# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250 "2023-05-19T03:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/1 "2023-05-19T03:20:08Z")
Continuing the discussion from [A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 1) - #10006 by JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/10006). Previous discussions: - [A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537) ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/2 "2023-05-19T04:12:46Z")
Trump is so pathetic even one thread can’t contain how much of a loser he is. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/3 "2023-05-19T04:26:39Z")
I recall some back-and-forth over the “perfectly reasonable” designation, but: yes. No one thread of 10,000 posts can possibly contain all observations about the pathetic nature of Trump, still less those about his little friends. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4 "2023-05-19T04:35:54Z")
Rudy gotten charged yet? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/5 "2023-05-19T04:37:37Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Rudy gotten charged yet? - If so, no news of it has broken yet. But fear not. I’m guessing that Rudy will play an even _larger_ role in Part 2 of this thread than he did in Part 1. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/6 "2023-05-19T04:59:49Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Rudy gotten charged yet? This Yahoo News article doesn’t make it sound like it’s especially fertile ground although there are certainly options: > **[Allegations in Giuliani lawsuit could lead to criminal investigations,...](https://news.yahoo.com/allegations-in-giuliani-lawsuit-could-lead-to-criminal-investigations-experts-say-184932054.html)** > > The new explosive allegations against former Rudy Giuliani could expose the former New York City mayor and Donald Trump lawyer to potential criminal liability, experts say. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/7 "2023-05-19T09:04:57Z")
It’s been less than a week since the complaint was filed, so I’d be surprised if anything happened that quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/8 "2023-05-19T10:06:39Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Rudy gotten charged yet? He"s leaking too much electrolyte to hold it charge. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/9 "2023-05-19T11:28:11Z")
What’s going on with the Stormy Daniels hush money payment trial? Wasn’t there like 34 felony charges. I haven’t heard a word. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/10 "2023-05-19T11:35:18Z")
The legal system is very, very slow indeed. I recently contributed some expert analysis as part of a criminal case that led to the arrest of an individual (I don’t have to testify or anything; I just had to ensure that some of the key details of the case were expressed clearly and accurately in the documents to the court). The case is unlikely to see the inside of a courtroom before late 2025 at the earliest, or to have an outcome before 2027. _Law & Order_ makes it all look so zippy but, civil or criminal, it’s a long slog. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/11 "2023-05-19T11:40:34Z")
As I recall, the next court date was set for December. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/12 "2023-05-19T11:50:44Z")
Thanks Gyrate and EllisDee. And … 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/13 "2023-05-19T13:46:21Z")
> **[Exclusive: New evidence in special counsel probe may undercut Trump's claim...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/politics/trump-letter-archives-special-counsel-declassification/index.html)** > > The National Archives has informed former President Donald Trump that it is set to hand over to special counsel Jack Smith 16 records that show Trump and his top advisers had knowledge of the correct declassification process while he was president,... "The National Archives has informed former President [Donald Trump](https://www.cnn.com/specials/politics/president-donald-trump-45) that it is set to hand over to [special counsel Jack Smith](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/politics/jack-smith-special-counsel/index.html) 16 records that show Trump and his top advisers had knowledge of the correct declassification process while he was president, according to multiple sources. In a May 16 letter obtained by CNN, acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall writes to Trump, “The 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, concerning whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records.” Summary - Claims from PAB and lawyer that he can do anything he wants with classified documents including declassifying them in his mind are contrary to established protocols - and he knew 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:** [May 19, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/14 "2023-05-19T14:16:09Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Summary - Claims from PAB and lawyer that he can do anything he wants with classified documents including declassifying them in his mind are contrary to established protocols - and he knew it. - Maybe he changed the protocols in his mind. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/15 "2023-05-19T14:19:17Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Summary - Claims from PAB and lawyer that he can do anything he wants with classified documents including declassifying them in his mind are contrary to established protocols - and he knew it. I don’t understand why it even matters whether he knew he wasn’t following protocol or not. I always thought that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Especially willful ignorance. Even if he hadn’t known the proper procedure, he should have known as President. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/16 "2023-05-19T14:34:28Z")
Establishing intent is very important. The prosecution wants to prove that he knew what we was doing was wrong. I’ll let one of our more legally attuned dopers explain _mens rea_ in more detail. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/17 "2023-05-19T15:46:06Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > "The National Archives has informed former President [Donald Trump](https://www.cnn.com/specials/politics/president-donald-trump-45) that it is set to hand over to [special counsel Jack Smith](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/politics/jack-smith-special-counsel/index.html) 16 records that show Trump and his top advisers had knowledge of the correct declassification process while he was president, according to multiple sources. Why did the National Archives not bring this up earlier, like as soon as Trump made his ‘declassify by thinking about it’ claim? ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/18 "2023-05-19T15:48:42Z")
I’m not a lawyer but I love comics. Here is a very informative and entertaining explanation of _mens rea_ by a comic artist who is also a former prosecutor in the Manhattan DA’s office. > **[Mens Rea: Punishment](https://lawcomic.net/guide/?p=173)** > > People innately sense that punishment must be deserved. This sense of justice is powerful! ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/19 "2023-05-19T15:53:38Z")
I’ve heard this is because they are going after more serious charges now, possible violating the espionage act. This new evidence is not necessary for proving willful retention. That is already a slam dunk, but this opens up bigger charges. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/20 "2023-05-19T16:36:47Z")
Also if this comes up in front of a Jury its good to be able to say, “According to this document even Trump acknowledged that you can’t just declassify documents with your mind, so that defense is dead.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=2)