General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How can anyone let this slide? [View all]ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Not being a lawyer, I don't know what criminal charges specifically were applicable to specific CEOs under the regulations at the time.
Jeffrey Skilling was convicted in a criminal trial of conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading and lying to auditors, so I assume if a case could be made against others, it would have been. Ken Lay was also found guilty of fraud and conspiracy, but died of heart failure shortly after the trial.
As I've said several times in this thread, Biden CANNOT ethically or legally be involved, or appear to weigh in at ALL concerning any investigation of Trump. Biden should not be seen as choosing an AG based on their plan to prosecute Trump, because independent prosecutors have to handle it, We have to avoid even the appearance that this is a political prosecution of a political adversary, rather than criminal prosecution, however much people demand it of Biden to satisfy their feelings of retribution for Trump doing exactly that.
As much as we would like to see Biden rip Trump apart publicly and demanding LOCK HIM UP, to do so would be doing what Trump did to intimidate anyone who crossed him, and should be investigated for. Disappointing as it may be for some, that is how it has to go down. Some who have ill feelings about Biden winning the primary will likely grab onto this as rationalization for their lingering anger, and see it as validation for their support for another candidate, sadly.
I do think one reason that Biden is delaying naming the AG is to lessen the time for discussion and questioning if they will open an investigation into Trump, and trigger Trump into pardoning his cronies preemptively, and this demand to see Trump bleed legally is one reason why.
Do I want Trump to die in prison? OH Yes. Do I think that I am owed that unlikely outcome by Democrats in order for me to support Democrats? Unlike some I've heard on DU, no.
Do I want the main activity of the next congress to be pursuing multiple investigations against the previous administration? No, particularly since there are dozens of legal challenges against him waiting in the courts at the state level that could possibly bleed him drier than any congressional investigation could.
I expect Congress and the Biden administration to hit the ground trying staunch the hemmoraging of our institutions and do the work of cleaning up the damage, even if it's not going to sate my fantasy of him getting the full Mussolini.