# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 14, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537 "2020-11-14T00:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 376
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7507 "2022-11-08T17:08:30Z")
Is Trump directly involved in the Dominion case? I thought that was just media outlets and a couple of Trump’s attorneys? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7508 "2022-11-08T17:13:20Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > If your suggesting the DOJ would handle the defense for an AG who has been impeached I don’t think that’s how that would work. Clinton and Trump both had to get outside counsel to defend them at their Senate trial. I assume a cabinet officer would have to do the same. If it’s a question of executive branch privilege then, I would probably expect the Office of Legal Counsel to represent him. If Garland was being accused of bribery, sexual harassment, or some such then, sure, he would need to hire his own lawyers (or, at least, he _should_ hire his own lawyers). But if Congress is trying to impeach him for his professional, on-the-job choices then I would expect (and it would be reasonable for) the Executive Branch to allocate lawyers from some division to him. The White House Counsel is, I believe, reserved solely for the President and Vice President. I’m not seeing any other legal group, outside of that, that isn’t part of the DOJ. And, of departments within the DOJ that might be most on-point for such a legal fight, the group that specializes in Constitutionality and, thereby, impeachment legalities would look the most likely to me. I don’t think that the OLC, traditionally, argues in court. They prefer to hang back and write opinion papers but, in this special case, I think that they’d end up on the front lines unless there is some smaller office in the DOJ, that I’m unaware of, specialized to defending the employees of the organization in court (which is quite possible). If that does exist, I’d probably expect them to still use the OLC as a primary research source. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7509 "2022-11-08T17:15:27Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Is Trump directly involved in the Dominion case? Not yet. > **[8 Top Experts on Strength of Dominion Suing Trump for Defamation, If It Wants To](https://www.justsecurity.org/82447/8-top-experts-on-strength-of-a-dominion-defamation-case-against-donald-trump/)** > > "Almost every expert said a defamation suit brought by Dominion against Trump would be very strong." > Dominion has brought defamation lawsuits totaling well over a billion dollars against Trump associates – but not Donald Trump himself, or at least not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7510 "2022-11-08T17:19:26Z")
C’mon, guys, get to it already! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7511 "2022-11-08T18:16:23Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I remain of the opinion that Garland is NOT corrupt and NOT a committed Republican who avoids pursuing office-holders-and-appointees due to party loyalty–but that he’s talked himself into a firm belief that going after only the militia guys (plus a few sops to the concerned such as getting Jeffrey Clark out of bed in his underwear) is the Noble and Correct Course. My take on Garland is that he would like to follow the Rule of Law, but is concerned that if Trump is tried and found not guilty, it will establish a precedent where presidents can break the law because they know they won’t be prosecuted. His fear of that consequence has been sufficient to prevent him from charging Trump. He seems not to realize that rather than risking the case where presidents act with impunity, his failure to act ensures that we’re already there. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7512 "2022-11-08T18:21:18Z")
Dominion had to have made their calculation already and decided it wasn’t worth it to pursue Trump personally. Wonder why? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7513 "2022-11-08T18:22:29Z")
They may figure that he doesn’t have any money. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7514 "2022-11-08T18:27:15Z")
Maybe they’re just taking the time to build a really, really, _really_ good case… but that’s probably wishful thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7515 "2022-11-08T18:29:30Z")
Or they have more than enough to go on with the much stronger cases they do have. Or Trump hasn’t personally said enough about them to reach the necessary threshold for defamation. Or they figure the cases they have will provide them with more evidence against Trump. Or they think it will be fun to make him sweat. Or… ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7516 "2022-11-08T19:11:47Z")
Or they think Fox will turn around and sue Trump (if they lose), pointing to him as the one they relied on for their ‘reporting’. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7517 "2022-11-08T19:14:58Z")
Truly, there could be no sweeter schadenfreude than that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7518 "2022-11-08T19:27:04Z")
I am fully prepared for that. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7519 "2022-11-08T22:29:11Z")
Trump was impeached twice for his (un)professional, on-the-job choices and he had to hire outside counsel just like Clinton. I’m puzzled why you don’t think that would apply to Garland. The most recent impeachment of a Cabinet member that I can find is for Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. He had to hire outside counsel. I acknowledge it was for corruption committed in his role as head of the War Dept. but I can’t find anything to suggest this would be different if it was for something else. Anyway, I don’t wish to hijack this thread further with this topic. I suspect we will find out the answer to this soon enough whether it is Garland or one of the other members of the Biden Administration in the sights of the MAGA folk. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7520 "2022-11-08T22:40:06Z")
Non-political Schadenfreude: predicted track of Hurricane Nicole shows it heading pretty much directly for Mar-a-Lago. It’s almost enough to make you believe in divine power! 🍃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7521 "2022-11-08T22:42:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Non-political Schadenfreude: predicated track of Hurricane Nicole shows it heading pretty much directly for Mar-a-Lago. It’s almost enough to make you believe in divine power! 🍃 - Not to worry. He’ll draw a wall! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7522 "2022-11-08T22:49:38Z")
With a sharpie. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7523 "2022-11-08T22:59:13Z")
He might even do it today and not wait two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7524 "2022-11-08T23:40:21Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > With a sharpie. And the sharpie will pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7525 "2022-11-08T23:47:19Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > With a sharpie. > > And the sharpie will pay for it. - Is the Sharpie cantaloupe-sized? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/7526 "2022-11-08T23:51:23Z")
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