this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
353 points (97.8% liked)

United States | News & Politics

1917 readers
424 users here now

Welcome to !usa@midwest.social, where you can share and converse about the different things happening all over/about the United States.

If you’re interested in participating, please subscribe.

Rules

Be respectful and civil. No racism/bigotry/hateful speech.

Post anything related to the United States.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
all 27 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Anissem@lemmy.ml 64 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Happy 4th Indictment Day for anyone else who celebrates!

[–] Lon3star@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

I hold celebrations for verdicts and sentencing

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

What does it realistically do?

[–] grue@lemmy.ml 60 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The charges range... to racketeering, a charge usually reserved for organized crime.

It's cute how the writer doesn't realize it's continuing to be reserved for organized crime.

[–] Changetheview@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Act like a mobster. Get charged like a mobster. If the shoe fits…

[–] Thedogspaw@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago

Its like they don't realize the trumps are basically a mob family i still think the death of his ex wife and rape island guy are pretty suspicious

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I just realized -

We all know that:

  • Violation of RICO in GA carries a minimum five year prison term,
    EDIT: "[Or] a fine" that "does not exceed the greater of $25,000 or three times the amount of any pecuniary value gained". Because the pecuniary value is zero, I find it very difficult to believe that a $25,000 fine would be considered an appropriate consequence to violation of GA RICO in this case.
  • The GA governor cannot pardon, there is a pardon board,
  • Even if the pardon board grants pardon, that does not take effect until five years after the sentence is served.

Look at all the people being charged alongside Trump for RICO. When RICO is prosecuted, all co-conspirators are charged as a group. They all get the same sentence.

They're all going to prison.

EDIT:

And and -- In order to be convicted of RICO in GA, a minimum of two crimes must be shown to be part of the same criminal enterprise. Of 19 defendants, it is highly likely that one or more will plea deal and cooperate. Another edit: Because an alternative sentence for a GA RICO violation is a fine, with no prison, that's a basis upon which other defendants or co-conspirators would be motivated to make the plea deal and cooperate.

It's all over but the shouting. Donald Trump is going to be convicted and sentenced to prison in Georgia.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I will believe it when I see it... assuming this did all happen, how long would it take from today before he hypothetically saw cell bars?

[–] Thedogspaw@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago

The prosecutor is shooting for 6 months if not sooner so possibly March

[–] worfamerryman@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is pretty crazy.

What does it mean for a president to be in prison? Does he take his secret service? Does he basically have to stay isolated? Like seriously what are the logistics?

Also, if he is sentenced to prison, are we going to see violence from his supporters? No matter the outcome, it is kind of scary to think about what happens next.

If he is not held accountable, does that mean the next president will push it further? If he is found guilty and imprisoned, does that mean his supporters are going to cause disruptions?

What is the time frame on these things?

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What does it mean for a president to be in prison? Does he take his secret service? Does he basically have to stay isolated? Like seriously what are the logistics?

We have some indication of how that would play out. John Dean, Nixon's White House counsel, served prison time in a military facility in Baltimore for his involvement with Watergate. It can be done.

Also, if he is sentenced to prison, are we going to see violence from his supporters?

Almost certainly yes, I think. His supporters have shown themselves to be capable of violence in support of him, and counter to what they incorrectly perceive as a "witch hunt." It will definitely be ... "interesting." But I don't think it will rise to the level of full-on civil war.

If he is not held accountable, does that mean the next president will push it further?

This whole situation demonstrates what happens when a good portion of the rules of government depend on the honor and decorum of its elected officials, and then someone in the highest office in the land, along with their sycophants, set completely aside honor and decorum. The landscape of US politics has already been forever changed, and all of these indictments and their trials and consequences are a necessary reaction to the change. There must be real consequences, and I don't mean a slap on the wrist, otherwise any hope of real democracy is lost.

If he is found guilty and imprisoned, does that mean his supporters are going to cause disruptions?

They certainly will, as above. Whether those disruptions turn violent is another question, which I have answered above.

What is the time frame on these things?

Fani Willis stated that she would like to see this go to trial in six months. I have heard a commentator saying that is an impossibly short timeframe, that another ongoing RICO case in GA took 18 months to go to trial, nine of those being jury selection. I'm not sure I agree with that commentator, because Willis certainly knows about the other ongoing RICO case, as well as the other RICO cases already tried in GA, and their timeframes. I don't think she would say "six months" if she didn't mean it, and she's fully informed.

We know that Trump's "defense" is to stall, to interfere with proceedings, and to threaten. Judge Tanya Chutkan has already set a standard for her court's response to that kind of behavior: an increase in the urgency for a speedy trial. I'm still waiting for her court's response to Trump's bleatings over the past weekend, after she made that speedy trial consequence clear.

Judges tend to work on a scale of increasing penalties for violating their orders in regard to an existing case. Whether she follows that course, and how aggressively, is yet to be seen, but there's plenty of indication that she will make appropriately measured statements, orders, and consequences.

[–] worfamerryman@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for this detailed answer. It really helped me better understand what’s going on.

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Here's some more. I put this together this morning, my understanding of the situation with the GA indictments since about midday 8/15/2023. And since then, I've seen some media commentary that supports my assessments, at least in part. Specifically, that Trump will be convicted, and that one or more persons will flip.

[–] DaSaw@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago

Being a president in prison is like being in jail in Monopoly once the board is fully owned.

[–] Darus214@lemm.ee 16 points 1 year ago

You get what you deserve.

[–] Tball@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The devil called down to Georgia, He was looking for some votes to steal. He was in a bind, 'cuz he was way behind

[–] PlantDadManGuy@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

And soon he'll make a plea deal

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago

Along with many others, and mentioning "Unindicted co-conspirators 1 through 30."

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 1 year ago

The cherry on top is that Rudy Giuliani's office taught DAs how to use the racketeering laws to get mob bosses in the 80s. Now he's charged with it. I love it.

Not that I have a lot of hope for the outcomes on any of these.

[–] MisterD@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

When will we see him in Orange?

EDIT: I'm talking about the clothes. Maybe even an orange ring (why not? He's greedy AF)

[–] Hanabie@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

Hasn't he been orange for years?

[–] AnarchoYeasty@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

What do you mean? Does he not spray tan anymore?

[–] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Is there anyway legally to force Trump to go to Georgia for the indictment/trial?

If not I can see this clown just altogether avoiding Georgia to escape justice.

[–] Skotimusj@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

He won't be able to avoid George if he needs to campaign there. And that is the real goal IMO.

[–] AnarchoYeasty@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

US Marshal Service can drag him in if Georgia issues a warrant for him. But the Secret Service is likely to make him go.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 2 points 1 year ago

I imagine the Secret Service is already making plans on how to protect an ex-President in prison. If not, they should be.