American politicians who claim criminal charges against Donald Trump are “an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority” are speaking nonsense. Media pundits hyperventilating that “a Trump indictment would have huge political and national implications” are, well, hyperventilating.
There is only one extraordinary thing about the current unfolding judicial saga, but it is not what the commentators think. In fact, it has already come and gone.
Trump’s latest threats of violence
Just over a week ago, Trump publicly urged his followers to “PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!" if he is charged with further crimes. This echoed his calls for supporters to assemble on 6 January 2021, which led to the violent insurrection. Then, last Friday, he ramped up his message:
“... it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country.”
Fortunately, it is highly unlikely these unhinged rants will generate further violence. For three reasons. First, law enforcement will be more effective this time. Immediately after Trump’s first message, New York authorities erected security barriers around likely targets and put all police on standby.
Second, potential protesters have seen what happens to insurrectionists. More than 600 Trump supporters have been punished following the 2021 insurrection. Of these, 258 were jailed, another 163 received suspended sentences, with more than 1000 cases pending. Third, most potential ringleaders of pro-Trump violent protests are now in prison, serving up to ten years.
There will probably be sporadic instances of violence, as has been the experience nationwide since candidate Trump first called on his supporters to attack political opponents physically in August 2015. But another mass riot is improbable.
Presidents get charged, life goes on
Heads of government are arrested from time to time. Former Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez was arrested on terrorism, conspiracy and sedition charges in 2021. Former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted in 2021 of illicit campaign funding and sentenced to three years prison with two suspended.
Other national leaders charged with crimes include Robert Fico in Slovakia, Jacques Chirac in France, Pedro Castillo in Peru, Imran Khan in Pakistan, Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, Jacob Zuma in South Africa and, in Israel, Ehud Olmert and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Donald Trump’s criminality is actually business as usual
There’s nothing remarkable about Donald Trump facing criminal charges. He has been a criminal grifter all his life.
He was first penalised for tax fraud in 1984 after filing false Schedule Cs. In 1988, he paid $750,000 in penalties for the Holiday Corporation fraud. In 1991, Trump's Atlantic City casino was found guilty of money laundering when his father fraudulently paid $3.5 million for chips.
In 2000, Trump was fined $250,000 after the New York State Lobbying Commission charged him with circumventing state planning laws. He was sued for an undisclosed amount by more than 100 investors dudded in the failed Trump Ocean Resort Baja Mexico in 2009.
In 2016, Trump paid $25 million to settle action over the fraudulent Trump University. In 2019, the Donald J. Trump Foundation was shut down after "a shocking pattern of illegality". Trump and his children paid $2 million in restitution. Last December, the Trump Organization was convicted on 17 criminal tax fraud charges. CFO Allen Weisselberg was sentenced to jail.
On at least 36 occasions the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has obtained tax liens against Trump properties for nonpayment of taxes.
A federal judge fined Trump and his attorney nearly US$1 million in January this year, characterizing him as "a prolific and sophisticated litigant who is repeatedly using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries."
Although Trump himself has escaped jail time, more than 16 associates have been imprisoned for serving him.
One thing is truly bizarre
There is nothing at all surprising or disturbing about Donald Trump being convicted and jailed. There is only one aspect of this which is in any way remarkable. And this is indeed astonishing – that he was once elected President.
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This is an abbreviated version of an article published today in Independent Australia. The original article is available here in full for free:
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/nothing-strange-or-dangerous-about-trumps-next-criminal-convictions,17364
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