Month: April 2024

Finally, the Hush Money case begins this Monday

by Dave

Opening arguments lay out the basics of the case for the jury from both the prosecution and defense side. Of course, from the defense side, Trump is innocent. The jury will hear two months of evidence and then decide.

So, everyone has their job. The judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers know their job. But the jury doesn’t unless they have served on a jury before. It is basically weird. They are the deciders, but they can’t solve this problem like any others. They can’t go into Google. They can’t talk it over with the others in the jury. They can’t talk to their spouse or neighbors. Lots of can nots.

And they are not going to know what laws Trump is accused of breaking until the very end. My experience on juries, is in general, that the people act very conscientiously, they respect each other, and obey the orders of the judge. Some are more engaged than others, but they all play by the rules.

So, the system is working. Hardly headline news, but it should be. The delay tactics of Trump failed. Every defendant has a right to a speedy trial so they can clear their names. In this case, Trump wants just the opposite, namely indefinite postponements. If he can slow down this trial, the ones that follow, particularly the Classified Documents case, will also get pushed back.

Judge Cannon, in the Classified Documents case, has now ruled against Trump on a motion to dismiss. Apparently, there are many more motions pending, and she’ll have to rule on these soon. If she can do this expeditiously, then just perhaps in July, the documents case can begin. Trump’s team is trying to use the Hush Money case, and the need for his lawyers in NY, to further push back the Document case. No start date has been scheduled.

The Jan 6 case is awaiting a decision on the immunity claim by Trump. Oral arguments will be held in the Supreme Court. This will be interesting, because the appellate court ruled against him, and legal experts do not expect this will go well for Trump on Thursday.

Court reporters are will get no break, as they go from Manhattan, NY to Ft. Pierce, FL (Documents Case), Atlanta, GA (Election Conspiracy Case) and Washington, DC (Jan 6 election interference case).

Stay tuned,

Dave

The “Get Out of Jail Free” Card

by Dave

Trump would like to have this card, but he needs the acceptance of the Supreme Court. We will know around the end of June or perhaps sooner, if they accept or deny his appeal for absolute immunity for actions taken as President.

The Special Counsel, Jack Smith, has submitted his brief of why Trump’s appeal should be denied. He states that there is no basis for immunity based on the history, text, and structure of the Constitution. Certainly, his supporters would like to see the Supreme Court affirm his appeal, so criminal cases involving January 6 (Georgia case and Federal January 6 case) could just disappear.

Most legal experts believe that the appeal will be denied. If Trump’s appeal is denied, the Jan 6 trial could begin in July.

Yet, this immunity case is for a former President. If Trump succeeds in being re-elected, he can claim immunity that he once enjoyed as a sitting President. At the same time, he will install loyalists in the Department of Justice, who will not only dismiss the charges against him, but use the DOJ to launch partisan attacks on Democrats including Hunter Biden.

This is the retribution plan, and it should never be allowed. It is a basic misunderstanding of government, that when a president yells “jump”, the only response is “How high?”. Yes, CEO’s can demand loyalty from their employees, but government, especially the DOJ must operate independently when investigating criminal matters involving other prior politicians.

So, I believe both the Supreme Court and the electorate must do their jobs to ensure accountability. You can not elect someone with 91 pending criminal charges as head of the executive branch with the obligation to faithfully enforce the laws of our country. One can not pick and choose which laws to obey.

With absolute immunity, while every law applies to the rest of us, Trump can do what he wants. Seems pretty much like a monarch. Except of course he is no longer president, and the electorate should not return him to power. His next term will be far worse.

Stay tuned,

Dave

Globalism and Radical Republicans

by Dave

Global problems need global solutions. NATO is a real solution to Russian expansion under Putin. Ukraine must not be the next victim to Russia’s invasion. Climate change is real. The hard evidence is many more extreme weather events. We’ve seen the melting of the polar caps and the rise in sea levels. Nuclear disarmament is critical to world peace. Again, global solutions can work. Unilateral actions or no actions will fail.

Global solutions are very difficult to accomplish. No one country will be given credit, if Putin gives up in Ukraine. It is not the Republican party in general that wants to cut aid to Ukraine, but a small group of radical Republicans, who put political gain ahead of what’s best for the country and the world.

With this small group of Republicans, there is no room for compromise. The opinion below, singles out Marjorie Taylor Greene, as the leader in the anti-Ukraine aid campaign. But, the driving force is a disengagement into world affairs, at a time where alliances are critical.

The best way to defeat Rep. Greene and others is at the polls in November.

See CNN link: Opinion: If Marjorie Taylor Greene wins on Ukraine aid, we’re headed for dangerous territory

Stay tuned,

Dave