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Susan Carboni's avatar

Trump ran for office based on retribution. Apparently his voters are perfectly happy with that. Republicans now stand for a country where political opposition calls for criminal penalties. They have officially opted out of the "shining city on a hill" version of America. Let's not say Hitler - - mass murder doesn't seem to be MAGA's goal -- but Mussolini, that's the new GOP.

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Jerry Norman's avatar

1) Excellent timeline from W Saletan, on "vindictive prosecution" of Comey, by Trump. Could this be something national that State Commissions might deal with? State commissions banding together to authorize a region-wide penalty system? To authorize penalties, whenever national or state courts are used for harassment of somebody poorer by somebody wealthy? Utah did a state commission in 2013, but it dealt only with national amendments to Constitution.. See guest writer from Yale: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/State-Commissions-investigating-trump

2) Everyone wants people to be healthy. Am curious, has Hegs. put Trump on an exercise and diet regimen yet? Recall that Hegs. speech to the Generals went on and on about fatness?

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The monk's avatar

Thank you, Will, for the great write-up with just the facts. Data is data. 🙏

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Shelfie's avatar

Just for gits and shiggles, I'm going to take the contrary view here, even though I agree with Will this "case" is bad odored, flatulant nonsense. And does not deserve to waste the court's time. But Comey is saying, bring it on. He knows there's no there there, and it might never go to trial, or be dismissed if Trump's loyalists fall on their swords trying to mount their flimsy case. My cynical mind tells me Comey would love this case to be tried. Because it's basically HS stemming from obvious vindictiveness. And almost certainly, with the excellent lawyer Comey has hired, will be an exercise in humiliation for Team Trump. Such as they are. There is no doubt in my mind Comey would love the chance to tell Trump to go to hell, in such a huge public spectacle.

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Robert J Danolfo's avatar

Will, Excellent detailing of the whole sordid Comey business. Yes, it would be tremendous if the judge tosses the case and rips Trump a new ass in the process. I was never that thrilled with Comey but anyone who fights this regime gets my support.

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zedsdead's avatar

I’m very interested to know if a highly publicized court trial actually will expose Trumps bullshit. This might be a good thing ?

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Thomas Witt's avatar

The Comey persecution is, obviously, another step in the climb to complete authoritarianism. However, when I tried to shed a tear for the beleaguered former FBI director, all I managed to do was pull a muscle.

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Count Zero's avatar

They need to bring more vindictive prosecution cases against Trump because he's going to keep doing it until it starts to do real fiscal damage.

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Linda Oliver's avatar

Trump will suffer no financial damage because he’s got the entire US Treasury at his disposal. He’s playing with house money.

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Nibbles McDaniel's avatar

If it's dismissed, one way or another, could Comey sue 1) the US Government for malicious prosecution (or some analog) or 2) Trump, in civil court?

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James Richardson's avatar

This is my question also. Can Comey sue for slander? This non-lawyer would love to know.

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Peabody Jones's avatar

Three things:

1) Just getting an indictment was Trump's goal. It was, and is, a talking point. Even though a judge will likely throw out the case, the rabid rw media will blame "radical left judges" and in doing so, will further undermine the legal system. (Just like elections, the outcome is only acceptable to MAGAworld if Trump wins).

2) I have no idea how wealthy Director Comey is, but fighting criminal charges is a very expensive and time-consuming endeavor. No matter the outcome, Trump has now harmed Comey in his pocketbook. Trump intends this.

3) I've seen reports that Fox et al are falsely reporting the charges as a very vague "Comey started the Russia-Trump investigation based solely on Comey's personal animus toward Trump" idea, and that now "the truth will finally come out." They have never reported on the Senate investigation or the Inspector General's investigation. This is agit-prop (agitation-propaganda) at its finest, and MAGAworld keeps falling for it, again and again.

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Thomas Witt's avatar

I don't know if we can characterize what Fox is doing as "reporting," falsely or otherwise. They have gone from being a conservative outlet, to far-right, to now nothing but a propaganda outlet for a wannabe dictator.

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Chuck Aurora's avatar

I hope it does go to trial. The defense could call Trump to the stand. That would be fun.

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