Trump threats will only backfire on him -- they prove Jack Smith's entire case

[marmar]

Trump threats will only backfire on him — they prove Jack Smith's entire case
Republicans struggle to pretend Trump's an innocent angel while he begs his followers to commit violence

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED JULY 24, 2023 6:00AM (EDT)


(Salon) Last week, Donald Trump let loose with one of his tantrums disguised as a fundraising appeal on Truth Social, this time claiming that special prosecutor Jack Smith had sent him a letter indicating he's the target of a Justice Department investigation, this time related to Trump's attempted coup that resulted in the insurrection on January 6, 2021. Such letters are often preliminary to indictments. Most legal experts say it's a near-certainty in this case. Recent reporting suggests that Trump will likely face indictments for conspiracy to defraud the government and obstruction of an official proceeding. He may also be charged with conspiracy to deny people their civil rights, utilizing a law first passed to empower federal authorities to deal with the Klu Klux Klan.

Considering that his last round of indictments involved the Espionage Act, it's wild that these potential indictments are even more serious. Most experts believe Smith wouldn't do this if he didn't have the evidence for a conviction, and the possible charges are serious enough to put Trump away for the rest of his life. As the hearings of the House Select Committee on the January 6 attack showed, there's substantial evidence Trump knowingly led a conspiracy, and no doubt the grand jury investigation Smith is leading uncovered more. All of which suggests Trump's regular meltdowns on social media aren't just fundraising gambits, but sincere displays of panic from a man who has no doubt been long worried if all his criming would eventually catch up to him.

....(snip)....

Trump loves hiding behind his security guards while telling his idiot followers to commit acts of violence for him. He does it more often than most people eat breakfast. This is why legal experts so often pity Trump's defense lawyers, even though they are making a fortune off his campaign donors. This stuff isn't just dangerous and a bad look. It also nukes what was Trump's strongest defense in any January 6 case. No longer can he argue that he wasn't trying to kick off a riot when he told his followers to "march" on the Capitol, and they just did that on their own. Instead, Trump is handing prosecutors a pattern of behavior they can point to.

Trump's repeated efforts to make another January 6 happen don't just make it harder to argue his innocence in a court of law. It also makes a lot harder for Republicans who, foolishly, are still trying to defend Trump in the court of public opinion. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., squealed that this is only happening because "Trump went up in the polls." This is the same McCarthy who, in the immediate aftermath of the insurrection, correctly stated that Trump "bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters." Other Republicans followed suit in pretending this is all ridiculous. House Minority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for instance, complained about a "double standard." ............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2023/07/24/will-only-backfire-on-him--they-prove-jack-smiths-entire-case/

[Botany]

1. Most experts believe Smith wouldn't do this if he didn't have the evidence for a conviction.

It had a bad weekend. I hope he is suffering!

Trump Melts Down Over Possible New Indictment

July 24, 2023 at 5:59 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 82 Comments

Donald Trump raged at Attorney General Merrick Garland and “deranged” Special Counsel Jack Smith last night accusing them of “prosecutorial misconduct” and “election interference.”

Said Trump: “It will only get worse. We must stop these monsters from further destroying our country.”

https://politicalwire.com/2023/07/24/trump-melts-down-over-possible-new-indictment/

[Lonestarblue]

2. Trump would save us all a lot of time and money if he would just have a stroke and leave all

this behind on his way to his permanent spot in Hell.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

3. What if Obama did it? Is the only question needing asking to pierce the corporate media veil over

a dying fascist party without a platform.

All veils secretly desire to be lifted, except the veil of hypocrisy…a wonderful quote, not mine ofc.

[usonian]

4. Looks like Kevin would make a good prosecution witness.

or just his public statements.

[lees1975]

5. I guess what I have trouble understanding is why the evidence isn't obvious.

Are Americans so stupid and dense as to not be able to see, in the social media posts leading up to the insurrection, the words of those who spoke, and Trump's call to march on the Capitol, with the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys already down there, at his instructions, to make it easier for the rioters to get in?

And of course there are stupid people everywhere, who have sold their loyalty and independence as a person out to someone else who is robbing them and laughing about it, but can't our justice system be discerning and careful enough to make sure jurors are competent and unbiased?

Aside from that, the fact that he should have been arrested the moment the clock ticked 12:01 on January 20th, and held for trial, which is what would have happened to anyone else who is not a wealthy, former President and demagogue, is another weakness in the system. Dawdling and fussing around, which has more or less been admitted by the DOJ, has put this squarely at the point where backs are up against the wall and the man is a national embarrassment running around campaigning for the highest office in the land, making a mockery of the Constitition and the rule of law. It's a setup for anarchy.

[flying_wahini]

6. I agree.

But they know, no mistaking that they do know the evidence. Just playing chicken as in
Who will the first to ‘wake up’ that Trump is most definitely going to jail.
He is guilty as the day is long.

[Emile]

7. If he is putting out threats, why isn't he behind bars until his trial?

I guarantee you if he was behind bars he would be seeking a speedy trial.

[lastlib]

8. Let the King of Babble-On...babble on......

"When your enemy is making a mistake, don't interrupt him...." (I've heard that idea somewhere...)

[RipVanWinkle]

10. Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Napoleon Bonaparte.

[Paladin]

9. Oo! Oo! trump's about to get it! Oo! Oo!

How many times have we heard this in the past? trump and his thugs are just going to game the legal system one more time. I don't even read these articles anymore...

[orthoclad]

12. 2.5 years,

and he's running for prez again.

Why did DoJ wait until he was running?

[Paladin]

14. Damn good question about DoJ, orthoclad.

I'll just grit my teeth and leave my comments at that. Getting mad at the DoJ is a lot like getting mad at trump: it's wasted effort, either way.

[orthoclad]

16. We should wonder, though,

just in case something is going on below the radar. And I'll stop there.

[Elessar Zappa]

15. He's gonna have four indictments.

He might delay the trials for a while but he will go to trial. And at least one jury pool will be from DC who only had 5% of their population vote for Trump. He’s going to be convicted. Whether he serves in jail or house arrest, his punishment is coming. You can bet Jack Smith has an airtight case. And only 0.4% of federal cases result in an acquittal.

[BigOleDummy]

11. Excellent

Great article, thanks for posting it.

[republianmushroom]

13. 30 months and counting