

for Trump, currently. So as it is, there's nothing lost by going after Trump and exposing all the criminality.

aggiesal

(8,907 posts)
24. Why would that be a concern? ...
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 12:15 PM
Nov 2020

We're never going to reach those 70M until a Pendejo45's policies actually affects them.

They have no sense of empathy until they're affected.

Living in San Diego, I have plenty of RW "friends", that when you show them how
corrupt this current administration is, by showing them how many in the administration
have been indicted, convicted or confessed and are now serving time, they don't care!
Doesn't matter that it is the worst criminal administration in a century, worse than
Nixon & Reagan combined, they still don't care.

I wish someone would update these numbers.
This is after only 2 years of Pendejo45 in office.




This one is not dated, but it has to be more recent.
It doesn't show convictions or sentences.




Let's start the Presidential Crimes Commission and show them how really worst they really are.

14. We Can't Just Let trump Slide .Otherwise..
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:54 AM
Nov 2020

He comes back in2024 to do more damage.I don't think he should be allowed to run again if he burns the House down on the way out!

cstanleytech

(26,248 posts)
16. Its not just Trump though its those in his administration as well as Republicans in the House and
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 04:00 AM
Nov 2020

Senate as they were co-conspirators.

 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
25. By what mechanism do you propose to "not allow" him to run in 2024?
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:07 PM
Nov 2020

If the GOP wants to nominate him again, what law is there to stop him? What constitutional mechanism disqualifies him for candidacy?

And what does "let Trump slide" mean, specifically? Who do you mean when you say "We?"

cstanleytech

(26,248 posts)
15. What is needed is a hands off independent investigation team that is given carte blanche to
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 03:58 AM
Nov 2020

do what is needed to investigate everything that those in the Trump administration did.

UCmeNdc

(9,600 posts)
18. Trump must be investigated. To ignore his criminal activity will invite others to
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 04:43 AM
Nov 2020

seek the office and commit even worse crimes .

Ignoring a problem does not make it go away or solve the problem.

Biden has the duty and responsibility to investigate Trump and if crimes are found punish him within the laws of the United States.

 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
27. It's not the job of POTUS to investigate. It's the job of the DOJ, who must be independent of POTUS
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 02:09 PM
Nov 2020

in their actions.

Do you think that the DOJ doesn't have a case against Trump unless Biden steps in and orders them to investigate?

Python boot

(74 posts)
22. Genocide, stochastic terrorism, treason
Wed Nov 18, 2020, 06:17 AM
Nov 2020

These are all serious crimes that should not be ignored.

When one group of people steal the children that belong to another group of people that is considered an act of genocide according to United Nations definition.

Stochastic terrorism by encouraging his people to "liberate" states from democratic governors, encouraging his followers to attack democratic Senators, messages sent to the Proud Boys in the middle of a debate, sharing intelligence secrets with the Russians, the list goes on, withholding badly needed assistance to blue states battling Corona, these are all serious crimes and each one needs to be accounted for before we can have "unity."9

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