Don't count on the courts to save us from Trump
I’m going to keep this post relatively short because, after four years of successfully dodging the Covid bullet, I tested positive Tuesday morning. In fact, I’m wearing a mask as I write this because my wife is in the house and doesn’t need to contract this stupid virus a second time.
So I don’t feel great. And yet news continues to happen, insensitively ignoring my plight. Much of that news centers around court cases involving failed insurrectionist (but not for lack of trying) and perpetual threat to democracy, Donald Trump. It’s a mixed bag:
Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump presidential immunity appeal
The headline sounds promising, but the appeal won’t be heard by the justices until the week of April 22, which is almost eight weeks from now. That’s a good chunk of time in favor of Trump, who basically lives day to day and delay to delay.
This is the most enjoyable outcome of this week’s Trump court action. He’s either going to have to unload some real estate assets (and maybe a golf course) or obtain a $464 million loan to make the full payment. Alternatively, I ran some numbers and determined that Trump only has to sell 1.16 million pairs of his $400 “Never Surrender” gold-top sneakers to cover the TOTALLY UNFAIR penalty.
Wait, sorry. The sneakers are $399, so that means he’ll have to sell 1.163 million pairs. See, that’s why I didn’t go into accounting! Forcing Tim Scott to wear some “Never Surrenders” on the campaign trail likely will help move some units. (Also, Tim, you are not going on the campaign trail without a “Never Surrender” mug shot t-shirt.)
Aileen Cannon Hands Donald Trump Second Legal Loss in 24 Hours
Surprisingly, Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over the classified documents case, sided against Trump not once but twice this week. On Wednesday, Cannon “denied Trump's request to access the special counsel's CIPA Sec 4 filing, where Smith would have to explain why they wanted to redact some of the classified documents.”
A day prior, Cannon granted Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request to deny Trump co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliviera access to documents found at Mar-a-Lago during the execution of a search warrant in August 2022.
Credit where it’s due: Cannon’s rulings serve the purpose of heading off more delaying tactics by Trump and his co-defendants. I only wish she would continue to act like a responsible judge and not a de facto member of the Trump legal team. Alas, I’m not holding my breath.
Bottom line
The civil courts are delivering a semblance of justice to Trump. However, we cannot assume the criminal court system will do the same, at least before November. The most dangerous man in America must be defeated at the ballot box.
Covid Boy, over and out.
really sorry to hear about the Covid. hope you feel better soon. the wheels of Justice seem to crank slowly, when they crank at all. In my mind, SCOTUS has now answered the question of whether anyone can be above the law (they can). the Jan 6th trial won't happen before the election. so, it's a pocket veto of the case. the silver lining might be, between this case and Roe v Wade, SCOTUS is the most effective GOTV operation for the Democrats in American history .
Hope you feel better quickly, Covid Boy.