130 Comments
User's avatar
Thomas Moore's avatar

It costs Trump nothing to persecute his "enemies" because the taxpayers are funding it. But his targets still have to defend themselves on theirs or someone's expense.

Disgusting.

Don Kennedy's avatar

Yeah, and that is the whole point to these prosecutions. Make the targets pay money to defend themselves. I hope that civil lawsuits are incoming from everybody.

donna woodward's avatar

As I'm sure you know, that was his way of doing business as a real estate developer: stiff contractors and make them sue him, something many of them could not afford to do.

Don Kennedy's avatar

And it continues to this very day; he’s stiffing the contractors building his stupid ballroom on the former East wing. Unbelievable; no sense of shame whatsoever.

Tim Matchette's avatar

Bottom feeders have no shame.

donna woodward's avatar

"Shame? I don't need no stinkin' shame!"

peter's avatar

What great, simple point! Just “investigate” and “charge” anyone for anything. The bill for the labor just goes to “government” so frump doesn’t care who “wins” or “loses”. Anything can distract: Hunter’s laptop, Hillary’s emails, various property managements, the bitcoin reinvented, Tiffany’s abortion, the Trumparena, and on. There is not a person in the cabinet or the WH that doesn’t expect to retire (much) richer. And for benefiting only themselves.

Susan Lee's avatar

And, of course, he knows that dear, little Ms. Bondi will just automatically bend over and kiss his a$$ without question. How the hell did she even DARE to claim she's ethical? She basically turned apoplectic when someone--was it a news person or a congressperson, I forget--told her she was acting unethically.

Guess she never understood "Equal Protection of the Law for all," which equates to "Equal Accountability in the Law for all," meaning choosing just democrats, but not republicans, to try to make up some ridiculous non-evidence for people he just doesn't like--Gee, just like King George--is unconstitutional, unAmerican, and certainly unethical and immoral and, yes, well past disgusting.

krayneum's avatar

Except that it might be starting to cost him with public opinion. The polls indicate that Trump’s supposedly invincible facade is finally cracking, and these vindictive, incompetent and wasteful prosecutions are just one more crack.

Stephen ONeill's avatar

Stupifying levels of incompetence and corruption...the "hallmark" of the Trump regime and the level to which "justice" in the US has fallen.

Sophia Demas's avatar

Yes, I've been watching this clown show with horrific fascination as each indictment of mortgage fraud comes down as another version of the same sick joke. I truly am aghast at how incompetence doesn't matter anymore....

Don Kennedy's avatar

Especially considering that Trump is guilty of the *exact same thing.* The hypocrisy knows no bounds.

rpasea's avatar

It's long past time to start sanctioning and even disbarring the orange felon's lackys.

L.D.Michaels's avatar

Agreed. Where are the Bar Associations in all these gross abuses of the legal system? When the dust settles on all of this in many years hence, posterity will cite the Bar Associations among those institutions who merely sat by and did nothing.

Amy in Seattle's avatar

Ethics complaints against Pam Bondi have been filed in Florida. The Florida bar says it cannot take action against her while she is a federal official. The complainants have called BS on that and are litigating the issue in the Florida Supreme Court.

rpasea's avatar

Bondi needs to reflect on what happened to Nixon's AG.

Amy in Seattle's avatar

There is something deeply wrong with Bondi, Hegseth, Noem and most of Trump’s other cabinet members. They seem to think they are superior to all others and invincible. They lie, disrespect Congress, ignore court orders, etc. The chickens will come home to roost some day, however, and it will be a schadenfreude festival.

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Here is a group that was mentioned I think in one of the excellent sub columns I read yesterday. You don’t have to be a lawyer to interact with them, but they are lawyers who are devoting themselves to protect protecting the rule of law. Check them out. And donate.

https://ldad.org/

Tim Matchette's avatar

Second that motion!

Eileen Wilks's avatar

Judges who are not part of the scurrilous Scotus majority continue to impress me with their courage and fidelity to the law.

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

scurrilous- I haven’t seen that word used in a long time! Congratulations!

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

And scurrilous Scotus is the frosting on the cake!

Marc Panaye's avatar

Hi, I'm 62 and I claim that everyday is a day during which I learn something new!

English is my third language and today, thanks to you, I learn about scurrilous. Beautiful word.

How appropriate..... "making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation".

Steven Branch's avatar

Apparently, these fools in the Department of Injustice continue to throw pasta at the wall hoping that a piece of spaghetti will stick to justify their vindictive prosecution of Tish James. In this case, I hope that their persistence results in the continued slap-down of these outrageous cases. Oh, and thanks Jen for sharing with us that Drumpf did the same thing in 1993 that they're accusing TJ of. And America's Dark Age rages on.

Carol Gamm's avatar

Corruption on display

It's Come To This's avatar

Idiocy on display, too. A real twofer going on here.

Anne Pierce's avatar

If the current administration had the minimal common sense that the Lord gave aardvarks, who know to eat ants and not gazelles, they would indeed quit now. I'm afraid they don't have that much sense.

Don Kennedy's avatar

Quit, as in the ‘resign their job’ sense of the word. They are acting on the orders of their boss who really does not care what it costs the underlings.

donna woodward's avatar

Uh oh, I thought, now he'll go after the GAO. Since this is a legislative agency, I guess he can't Which is not to say he won't. Then he'll be sued, then the Supreme Court will find a way to let him do it anyway. This Supreme Court is the clout behind the faux king's throne. It's not fathomable that they don't understand the law, is it? It's easier to believe that "he" and his henchmen have dirt on one or more of them. "Protect me and I'll protect you."

Carole Langston's avatar

Not dirt. 💰. The GRIFTER IN CHIEF. Robert's is a White Supremist also.

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

And what gets me as a lawyer about these people is they made a big to do about being “originalists” which means they would enforce the law as the writers meant it at the time. Well we know very well they never meant half the things these people are claiming the constitution says. This is beyond belief. I did very well in constitutional law classes in law school, which was a long time ago, but I’ve read quite a few cases, and nothing approaches this in lack of legal underpinnings

donna woodward's avatar

Yes. This is why I've begun to think there may be more nefarious forces at work: blackmail or extortion or bribery. "He" will use the lowest tricks in the world to get what he wants. Once upon a time I'd never have thought our SC justices could be so venal, so corruptible. So contemptible. Since there seems to be no legal basis for their decisions, what are we left with??

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

It’s a sad state of affairs, and you don’t have to be a lawyer to feel that way. Just a member of what I always thought was a great democracy. But here’s a group that is doing something about it and I think they deserve support

Lawyers Defending American Democracy

Https://ldad.org

donna woodward's avatar

Thank you. A once-honorable (I thought) profession (to which I also belonged) is now an embarrassment. I was so proud of the Constitution we swore to uphold. Until it was trashed by, of all groups, the current Supreme Court majority.

Donna Carrillo Lopez's avatar

Agree, the maga 6 are Trump’s pathologic biofilm.

Wade Baynham's avatar

Authoritarians, as we know, can't handle being around competent people. Their fragile egos can't take it.

Thank you, Jen, for again pointing out the staggering level of criminality and incompetence being weilded against all of us.

Robert Lastick's avatar

Criminality and incompetence we the the people just talk about and fail to prosecute them.

Ivan Tufaart's avatar

I have no doubt that should the investigation of Pulte, et al, progress, then Don the Con will issue a blanket pardon for all of those miscreants.

Alan Greenstein's avatar

State Attorneys General must work hard to come up with state charges against these folks. Then Trump cannot do a thing.

Barbara's avatar

That's why the Bar Associations are a good place to look. If they start getting a spine maybe??? Trump cannot do anything much to a Bar Association except threaten to never hire any lawyers that belong? Because yeah, the reign of terror continues because not only is the Felon-in-Chief immune from any prosecution (which seems to me is up to and including murder) for anything he does in the course of his job, he always retains the power of the pardon. All of the people doing crimes at his behest know (ONE of the key reasons for pardoning the Jan 6 gang and drug kingpin) that whatever crime THEY commit, he'll pardon. I am wondering what he'll do about this Cueller whom he pardoned, but who is continuing to be a Democrat. And whether, if all the junior felons committing crimes at his behest see Trump, say, void the pardon, would that cause them pause, or just reinforce the keep on doing the crime or the Boss will make you do the crime?

Ann's avatar

Yes we need to rally to stop this but we need to keep the overall message focused on the areas where Trump is vulnerable: economy, ICE. Most Americans aren’t interested in his petty vindictive attacks, they are worried about healthcare, food prices. I hope democrats don’t abandon these issues, they are the key to 2026 victories

Don Kennedy's avatar

And the Epstein scandal; that was a major big congressional deal, and needs to be kept front and center as it’s a giant MAGA vulnerability to him.

Ann's avatar

Agree, I just don’t want to lose focus over other petty stuff.

Steve 218's avatar

Food price, healthcare, and insurance of all kinds. The kitchen table budgets of people across the nation are being strapped. Salaries are not increasing to keep up with this across-the-board inflation.

Science Curmudgeon's avatar

The process and cost of defending is the punishment. The conviction isn't the primary goal. The goal is intimidation. Defending such a case could bring bankruptcy to anyone who isn't a millionaire.

donna woodward's avatar

Headline from today's Philadelphia Inquirer: "In New Orleans and across U.S., anger over ICE raids sparks a 2nd American Revolution."

It may be immigration, it may be "his" malicious prosecutorial overreach, it may be our illegal piracy and murders in the Caribbean. Americans are angry. Maybe even angry enough to revolt against our revolting titular leader and his actions. We've done it before.

Robert Lastick's avatar

This has to be done in the courts. Yes, we are angry, but another civil war is simply not an option. They (Trump and MAGA's) must be prosecuted for their illegality.

donna woodward's avatar

Yes, they should be prosecuted. Nure burg trial-style.

Susan Wladaver-Morgan's avatar

Of course, the current Subprime Court will probably say that such selective, vindictive, and spurious prosecutions are just fine

James Coyle's avatar

Liked for "Subprime Court." I may steal this one. I've been using "Supine Six" lately.

Robert Lastick's avatar

I expect more from our courts than that. I expect them to follow the law. I expect those that don't to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Period.

End of conversation.

Scott Johnson's avatar

What beggars belief is the astonishing number of incompetents Trump has promoted who have absolutely no awareness of their own manifest inadequacy for their positions. A real estate attorney playing at federal prosecutor? How did she graduate from law school? Or even undergrad? High school? They are what psychologists call "ego-alien" to the nth degree. They see themselves simply as what other people tell them they are, having zero sense of self. It is also why the concept of "shame" is foreign to them. How can they feel shame if they have no sense of who they are? Frankly, it says something immensely troubling about modern society that we have raised so many utterly amoral, solopsisitic individuals. The thousands of lawyers who have filed bogus claims? The tens of thousands of flunkies willing to work for ICE, who go home untroubled after "work" to their families after terrorizing the most defenseless of their neighbors? These are signs of deep social sickness that will take many years to even attempt to remediate.

Don Kennedy's avatar

Loyalty to Trump is the first last and only attribute needed for a Trump appointee. All other considerations are rescinded.

Robert Lastick's avatar

I agree with you, Scott. Our country is quite "sick".

Get rid of Bone spurs's avatar

It reminds me of the story from the bible where they were judging a woman and the punishment was stoning, And Jesus said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." One of my favorite gotcha lines!

Don Kennedy's avatar

And that story worked because the audience in that case could feel ashamed and understood the point of Jesus‘s comment. Trump, and all the people he hires, have no sense of shame.

patricia's avatar

That Boy could really turn out a phrase !