In what feels to many of us like a crushing blow to justice, special counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss both of President-elect Donald Trump’s federal criminal prosecutions — the 2020 election subversion case in Washington, D.C., and the classified documents/obstruction of justice/espionage case in Florida. Judge Tanya Chutkan promptly dismissed the D.C. case, and a dismissal of the documents case almost certainly will soon follow. These democracy-busting developments make clear that, at least for the four years a president is in office, he is above the law — the functional equivalent of a king.
How did we get here?
Let’s look at the D.C. case first. In a four-count indictment, Trump was charged for crimes he allegedly committed while he was president, including a conspiracy to deprive the American people of their voting rights by unlawfully trying to retain the office of the presidency, contrary to the expressed will of the American people when they elected Joe Biden as their president.
The six ideologically conservative members of the Supreme Court decided to conjure up presidential immunity seemingly out of thin air.
Smith presented evidence to a grand jury in Washington, including countless Republican witnesses, and the grand jury concluded there was ample evidence to indict Trump. As that case headed for trial, Trump’s lawyers filed a motion claiming that presidents have absolute immunity against prosecution for crimes they commit while in office. Notwithstanding that there is no law, no appellate court precedent and no constitutional support for Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, the six ideologically conservative members of the Supreme Court decided to conjure up presidential immunity seemingly out of thin air, essentially bestowing the potential power of lawlessness on American presidents. Notably, the Supreme Court did not conclude that Trump committed no crimes. Instead, it returned the case to Judge Chutkan to determine which of Trump’s crimes should enjoy immunity from prosecution and which should not.
While that litigation was ongoing, Trump won the 2024 election. But because the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is of the opinion that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted, Smith was compelled to dismiss Trump’s cases.
So where does that leave us? It’s worth remembering that the allegations in the Trump D.C. indictment include five areas of alleged criminality: the baseless, bad-faith court challenges to the 2020 election results filed by Trump’s lawyers; Trump’s pressure campaign on state elected officials (recall Trump’s recorded request to “find 11,780 votes”); the fake elector scheme; Trump’s pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to certify Biden’s election win; and, when all else failed, a call to his supporters on Jan. 6 to march to the U.S. Capitol, “fight like hell” or “you won’t have a country anymore,” and “stop the steal,” a not-so-thinly-veiled command to stop the certification of the election results.
Is there any hope for accountability of Trump in the future? I fear the answer is… not much.
But there is one point of light amid the darkness. There are two ways for a judge to dismiss a criminal case: “with prejudice” or “without prejudice.” With prejudice means that a case can never be re-brought and prosecuted in the future. Without prejudice means the case can be re-indicted and prosecuted in the future. Smith asked Chutkan to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” and she did so.
But the justice gods giveth and the justice gods taketh away. There are several ways Trump and his incoming attorney general can snuff out the possibility of his criminal cases being re-brought in the future. First, Trump could direct his attorney general to file a motion asking Chutkan to reconsider her earlier dismissal and modify it to a dismissal with prejudice. Thankfully, there are some substantive and procedure hurdles that would make such a request an uphill climb.
Second, because the Supreme Court has ruled that a president can exercise his core constitutional functions — like issuing pardons — not only with immunity from prosecution, but with a strict prohibition against even investigating a president’s motive or intent in exercising said power, Trump could simply pardon himself for all crimes he committed during his lifetime, a cradle-to-the-grave self-pardon. That is the kind of quasi-royal power on which the Supreme Court has already put its stamp of approval.
Third, in the event he opts not to go the self-pardon route, Trump could simply negotiate a quid pro quo deal with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. He could resign at some point during his presidency and shuffle off to Mar-a-Lago to play golf, and have Vance pardon him for all crimes he may have committed, a la President Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon.
And don’t even get me started on how the statute of limitations provides that someone has to be prosecuted within five years of the date of the offense or the case is time-barred. That is another possible impediment to prosecuting Trump, assuming he serves his entire term.
Assuming Trump also escapes criminal responsibility for the 34 felony guilty verdicts delivered by a New York jury for crimes he committed before he was elected the first time around, that will mean Trump would avoid accountability for crimes he committed before, during and after serving as president.
Are we still inclined to recite the hollow mantra that, in America, no man is above the law?
Halo, sobat pencinta slot! pernahkah mendengar semboyan “slot gacor”? jika tidak, siap-siap jatuh hati sama konsep ini. raja slot merupakan mesin slots yang selalu kasih win. Ya, slot-slot ini bisa dikatakan adalah andalannya tuk membawa come back cuan. but, gimana sih
tekniknya jumpain slot demo yang benar? Tenang Bro and Sis, kita bahas tenang aja di tempat ini
Gaming terpopuler saat ini hanya satu di Indonesia hanya di pasti menyediakan return tertinggi
SEGERA di:
Informasi mengenai KING SLOT, Segera Daftar Bersama king selot terbaik dan terpercaya no satu di Indonesia. Boleh mendaftar melalui sini king slot serta memberikan hasil kembali yang paling tinggi saat sekarang ini hanyalah KING SLOT paling gacor, gilak dan gaco saat sekarang di Indonesia melalui program return tinggi di kingselot serta pg king slot
asn88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://asn88.net/
anjir88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://anjir88.asia/
albaslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://albaslot88.asia/
air88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://air88.bio/
air88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://air88.asia/
vavaslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vavaslot888.org/
vavaslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vavaslot888.net/
oborslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://oborslot888.org/
oborslot888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://oborslot888.net/
duniaslot777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://duniaslot777a.org/
ayukbet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayukbet88.org/
ayukbet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayukbet88.net/
j888slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://j888slot.org/
klikdewa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikdewa88.net/
klikdewa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikdewa88.com/
klikbet777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikbet777.info/
klikbet777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://klikbet777.asia/
gemoyslot999 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gemoyslot999.net/
seroja888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://seroja888.net/
seroja888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://seroja888.com/
hoka88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hoka88.asia/
dutaslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dutaslot88.com/
buaya88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://buaya88.asia/
buaya777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://buaya777.asia/
zonavegas88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zonavegas88.net/
tongtoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://tongtoto88.org/
tongtoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://tongtoto88.net/
sista999 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://sista999.org/
mbokslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://mbokslot88.org/
mbokslot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://mbokslot88.net/
pg king slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://pgkingslot.org/
holywing88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://holywing88.asia/
bolagila88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bolagila88.asia/
dewalive88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dewalive88.biz/
kputoto888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kputoto888.net/
vio777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vio777.asia/
nix777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nix777.net/
nego88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nego88.net/
nego777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nego777.com/
marjan899 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://marjan899.com/
marjan888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://marjan888.com/
gcr88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gcr88.org/
bosku77 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bosku77.asia/
gaco88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gaco88.asia/
dijual88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dijual88.com/
dijual88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dijual88.net/
saritoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://saritoto88.com/
gege888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gege888.net/
exa88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://exa88.org/
dower888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dower888.org/
bos888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bos888.info/
badabest888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://badabest888.com/
ayamjago888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ayamjago888.net/
vviavi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://vviavi88.com/
sydneycuan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://sydneycuan88.com/
gotocuan88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://gotocuan88.com/
bank88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bank88.asia/
agenplay888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://agenplay888.com/
satelittogel88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://satelittogel88.net/
hiutoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hiutoto88.net/
hiutoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://hiutoto88.com/
kedai88slot permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kedai88slot.biz/
nova12 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://nova12.net/
piktoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://piktoto88.net/
zeuswin888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zeuswin888.com/
zoom88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://zoom88.info/
asg88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://asg88.org/
azkabet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://azkabet88.net/
becak88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://becak88.biz/
besitoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://besitoto88.com/
bethoki88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bethoki88.biz/
bibit88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bibit88.biz/
bibit88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bibit88.info/
bolago888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://bolago888.net/
boswin777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://boswin777.biz/
cafe88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cafe88.info/
cinta88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cinta88.biz/
coki888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://coki888.com/
cumi88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cumi88.com/
cumitoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://cumitoto.com/
darma888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://darma888.org/
dewagacor888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://dewagacor888.net/
engkol888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://engkol888.info/
garasislot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://garasislot88.biz/
harumtoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://harumtoto.org/
indo788 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://indo788.net/
jenitoto permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://jenitoto.com/
joker18 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://joker18.net/
juliet88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://juliet88.net/
jumbototo88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://jumbototo88.com/
kaostogel88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kaostogel88.net/
kaskus88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kaskus88.biz/
kawin777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kawin777.biz/
kinggacor88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kinggacor88.com/
koboislot88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://koboislot88.net/
kputoto88 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kputoto88.net/
ribo888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://ribo888.biz/
kripto888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://kripto888.biz/
lebah77 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://lebah77.asia/
lebah7777 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://lebah7777.com/
legend888 permainan paling top dan garansi imbal balik hasil besar bersama https://legend888.info/
