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Mark Chidichimo's avatar

Having worked in the NYO, you of all people have been aware from the start of the breadth of the investigation concerning TFG and his accomplices. I was involved in major cases stemming from administrative aspects of RESMURS in 1975 when in Albuquerque and as an SSA for PENTBOM, with many other cases in between - Pitts, Hansen, TWA 800, etc. The scope of DOJs investigation regarding the previous administration is massively - exponentially - more complex. It appears to have been moving steadily along for the years cases of this magnitude warrant, and it must be done right. Some pundits - notably some former SDNY AUSAs - have been whining about the fact that Trump should have been indicted for obstruction on Day 1 of the Biden Administration - and if they got a hung jury, then what? People outside law enforcement are simply used to watching cases play out in television dramas - one hour, including commercials. They really need to chill out.

Liz V's avatar

"The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine."

Meg Tufano's avatar

You’re giving me renewed hope.

Marlene Reil's avatar

I think that stealing & withholding classified documents is part of a larger pattern that started earlier than your timeline. Fred Trump made millions off of housing subsidies from federal & state governments. Father & son used their subsidized housing to discriminate against POC, the very people who are supposed to benefit from housing of this kind. Screwing the government & profiting from government tax abatements & grant $ is the OG pattern of the Trump family. Seen this way, Trump viewed government property as his own particularly since his installation as POTUS. I’m afraid that what we know merely scratches the surface of the Trump Crime Syndicate. The new pattern is using his followers as a cult movement through undue influence campaigns, aided by Fox & the right wing movement that infiltrated all three branches of the federal government along with state legislatures, election officials, sheriffs & police departments. Trump himself is a sociopath & fits in with other cult leaders who commit financial crimes & sex trafficking. Koresh, Moon, Raniere all had sexual relations with minors. This is likely true of Trump as well given his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, his fame & his inflated sense of self. Every relationship is transactional & he has no capacity for empathy. Trump is perhaps the most prolific criminal of the modern era.

One of the things we need to do is to finally put laws pertaining to cult activity on the books. Their pattern is as predictable as Trump is. Fox is not a news outlet or a normal cable channel. It is a PsyOp that drills into their viewer’s’ amygdala the same way that Trump does and that the GOP uses now as well.

Raf Wugalter's avatar

What kinds of laws against cult activity do you think should be enacted? And would they be consistent with the First Amendment, under current case law, or under the "improvements" SCOTUS would make to the law if asked? While I'm completely sympathetic to your point of view, I fear big roadblocks.

Hector Reveles's avatar

Combining the skills of a criminal personality profiler, an investigative journalist, a political analyst, Asha lays bare in an clear, concise, irrefutable way, the mind of the highest profile white collar criminal of our times.

Victor James Trumper's avatar

THERE IS A BILL TO IMPEACH TRUMP

Unfortunately H.R. 939 has been tabled

Al Green called for the impeachment of Donald Trump with H.R. 939.

EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED H.R. 939 DOWN TO PROTECT A PEDOPHILE

I'm still investigating why 47 democrats voted present. That's essentially the same as voting it down. My guess is Jeffries had something to do with it.

WE HAVE TO TELL OUR CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THEY VOTE FOR H.R. 939. Tell them they are losing voters

——next option is the SUPERMAJORITY PLAN—

The SUPERMAJORITY PLAN TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TRUMP

It will take 292 house and 67 senate democrats to obtain a supermajority vote. The supermajority vote will negate the need for Trump to sign a bill into law. The house and senate can pass a law to release the classified files implicating Trump. They can pass a law to investigate the coverup of those files within the Trump administration.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN NOVEMBER 2026

Make sure you share this with everyone you know without social media. People without social media are unaware how corrupt and detrimental Trump’s administration really is for our country. The media outlets do not post anything negative about Trump.

Darryl Baird's avatar

It would appear that that list of (33) pardons would be a group very beholden to Trump, and also for future dark money sources.

Victor James Trumper's avatar

He is being directly paid for pardons

THERE IS A BILL TO IMPEACH TRUMP

Unfortunately H.R. 939 has been tabled

Al Green called for the impeachment of Donald Trump with H.R. 939.

EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED H.R. 939 DOWN TO PROTECT A PEDOPHILE

I'm still investigating why 47 democrats voted present. That's essentially the same as voting it down. My guess is Jeffries had something to do with it.

WE HAVE TO TELL OUR CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THEY VOTE FOR H.R. 939. Tell them they are losing voters

——next option is the SUPERMAJORITY PLAN—

The SUPERMAJORITY PLAN TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TRUMP

It will take 292 house and 67 senate democrats to obtain a supermajority vote. The supermajority vote will negate the need for Trump to sign a bill into law. The house and senate can pass a law to release the classified files implicating Trump. They can pass a law to investigate the coverup of those files within the Trump administration.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN NOVEMBER 2026

Make sure you share this with everyone you know without social media. People without social media are unaware how corrupt and detrimental Trump’s administration really is for our country. The media outlets do not post anything negative about Trump.

Karen Bennett's avatar

Well done! Criminal intent writ large. He will never, ever change.

Victor James Trumper's avatar

THERE IS A BILL TO IMPEACH TRUMP

Unfortunately H.R. 939 has been tabled

Al Green called for the impeachment of Donald Trump with H.R. 939.

EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED H.R. 939 DOWN TO PROTECT A PEDOPHILE

I'm still investigating why 47 democrats voted present. That's essentially the same as voting it down. My guess is Jeffries had something to do with it.

WE HAVE TO TELL OUR CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THEY VOTE FOR H.R. 939. Tell them they are losing voters

——next option is the SUPERMAJORITY PLAN—

The SUPERMAJORITY PLAN TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TRUMP

It will take 292 house and 67 senate democrats to obtain a supermajority vote. The supermajority vote will negate the need for Trump to sign a bill into law. The house and senate can pass a law to release the classified files implicating Trump. They can pass a law to investigate the coverup of those files within the Trump administration.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN NOVEMBER 2026

Make sure you share this with everyone you know without social media. People without social media are unaware how corrupt and detrimental Trump’s administration really is for our country. The media outlets do not post anything negative about Trump.

Raf Wugalter's avatar

In an interview with a journalist -- was it Judy Woodruff? -- during his campaign or shortly thereafter, he specifically said he likes lying about/discrediting others so they won't be believed when they complain. He said it in such a cold, fascist way that the journalist couldn't help but shake her head and show disgust.

SandyG's avatar

Asha, I would like to see a piece that compares the extent and rationales behind Trump pardons to all other presidents' pardons. So when I share this list with MAGA types, they can't say, "Oh they all do it."

Jim Hutchins's avatar

Minor errors my copy editor brain noticed:

Allen Weisselberg

National Enquirer

Asha Rangappa's avatar

Thank you, correcting now!

Paul M Sotkiewicz's avatar

Great piece! But keep in mind every accusation is projection and a confession all wrapped as one. Trump’s psychology is not difficult. About money, fame (infamy if you prefer), power, but most of all winning. To gain these laws are for suckers and to be used as a weapon against all enemies, perceived or real. Gaslighting, lying and misinformation are the go to tools. But lest we forget, from the whom did he learn all this? Sure his father and entire lineage of grifters. But most emphatically, Roy Cohn, the very same who worked with, encouraged, and defended that psychotic alcoholic Joseph McCarthy. Of course the bittersweet irony in all this is Trump had an affinity for the Soviets and Russians. Like McCarthy, Trump craves attention and the spotlight, Loves the power, loves to intimidate. The “agenda” was just a pretense for all the insecure, malignant narcissism that needed feeding. Both become unglued when faced with adversaries that are not afraid and do not back down.

Jeff Silverman's avatar

Brava Asha!! Quite the trip down memory lane. Great analytical approach. Trump’s fact patterns point to future crimes. I think we have only begun to scratch the surface and yet see all the criminality. Huge volume of crime from just scratching the surface. Trump should be arrested and tried ASAP! He won’t last through a trial. We see his desperation just with daily news mentioning him. We all should stay disciplined looking at patterns of behavior and would love it if just once, just once in our 247 year history as a nation, we could lock trump up pre any conviction, or neutralize his ability to influence others, I know all the civil liberties issues, but we have to maintain the integrity of America as he attempts to destroy it across multiple domains. Shortcut. I know. But we need it Whole other discussion. Carry on. Stay strong!! When D.A. Bragg lodged a lawsuit against jim Jordan it was refreshing. We don’t need to “go to the mattresses” nor “smoke cigarettes” faced with our nation’s challenges. I’ve lived long enough to witness other dark times in USA and yet here we are. One foot in front of the other. Doggedly pursuing truth and applying Justice. We can do this. We are doing this.

Raf Wugalter's avatar

Imagine if the Emoluments Clause could actually be enforced. Imagine if it had a "disgorgement" remedy -- return all money earned from breach of trust if it satisfies a certain test, plus pay fines. Imagine if this could take place DURING the presidency. Imagine if there were "public interest standing" in the courts -- and this does exist in other countries -- so that people can sue even if they have no direct financial interest in doing so. But this is America, so we cannot have good things.

Jerry Alexandratos's avatar

Trump first officially ran for President in 2000, and unofficially considered it again in 2004. That is likely what brought his egotistical political aspirations to the attention of Putin and the Russian mob. Though they knew about Trump long before that date as a corrupt real estate criminal who helped them launder money stolen from Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_career_of_Donald_Trump

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_projects_of_Donald_Trump_in_Russia

Philip Simon's avatar

When you talk about Trump's financial crimes; I am wondering what happened to several other investigations; into campaign money that disappeared into a company set up by Jared; and into his inaugural committee. I thought there were ongoing investigations into these matters, but I never hear anything about them.

Victor James Trumper's avatar

If you want to get rid of Donald Trump then we have to get the democrats the house majority.

Everyone has to educate the republican congress representatives and senators about Trump raping women and children.

Write letters and emails to your state congress representatives and senators.

THE EPSTEIN/TRUMP FILES HAVE TO BE RELEASED.

There are house representatives that don't know how evil Trump and his network actually are.

The Republican house representatives are telling their constituents that they are voting to release the Epstein files and bring the people involved with raping women and children to justice.

That is false.  Someone has instructed all of these lowlifes to tell their constituents this.

Julie Stewart's avatar

I still say his commutation of the sentence for the guy who was convicted and handed the longest federal sentence ever levied from the state of Florida says something (845 years, reduced to 835 plus over $300,000,000 in fines, penalties and restitution). It also says something that Dershowitz and Meese (yes the same Meese that filed his Amicus Curiae in the stolen records case to try to find ANY loophole to get the case dismissed, not on merit of course) were lobbying for his commutation. Tell me again how much people would be willing to pay for pardons.

Sam Ray's avatar

Mindhunter > Roundup

Camilla Fallon's avatar

Call it out first I meant

Camilla Fallon's avatar

Trump is such a crook, he can’t fathom any other way, it’s all about the compulsion to dominate and take.

And the accusations are always of confession, technique learned early from Roy Cohn I guess, call the, put first, that way no one knows who to believe.