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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump 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-sharedKerry Eleveld
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday November 17, 2020
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 autocratwho will surely be far more competent than Trumpwon'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 investigationsthey must be thorough, relentless, and unsparing.
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tirebiter
(2,533 posts)Can you accept that?
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)Family separation is a war crime.
TomSlick
(11,092 posts)By definition, a war crime is a violation of the international laws of war - during an international armed conflict.
diva77
(7,630 posts)meadowlander
(4,388 posts)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)If a murderer was fired from their job instead of being investigated and tried, could you accept that?
Blue Owl
(50,291 posts)He cant run from a prison cell. And then the GOPs got nuthin. Win-Win for America!!!
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,363 posts)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)Totally stupid idea.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,363 posts)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.
unblock
(52,126 posts)UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)Biden cannot arbitrary decide to enforce some laws and let criminals slide on others. Can he?
ansible
(1,718 posts)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)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)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)for Trump, currently. So as it is, there's nothing lost by going after Trump and exposing all the criminality.
aggiesal
(8,907 posts)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.
StaunchDemocrat1957
(66 posts)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)Senate as they were co-conspirators.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)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)do what is needed to investigate everything that those in the Trump administration did.
UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)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)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)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
AwakeAtLast
(14,124 posts)Biden won't have to do a thing.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Mz Pip
(27,433 posts)The DOJ, Manhattan DA and NYAG will take care of it.