by Mish Shedlock, Mish Talk:
Trump was found guilty of a crime, but can anyone say what it is? Prosecutorial misconduct is dripping. It’s the judge, not Trump who belongs in prison.
Guilty on 34 Counts
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Boards discusses A Guilty Verdict for Trump and Its Consequences for the Country
TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/
Twelve New York jurors have found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records, a total of 34 felony counts, in history’s first criminal conviction of a former President.
What crime was that? Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg eventually settled on a New York election law, rarely enforced, that prohibits conspiracies to promote political candidates “by unlawful means.”
Yet what “unlawful means” did this alleged conspiracy use? The DA’s argument was that there were three: First, the hush money was effectively an illegally large donation to Mr. Trump’s campaign. Second, more business filings were falsified, including bank records for Mr. Cohen’s wire transfer to Ms. Daniels. Third, false statements were made to tax authorities, since Mr. Trump’s repayment of Mr. Cohen was structured as income and “grossed up” to cover the taxes he would need to pay on it.
Did Mr. Trump falsify business records in 2017 to cover up an illegal conspiracy to elect him in 2016, whose unlawful means included false information in Mr. Cohen’s tax return for 2017?
A help to Mr. Bragg’s prosecution is that the jurors were instructed that as long as they were unanimous that Mr. Trump was guilty of falsifying business records to aid or cover up an illegal conspiracy to get him elected, they didn’t all have to agree about which theory of the “unlawful means”. [Mish: Please read this paragraph over and over.]
The conviction sets a precedent of using legal cases, no matter how sketchy, to try to knock out political opponents, including former Presidents. Mr. Trump has already vowed to return the favor. If Democrats felt like cheering Thursday when the guilty verdict was read, they should think again. Mr. Bragg might have opened a new destabilizing era of American politics, and no one can say how it will end.
No Need to Be Unanimous
For some reason this Tweet wont expand here but please consider this Tweet on the judge’s instructions regarding unanimous opinion: https://x.com/Shreddick0/status/1795848967739089152
Appalling Courtroom Instructions
Also see Appalling Courtroom Instructions by the Presiding Judge to Help Convict Trump
Let’s tune into Jonathan Turley’s analysis of Judge Juan Merchan’s instructions to the jury in the New York Hush Money Trial of Trump.
Turley is a legal analyst and author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage“
Prosecutorial and Judicial Misconduct
This case was convoluted in theory and dripping with prosecutorial misconduct and should have been dismissed.
If they can do this to Trump, they can do whatever they want to anyone. And they will, for political purposes.
Ironically, people worried that Trump is dangerous and will abuse power. Think of what Hillary did both in offense and gross obstruction. Nothing.
The prosecutor was sent directly from the DOJ. A state case.
A misdemeanor, on which the Statute of Limitations had run out, was used to produced 34 felony counts on committing a Federal offense for which he was not charged.
This is the emerging face of the US judiciary and legal system. Better hope Democrats do not get the trifecta.
Sincerity
The WSJ opined “We don’t doubt the sincerity of the Manhattan jurors.”
I do. There were even two lawyers on that jury. I accuse them now.
What’s Next?
Obviously and appeal, and an appeals court, if not the Supreme Court, should take it immediately given the consequences.
Also expect Judicial pandering in the opposite direction, with the Hunter Biden case.
Did Biden Gain?
I think he lost. But the first round of polls may not show that. And if the case is tossed with prejudice, it might easily aid Trump.
I Am Outraged
I am outraged but not surprised. But the hypocrites will cheer hoping for a knockout.
They will say “No one is above the law”. Indeed. But no one should be beneath the law either.
Every effort has been made to put Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and Hillary Clinton above the law. And every effort has been made to put Trump beneath the law, including judicial instructions.
