Trump in panic mode as he braces for likely charges
March 19, 2023 3:21 PM   Subscribe

Manhattan district attorney expected to file criminal charges against ex-president for payment to adult film star in 2016. [Guardian] Donald Trump is bracing for his most legally perilous week since he left the White House, with the Manhattan district attorney likely to bring criminal charges against him over his role in paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, as he huddled this weekend to strategize his legal and political responses. The former US president has posted in all-caps on his Truth Social platform that he expected to be “ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK” and called for his supporters to engage in protests – an ominous echo of his tweets urging protests in the lead-up to the January 6 US Capitol attack. posted by Ahmad Khani (142 comments total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
ah! well, nevertheless,
posted by Going To Maine at 3:28 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


Perhaps worth noting that the only person that the Guardian article seems to identify as affirmatively "expect[ing]" charges to be brought next week is DJT himself, as per his all-caps tweet sparkling 4chan post.

I had been a bit puzzled by the flurry of stories from seemingly credible outlets but without any credible sourcing. Marcy Wheeler's take is IMO informative: Pavlov’s Press Corps: Trump Once Again Got Journalists to Willingly Serve as His Incitement Mules.
posted by Not A Thing at 3:30 PM on March 19, 2023 [37 favorites]


Surely, this...
posted by Metro Gnome at 3:34 PM on March 19, 2023 [26 favorites]




“No way can he wiggle his way out of this one.” - Every Democrat for the 764th time.
posted by paulcole at 3:35 PM on March 19, 2023 [42 favorites]


JFC can we not? The only one expecting charges is Trump, and even he probably knows he's full of shit. It's just yet another chance to a) fund raise and b) rile up the troops.

Until someone ACTUALLY indicts him, we should all act as if nothing new is going on. Because NOTHING NEW IS GOING ON!
posted by Frayed Knot at 3:38 PM on March 19, 2023 [72 favorites]


Then move along.

Something is going on: he was brought in front of a grand jury, but obviously you misunderstood that, or the implications.

And of course we'd only hear this from 45, at this point in time, as the DA is not going to announce what is next.

JFC can we not

Indeed.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 3:41 PM on March 19, 2023 [4 favorites]


When was Trump brought in front of a grand jury? I must have missed that part.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:48 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


Trump was invited to testify before the NYC grand jury, but said via his lawyer that he won’t be participating. The NPR article notes that:
In New York, an offer to speak in front of a grand jury is typically the last step before a criminal indictment. State law mandates that potential defendants must be given an opportunity to appear before a grand jury to answer questions before they are indicted.
posted by mbrubeck at 3:57 PM on March 19, 2023 [9 favorites]


Apologies, I misspoke—invited to testify.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 3:58 PM on March 19, 2023


I want to believe.

Specifically, I want to believe America is a nation of laws, but I guess we'll see everyone's enthusiasm on that point.
posted by Capt. Renault at 4:00 PM on March 19, 2023 [11 favorites]


Eh, I'll believe it when I see footage of him being frog-marched in handcuffs. The state has been teasing and edging a certain demographic within the left with this mirage of accountability- I'm confident that Trump will die of old age before ever seeing a jail cell. They'll stall this out for decades if need be. It's an empty political pantomime meant to make us proles believe that laws mean something, when in fact there is no law, only power. Same as it ever was.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 4:02 PM on March 19, 2023 [31 favorites]


Sooner or later he'll get charged with something, but I'm not sure this is the one that is going to stick.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:21 PM on March 19, 2023


I am sorry. But if people would keep the doom comments to a low roar, it would be good. Delete this if I am gatekeeping.
posted by Splunge at 4:23 PM on March 19, 2023 [28 favorites]




CNN: A federal law enforcement source said Secret Service agents in charge of Trump’s security detail in Palm Beach, Florida, have been in touch with the Secret Service’s New York office. They have discussed the logistics of getting the former president into the district attorney’s office, past crowds and a media throng, through the arraignment process and out of the courthouse.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 4:35 PM on March 19, 2023 [6 favorites]


JFC can we not

After tweeting these things, Trump was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Trump loved, was reclining at table at Trump's side, so Rudy Giuliani motioned to him to ask Trump of whom he was speaking.
posted by pwnguin at 4:37 PM on March 19, 2023 [10 favorites]


I fully expect him to defect to Russia.
posted by metatuesday at 4:56 PM on March 19, 2023 [9 favorites]


Metafilter: if people would keep the doom comments to a low roar, it would be good. Delete this if I am gatekeeping.
posted by lalochezia at 5:10 PM on March 19, 2023 [15 favorites]


For the umpteenth time, and I hope the last, I am begging you, one and all, to please not get my hopes up.

Is there really such a thing as being "above the law"? And is that perfectly okay? I dread that I will not like the ultimate answer to that question.
posted by Flexagon at 5:15 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


I thought Trump was just playing the victim card yet again, but this is a weird response: McCarthy calls for no protests, violence if Trump is arrested. If the story is completely nonsense, they wouldn't have treated the question seriously.

Also of course it is weird that an elected official has to tell people "please do not attempt to overthrow the government" but here we are.
posted by meowzilla at 5:23 PM on March 19, 2023 [9 favorites]


If Trump is indicted for campaign finance violations he committed as a candidate, that’s… nice, I guess? But I care a lot more about the serious crimes he commited as president, like the ones he was impeached for (twice). Since those impeachments failed, it seems the lesson to future presidents is that they really are above the law while in office. Our last hope there is that just maybe someday he’ll be indicted (and convicted) for interfering with the 2020 election.

Yes, enforcing campaign finance law is important and necessary, but also terribly insufficient relative to the other damage done. But I guess you have to start somewhere?
posted by mbrubeck at 5:34 PM on March 19, 2023 [5 favorites]


He's not getting arrested. He will never be arrested. How do we know? Because everything he has ever said has been complete and utter bullshit.
posted by awfurby at 5:34 PM on March 19, 2023 [13 favorites]


Who?
posted by aspersioncast at 5:44 PM on March 19, 2023 [9 favorites]


I believe literally nothing until it actually happens.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:09 PM on March 19, 2023 [15 favorites]


I drew 47 portraits of Trump, and decided to stop until he's finally arrested and convicted which would mean one final one.
Fingers crossed.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 6:11 PM on March 19, 2023 [15 favorites]


Surely, this...


When and if the indictment comes out, I am heading to the nearest epicenter of spontaneous celebrations, and having a drink at the nearest bar to it. And I and the bartender will invent and name a cocktail the "surely this."
posted by ocschwar at 6:49 PM on March 19, 2023 [19 favorites]


This is just the standard trick of warning about a nonexistent crisis, so when it doesn’t happen he can claim it’s because he defeated the threat and chalk up another win for him and another loss for his opponents.
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:03 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


If an arrest is attempted, I wouldn't be surprised if what results is not unlike the protests that are happening in support of Imran Khan in Pakistan right now.
posted by clawsoon at 7:10 PM on March 19, 2023 [2 favorites]


One of the good things about the Stormy Daniels payment is that attorneys general don't often bring charges of this magnitude (the accused, not the charges themselves) unless they're pretty sure they can win the case, and financial crimes are often easiest to prosecute because the paper trails are so clear. So there's that.

The good thing is that if this one finally materializes there are likely more coming. And they're the serious ones. We can hope that this is the oysters appetizer to a really nice surf & turf, followed by chocolate mousse for dessert.
posted by lhauser at 7:17 PM on March 19, 2023 [13 favorites]


Guys, I don’t want to jinx it, but rumor is that Gorpman was seen entering the Manhattan courthouse...
posted by staggernation at 7:23 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


Ocschwar, find a way to place Cheetos in a Moscow Mule (as in courrier for illegal things) and I think you’re thematically done.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 7:39 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


staggernation, I hate to break it to you but Bleemer died of COVID by jumping from the 9th floor window of his hotel in St.Petersburg in 2021.
posted by tigrrrlily at 7:45 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


>the serious crimes he commited as president

yeah this would be like sending Capone up the river for tax evasion.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 8:24 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


(goddamn, Trey, you beat me by seconds)

This charge is like getting Capone on tax evasion. Anyway, what counts is the charge and the trial. Not the circus around an arrest.

I very much hope that the Manhattan DA will politely, and repeatedly, ask Trump's lawyers to agree to a quiet voluntary little get-together where Trump will show up, be charged and released on bail, and the attention moves to the trial.

Doing the whole televised arrest/cuffs/perp-walk in the midst of a protest serves no-one. Except Trump, of course.
posted by Artful Codger at 8:25 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


It is starting to feel one of those weeks that really could be monumental (who knows how the whole Credit Suisse debacle impacts things, this thing with Trump, how Putin going to Crimea and Xi visiting Moscow impacts on Ukraine etc).

I guess this is me saying we really need a thread with img tags allowed if we don’t just get threatened with a good time here on Trump and it happens.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:53 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


(crosses fingers, closes eyes)

flightriskflightriskflightrisk

posted by 1adam12 at 9:06 PM on March 19, 2023 [5 favorites]


attorneys general don't often bring charges of this magnitude (the accused, not the charges themselves)

Attorneys general don't often bring these charges because they're not in their jurisdiction. Any charges here, if brought (and count me among those who will believe it when they see it), would be by the Manhattan DA, somewhat disappointing progressive Alvin Bragg.
posted by praemunire at 9:08 PM on March 19, 2023


CBS claiming coordination between NYPD and Secret Service in preparation

between those two forces, i would expect them to coordinate on putting the guy on a plane to Moscow. but, these groups need to talk if the arrest is to move forward, so...
posted by eustatic at 9:42 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


article on police coordination

also, US Grant got arrested while he was president, so what the hell is it with thie 'you can't indict a sitting president' nonsense, when it has happened?
posted by eustatic at 9:48 PM on March 19, 2023 [7 favorites]


The closing minutes of the final episode of Deadwood come to mind, every time.
posted by brachiopod at 9:51 PM on March 19, 2023


Re: Flight risk

"Honestly I think his thrust to weight ratio is too low"
posted by mbo at 9:56 PM on March 19, 2023 [12 favorites]


If he wants to admit guilt for the next riot in advance, I say let him. Fuck that guy and fuck his cult and especially fuck his braindead voters.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:18 PM on March 19, 2023 [5 favorites]


We can't even charge Matt Gaetz.
posted by AlSweigart at 10:49 PM on March 19, 2023 [22 favorites]


My assumption is that Trump is lying one or another, and he won't be arrested on Tuesday.

Also, while 1/6 was a serious threat, it wasn't all that many people. I expect any protests about any arrest to be embarrassingly small.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 11:14 PM on March 19, 2023 [3 favorites]


US Grant got arrested while he was president

William Henry West was one of only two black police officers working for the Washington DC Police Department during Reconstruction. He caught Grant riding a carriage at excessive speed and warned him as follows: "I want to inform you, Mr. President, that you are violating the law by speeding along this street. Your fast driving, sir, has set the example for a lot of other gentlemen." The President apologised and promised it wouldn't happen again. The next day West had to stop Grant again, saying "I am very sorry, Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir, and I will have to place you under arrest." Grant was taken to the police station and released on bond.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 12:35 AM on March 20, 2023 [28 favorites]


Back in -16 some of us speculated that the whole reason Trump was running was that it was his last chance to avoid jail time. And it worked! There are a mountain of crimes from before he was elected, and then some from during his presidency.

His strategy has always been to deny and delay -- I guess the Stormy Daniels thing has the advantage of being very clear cut: The lawyer paid Stormy, and then Trump paid the lawyer. Lawyer confessed, handed over all the documents, was convicted and hence there is no argument, no space for deny and delay tactics. Why would Trump pay the lawyer for nothing?

The tax fraud case is still being investigated, but since Trump's chief financial manager was convicted and jailed, I can't see why it wouldn't stick to Trump?

In the Georgia and January 6th cases there is perhaps a bit more space -- not that he can get out of his culpability, but it just takes more time to bring all the facts together.

And then there is the hidden documents case, which is ongoing. It seems that the Trump family have also kept a lot of stupid gifts from other heads of state.

Before and during his presidency, Trump was able to bully and lawyer his way out of clear-cut cases again and again. But he is evidently running out of good lawyers. And places to go.

On a more speculative note, I wonder if the rape case is going to bring more stories forward, if she wins? I can't imagine he only attempted rape once, so maybe some women are following the case to see what happens. And in general, I bet a lot of people in his administration can't wait to spill the beans on all his wrongdoings, once he is a certified loser.

About his followers: what do people normally do when they have been part of a cult that is exposed? They feel ashamed. A small handful will definitely keep the torch burning, but the vast majority are going to disappear entirely from public discourse.
posted by mumimor at 12:51 AM on March 20, 2023 [17 favorites]


My assumption is that Trump is lying one or another, and he won't be arrested on Tuesday

If he avoids arrest and conviction until death then he will go to the grave knowing that he won the game: America. He got away with grabbing pussy; he gets away with fucking the country and in both cases, generates power from the bad publicity.
posted by Thella at 1:20 AM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


I'll confess that my secret fanitasy is charges from Georgia on Wednesday followed by charges from Jan 6th on Thursday. I mean, a girl can dream.
posted by Dashy at 3:47 AM on March 20, 2023 [7 favorites]


also, US Grant got arrested while he was president, so what the hell is it with thie 'you can't indict a sitting president' nonsense, when it has happened?


The Cold War.

When nuclear war can happen in a space of two hours, an arrest-able president becomes much more of a risk.
posted by ocschwar at 5:19 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]


What is insane about Trump's call for more protests is that people actually died last time he did it. It seems reasonably predictable that it could happen again, and yet he went ahead and pushed that panic button over what is at best a minor charge.
posted by anhedonic at 6:16 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


Looks like the (current, elected) president is confident something will happen: https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1637574673494933506?s=20

(Wait, what? That's not what the sign about? DAMMIT...)
posted by wenestvedt at 6:16 AM on March 20, 2023


I don’t think he’s getting indicted. If he is, I think it’s a really bad decision barring new revelations. This is like…the least illegal thing he did in the last 7 years and something that, if he were going to be charged, should have been done 5 years ago when we already knew everything.

I don’t see how this case could have gotten stronger in the last several years—unless they’ve dug up some more corroboration, all they have is Michael Cohen, convicted liar, as a witness that Trump was directly involved.

I’m 100% confident Trump committed a crime, but way less confident he could possibly be convicted of one.
posted by Room 101 at 6:28 AM on March 20, 2023


I think he'll be indicted but not before the DA's office and Trumps lawyers have at least the outline of a plea agreement. Most likely he will travel to New York, a team from the DA's office will "book" him, take photos and finger prints at Trump tower and release him on his own recognizance. No public appearance. There will be a Zoom meeting for a court hearing where he'll plead no contest, be found guilty and get probation and a nominal fine.

The best outcome we can hope for is that it's the first domino and then he's indicted in Georgia and that emboldens Jack Smith to bring federal charges.
posted by Grumpy old geek at 7:00 AM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


“No way can he wiggle his way out of this one.” - Every Democrat for the 764th time.

I don't think I've seen a single Democrat saying this, much less every one of them.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:16 AM on March 20, 2023 [17 favorites]


When nuclear war can happen in a space of two hours, an arrest-able president becomes much more of a risk.

“In Case of ...Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President...”
posted by kirkaracha at 7:21 AM on March 20, 2023 [5 favorites]


don't think I've seen a single Democrat saying this, much less every one of them.

If people engaged with what others actually think and say, where would all our unearned outrage and cynicism go? As a resident of Earth in 2023, I have truckloads of this stuff and need somewhere to put it all.
posted by LooseFilter at 7:33 AM on March 20, 2023 [4 favorites]


If he had any competent lawyers left, or had less of an ego, he'd accept a plea agreement. But that's not Trump. He's going to rail against this in public and have his lawyers flail around trying anything and everything to avoid any kind of admission of guilt.
posted by Eddie Mars at 7:34 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


all they have is Michael Cohen, convicted liar, as a witness that Trump was directly involved.

The have the documents that show Cohen paid Stormy Daniels, and that Trump paid him. I can't really see what difference it makes that Cohen is a liar. Or that Trump is a liar. Trump's stupid defense would have to cook up some weird story about the money, and they are barely competent enough to speak in public.

That said, I very much agree that it seems a bit ridiculous, given what else Trump has done.
posted by mumimor at 8:06 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]


In early 2017 I said on this site, he won't leave office peacefully when the time comes. Multiple people pooh-poohed that. "That's silly. And the Secret Service would just carry him out."

Now, here we are 6 years later, and for the same reason I knew this severely disordered person would upend every norm while "president," he is again behaving predictably. HIS OWN WORDS ARE THE TELL.

His fear, his flop sweat, is palpable. His summoning of the remaining cult still stupid enough to risk prison for someone who only uses them for narcissistic supply. He's being indicted in NY this week. Perhaps other indictments to come.
posted by NorthernLite at 8:19 AM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


Oh I had forgotten that Boris Johnson is set to be in front of the UK Parliament’s Privileges Committee on Wednesday. One potential outcome of this is the Committee triggering a vote on suspending Boris for a period of time from Parliament (which could potentially trigger a recall of Boris - seems unlikely though).

Not saying it’s likely - but having both Trump
and Boris start to get some measure of justice in the same week would be pretty incredible.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:59 AM on March 20, 2023 [8 favorites]


Please, please. It's too much winning. [I] can't take it anymore. Mr. President, it's too much.
posted by riverlife at 9:49 AM on March 20, 2023


I think the reason that the Stormy Daniels case is specifically being pursued is because Trump wasn't President when the alleged incident occurred, and there's no legal confusion over "the power of the office" or whatever and no one wants that decision in the hands of the current Supreme Court. Or that only Congress, via impeachment, has the only jurisdiction over presidential actions.
posted by meowzilla at 10:04 AM on March 20, 2023 [5 favorites]


Also, while 1/6 was a serious threat, it wasn't all that many people. I expect any protests about any arrest to be embarrassingly small.

I'm actually expecting street parties to be way bigger.
posted by dlugoczaj at 10:20 AM on March 20, 2023 [16 favorites]


Surely this celebratory cocktail alluded to upthread would be named the Shirley Trumple.
posted by emelenjr at 11:06 AM on March 20, 2023 [5 favorites]


I will be watching this story closely because a two-litre bottle of Dr. Pepper still lies in the balance.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:11 AM on March 20, 2023 [7 favorites]


Surely this celebratory cocktail alluded to upthread would be named the Shirley Trumple.

if that person's name is associated with any drink, it better be made with piss. the best piss, why not
posted by elkevelvet at 11:16 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


So now I'm looking up cocktail names.

The Moscow Mule used to like a Dark and Stormy, but now he's getting a Manhattan.

Maybe an Old Fashion FAFO.

Wait, there's actually a Porn Star Martini.

(I'm also trying to work Mara-tini into this.)
posted by NorthernLite at 11:24 AM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


Surely this celebratory cocktail alluded to upthread would be named the Shirley Trumple.

Surely Trumple or Orange Russian.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 11:26 AM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


(I'm also trying to work Mara-tini into this.)

When he flees to Russia you can try a Orange Russian ?
posted by Pendragon at 11:33 AM on March 20, 2023


Button mushrooms, marinated in bottom shelf gin, served in a rolled up charred "hanger" steak, garnished with two scoops of chocolate-flavored ice cream, and drizzled with blue curacao
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:43 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


If Trump flees to Russia, I hope Putin puts him in a mansion next door to the fugitive Ukrainian president Yanukovych. I could see the two of them bickering feverishly over the hedgerows until it devolves into an old man fight. Which remains bloodless because neither has the strength to adequately stab the other.

I'll be honest, Trump fleeing to Russia doesn't seem even like a possibility to me at the moment. Maybe before the invasion and the sanctions, when it was "mostly normal in Russia", but right now? I'm not sure he'd really want to be in Russia without his secret service protection.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 12:02 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]


Trump’s Georgia Lawyers Seek to Quash Special Grand Jury Report
Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump filed a motion in a Georgia court on Monday seeking to quash the final report of a special grand jury that investigated whether Mr. Trump and some of his allies interfered in the 2020 election results in Georgia. The motion also seeks to “preclude the use of any evidence derived” from the report, and asks that the office of Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, be disqualified from the case.

Must be some very incriminating stuff in there, to throw everything at the wall like that.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:08 PM on March 20, 2023 [11 favorites]


Well, most of what happened, happened in public, and it is very incriminating. I just see this as typical Trump delay tactics. Also, he probably expects some of the judges he has appointed to support him, and it is fair to say that the foreperson of the special grand jury has been acting very strangely.
posted by mumimor at 12:16 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]


There’s simply no downside for Trump to throw shit at the courtroom wall. Ever. All it costs is money, and there is an infinite supply of legal defense funding coming from rubes, PACs, and offbook sources. On the upside, he can win big with another Judge Cannon, or he can win simply by running the clock into next year when any proceeding is “too close to the election.”
posted by Room 101 at 12:24 PM on March 20, 2023 [8 favorites]


You know the ending of the Return of the King where the ring has been destroyed, and the tower is falling over? There's this fun little moment where Sauron's eye is just darting back and forth in panic as it all comes crumbling down.

I'm imaging that moment now with a spray-on tan and bad comb-over.
Please, oh please, let this finally be the beginning of the end.
posted by Eddie Mars at 12:47 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


Trump is Saruman, not Sauron.

Until Putin falls, we are not out of the woods.
posted by ocschwar at 12:52 PM on March 20, 2023 [8 favorites]


Surely this celebratory cocktail alluded to upthread would be named the Shirley Trumple.

That implies a lack of alcohol, which just won't do.

I'm also trying to work Mara-tini into this.

Maralagotini. Dirty, of course. Made with some bottom-shelf vodka like Burrett's since Trump Vodka is not made anymore.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:58 PM on March 20, 2023


NYC prosecutor could arrest a president on the streets of Manhattan and get away with it.
posted by clavdivs at 2:00 PM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


I'm pretty sure it goes without saying, but this is a cake-baking situation.

If there really is an indictment tomorrow, I am absolutely going to bake a cake, write "hell yeah indictment" on it, and then eat it.
posted by meese at 2:10 PM on March 20, 2023 [8 favorites]


Sure-ly Trumple?
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:18 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


When nuclear war can happen in a space of two hours, an arrest-able president becomes much more of a risk.

The America Presidential Line of Succession makes it possible to arrest your ten least favorite senior government officials while retaining an unbroken chain of command.

Apollo: The President has given me a direct order.

Adama: You're talking about the Secretary of Education. We're in the middle of a war, and you're taking orders from a schoolteacher?

posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 2:20 PM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


I had a brief moment of imagination last week, thinking of all these investigations in different places, all waiting for someone else to be the first to charge TFG. Could it be that everyone wants to be the second to place charges, so that they can find out what kind of shenanigans he or his followers will resort to? Not that there would be coordination among prosecutors, but maybe Alvin Bragg took is about to take that step to help the bigger cases (insurrection) avoid pitfalls.
posted by Miss Cellania at 2:23 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]




I want to believe badly enough that I have a bottle of sparkling wine chilling just in case. I fully expected to be disappointed, but that bottle is chilling and sparkling. Just in case.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:00 PM on March 20, 2023 [8 favorites]


And it will probably chill a bit longer, because even if he is indicted, my money is on him refusing to appear, barricading himself at Mar-a-Lago, being issued a bench warrant and watching the Feds duke it out with the state of Florida, with DeSantis trying to figure out which entity he hates more - the Feds or the Orange menace.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:13 PM on March 20, 2023


I refuse to call the plane what SuperNarcissist calls it, but reports of traveling this afternoon.

Maybe?
posted by NorthernLite at 3:22 PM on March 20, 2023 [4 favorites]


After years of salutes, of having people jump to their feet anytime he entered or left a room, it will drive him insane to hear "All rise "
The judge should come in and out often just for giggles
Betcha his bone spurs kick in and he will use crutches to avoid it.
posted by yyz at 3:27 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]


Trump will never be charged or jailed for anything that happened while he was president. It will never happen.

But stuff from before or after? I still find it highly unlikely he will go to jail, but seeing him charged with a felony will be an interesting crack in the facade.
posted by chaz at 3:31 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


but the one crime he really should be charged with is sedition, the rest are small time scumbag stuff, just that phone call asking for votes should be enough
posted by sammyo at 3:46 PM on March 20, 2023 [10 favorites]


but.. and the huge butt... it just takes one wacko on the jury that refuses to convict, just one

statistically, what is the probability of one out of 1/3 of the republican party getting quietly on the jury?
posted by sammyo at 3:49 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


I wonder if he would be arrested and processed in Florida or in NY? I know Florida's sunshine laws are all kinds of problematic for a whole bunch of reasons (I remember a great episode of 'Citations Needed' a few years ago that discussed how they are in no small part responsible for the perpetuation of the 'Florida Man' stereotype), but this could be the one bit of good they do.
posted by MarchHare at 4:46 PM on March 20, 2023


but the one crime he really should be charged with is sedition, the rest are small time scumbag stuff, just that phone call asking for votes should be enough

Trump is 76. From a practical standpoint I'm not sure it matters which of his many crimes he spends the last bit of his life in prison for.
posted by pwnguin at 6:06 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


to show the rest of them that sedition is an actual crime you can in fact go to jail for
posted by rifflesby at 6:24 PM on March 20, 2023 [10 favorites]


It's Mueller Time! Trump Administration Season Ending is as close as we're going to seeing IMPOTUSx2 in cuffs.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:46 PM on March 20, 2023 [3 favorites]


The age of Pulcher.
posted by clavdivs at 7:33 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]


dang, thanks clavdivs, it sound like Publius Clodius Pulcher is like Trump.
posted by baegucb at 8:10 PM on March 20, 2023


Desantis hates his presidential nomination rival more than he hates obeying the law, of course. Maybe more than he hates queers or being told what to do, or trying to be a decent person.
posted by Jacen at 11:40 PM on March 20, 2023 [6 favorites]


As the kids on tik-tok would say, "Jesus, be a consequence."
posted by Space Kitty at 9:33 AM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]




.... crickets .....
posted by Dashy at 11:34 AM on March 21, 2023


'Bring forth the arrest.'
posted by box at 11:55 AM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]


"Barney, I don't know why Otis didn't show up today - I sure hope he's doing alright"
posted by pyramid termite at 12:20 PM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]


I see the long arm of the law is half as close to reaching Trump as it was yesterday. Tomorrow it will be half as close again.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:33 PM on March 21, 2023 [14 favorites]


Man I made way too much popcorn last night. Anyone want some popcorn?
posted by loquacious at 12:43 PM on March 21, 2023 [7 favorites]


Wow, the protests worked!
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:00 PM on March 21, 2023 [9 favorites]


I see the long arm of the law is half as close to reaching Trump as it was yesterday. Tomorrow it will be half as close again.

Xeno's paradox? (As in xenophobe?)
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 1:02 PM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]


I refuse to call the plane what SuperNarcissist calls it, but reports of traveling this afternoon.

Why is Trump’s plane registered to a orthotics company in Florida? The plane flew from Westchester to an airport near Bedminster today, so it sure seems like it’s him, but the registration confuses me.
posted by Ruki at 2:27 PM on March 21, 2023


Welp, today's certainly been a disappointment, but so is every other day in the 2020's.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:42 PM on March 21, 2023 [9 favorites]


Just in the service of keeping the popcorn popping, I seem to recall one of the articles said that Monday or Wednesday would be the day, which seemed pretty specific in a weird way, and contrary to the Guardian/TFG claim of Tuesday.
posted by kensington314 at 7:04 PM on March 21, 2023


Metafilter: Today's certainly been a disappointment, but so is every other day
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:12 PM on March 21, 2023 [7 favorites]


Why is Trump’s plane registered to a orthotics company in Florida?

Bone spurs, obviously!
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 9:16 PM on March 21, 2023 [3 favorites]




I just wanted to tell you all good luck, we're all counting on you.
posted by gc at 7:59 AM on March 22, 2023 [8 favorites]




Oh Metafilter, please let today be the first day of the countdown to the grand opening of the Trump Presidential Library and Supermax Correctional Facility.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:24 AM on March 22, 2023 [4 favorites]


Chilling AI deepfakes purporting to show Trump arrest take over Twitter

I had a feeling this was on the way...nervewracking.
posted by tiny frying pan at 9:27 AM on March 22, 2023


From jenfullmoon's link:

Trump also made a video yesterday for his supporters. It looks like HE is the Phantom of Mar-a-Lago, recording missives from his poorly-lit bunker. This short video is 16 seconds of unhinged nutjob:

The use of the word "nutjob" reminded me of this comment of mine from 2012. It was a simpler, more innocent time.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:27 AM on March 22, 2023 [2 favorites]




Alexandra Petri, Washington Post: But could this be good news for Trump?
There is a difference between “something that is good, in itself” and “something that will anger the people who like Donald Trump, which can have scary results.” But I have ceased trying to differentiate between them because I have been burned too many times. The “Access Hollywood” tape. Not one impeachment but two! Urging an insurrectionist mob to attack the Capitol! Now, I no longer see these things as straightforwardly bad and have started to view them as …

No time! Donald Trump might be getting indicted! Listen, many people are saying that being arrested for a crime is the kind of thing that would be bad for you or me or the man on the street! But this is Donald Trump we’re talking about! He shoots the man on the street for breakfast. He is immune to laws! Maybe it’s good, actually! Help!
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:54 AM on March 22, 2023




They couldn't find a caterer at such short notice.
posted by Artful Codger at 8:41 AM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]


Dude has been committing crimes for (at least) his entire adult life while the justice system tiptoes around like Inspector Gadget, rubbing its chin and peering quizzically through a magnifying glass at the evidence.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:25 AM on March 23, 2023 [7 favorites]


Well this is like Infrastructure Week all over again, huh?
posted by gc at 10:36 AM on March 23, 2023 [2 favorites]




Could NY charge Rep. Jordan for interference in an investigation? There's no apparent legislative interest in this case for the usual exemptions to apply, right?
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:15 AM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]


I mean, it might take NY a decade or two to get a grand jury together, but still.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:17 AM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]


Trump's fans sent him $1.5 million in 3 days after he falsely predicted that he'd be arrested Tuesday

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:15 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]


spin, rinse, launder, repeat
posted by flabdablet at 11:39 PM on March 23, 2023


Nobody is above the law, but TFG has built an entire career on undermining it from below.
posted by flabdablet at 11:40 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]




GRAND JURY VOTES TO INDICT TRUMP

The future is the future, and we can't hold Republican voters criminally liable, but I hope that fucker is locked up for a long time.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:41 PM on March 30, 2023 [4 favorites]


WaPo has it too.
posted by box at 2:43 PM on March 30, 2023


Why do I have a sneaking feeling that "grand jury votes to indict" is, somehow, technically, still not 'it'?

(because, Lucy ....)
(or because the NYT always has to mealymouth things)
posted by Dashy at 2:45 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


Whooo. The wine will be sparkling tonight!!!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:47 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


A small part of me says this is particularly bad timing for Trump, because WrestleMania is this weekend all the way across the country in Los Angeles. There's a nonzero number of people seeing the news right now and thinking I mean, I probably should join the protest against this unfair political persecution, but I got tickets to Smackdown and Raw too...
posted by Etrigan at 2:50 PM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]


By the by:

If you are coming into this thread to discuss how politically inexpedient is it is for this to happen because “reasonthiswillhurtdemocrats” for the love of all that you, personally, hold sacred:

Stop. Just. Stop.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 2:51 PM on March 30, 2023 [4 favorites]


And there it is.

Looks like SOMETHING NEW IS GOING ON!
posted by Ahmad Khani at 3:04 PM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]


Surely this.......
posted by Pendragon at 3:05 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


ocschwar, please do this and please post the recipe here. I'll toast to that! Just opened a bottle of wine to celebrate.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 3:06 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


Wait, WHAT?!? Something actually happened?!?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:08 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]


***NEW THREAD: TRUMP INDICTED***

(as many will miss this old thread unless they're actively following)
posted by Ahmad Khani at 3:11 PM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]


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