What Crime? Today Trump Got the Answer
- Bob Gatty
- May 30, 2024
- 4 min read
Two days ago, here in ruby red Myrtle Beach, SC, I was behind a big black pickup truck with five huge American flags mounted in the back and big, bold "Let's Go Brandon" signs emblazoned on the lift gate, doors, and fenders.
I pulled up next to the driver, tapped my horn to get his attention, and, wait for it...gave him the finger. He rolled down the passenger side window and yelled an obscenity, to which I responded with "I can't believe you're still supporting a criminal to be president."
"What crime did he commit?" the MAGAT yelled back. "What crime?"
Today came the answer as Trump was found guilty by a New York jury on all 34 felony charges that he faced in connection with the $130,000 hush money payment that he made through fixer Michael Cohen to former porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter, which Trump denies.
Wish I could find that guy with the truck now.
"Hey pal, you got your answer," I would tell him. "He's a convicted felon. Still gonna vote for him? Maybe you should take that crap off your truck."
Although that MAGAT lives in my neighborhood,I'm not going to go looking for him. South Carolina loves guns, and people die from road rage here. Still, I wonder what this guy's thinking now. "Rigged," he would say, parroting Trump. "You'll see what happens on election day."
Yea., pal, we will.
Trump's sentencing by no-BS Judge Juan Merchan on July 11 will come just four days before the Republican National Convention opens in Milwaukee, where he is expected to formally be crowned as the GOP's presidential nominee. There's little doubt, at least at this point, that Trump will win the nomination -- even if Merchan sentences him to jail, which most observers doubt will really happen.
What Crime?
But here we are with Trump the first US president to be convicted of a felony, and under present law he actually could serve as president if elected -- even if he's behind bars. That is incredible to contemplate, and if Congress had any guts, they'd change that law. However, Republicans still control the House of Representatives, so there's little chance of that.
Yes, Trump will appeal, but even if he loses and the conviction sticks, he technically could serve as president if he should defeat President Biden on November 5, which he predicted following the verdict.
“This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,” Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here.”
That line already is being parroted by GOP sycophants like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who along with other Republican leaders showed up in court to support Trump and lambaste the proceedings on behalf of Trump, ordered not to do so by the judge who threatened to jail him if he continued such antics.
“Today is a shameful day in American history,” Johnson said. “The American people rightfully see this is lawfare, and they know it is — and dangerous,” he added. “President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict — and he WILL WIN.”
“The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, people like the South Carolina MAGA pickup driver will be asked by the orange one to cough up some money for his campaign, money that could well be diverted to help pay mounting legal bills. Maybe those foolish true believers will buy some of Trump's MAGA Bibles or his pricy sneakers that he said Blacks would like because they like high-tops.
While the falsifying business records charges, of which he was found guilty, carry up to four years behind bars, it's not clear if prosecutors will seek imprisonment or if the judge would impose incarceration anyway. Most observers doubt that will happen, but it could.
Meanwhile, Trump faces three other felony indictments, allthough they are unlikely to be heard before the election as he's managed to pull enough strings, including the appointment of a suck-up judge in Florida, to delay those cases. He's charged with subverting American democracy by encouraging supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to prevent Biden's election from being finalized, as well as rigging the election results in Georgia, and with mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-lago estate.
All of that eventually will be resolved, and those cases would carry much stiffer penalties if he is convicted.
Will the Republicans have second thoughts about annointing this loser with their nomination? While that's wishful thinking, as of now Joe Biden's opponent is an officially declared felon, a fact that should cost him some votes and enhance the president's chances of re-election.
Surely there are sensible Republicans who will refuse to vote for a convicted felon for president. Surely.
And, what about Mr. Pickup Truck man? Does he still want to know what crimes this guy committed?
Bob: Great post! People keep saying "4 years," but he actually faces 4 years on EACH COUNT! Accepting responsibility and showing remorse are often the best ways to avoid prison and Trump is incapable of doing either. Daily attacks on the judge and his family were not wise, especially at sentencing time. Railing about a rigged system and a witch hunt that he brought upon himself was equally unwise. Others involved in the conspiracy served time—so should he. We shall see . . .