# Chesebro,Powell and Others in Trump's Orbit **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [October 22, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920 "2023-10-22T13:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/101 "2023-10-25T00:36:50Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Since the subject has been broadened……. > > I fully expect Mark Meadows to be next. It seems inevitable, I don’t see how he can simultaneously live the lie in GA and tell the truth in DC. > > I really hope the GA prosecutors insist on at least some jail time but I’m not sure they will. Mark probably has quite a bit of useful information, but the prosecutors have leverage, too. They know that, with his DC agreement, he has no defense left. [Meadows gets immunity.](https://abcnews.go.com/US/chief-staff-mark-meadows-granted-immunity-tells-special/story?id=104231281) He was next, indeed, but not to plead guilty. The slimy rat saved his skin but if this puts DJT in jail, yippee. I suppose he could plead guilty in GA and be immune in federal court. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/102 "2023-10-25T01:19:51Z")
Moderating: Let’s please remember the point of the thread: It was to discuss what motivated generally intelligent people to act on Trump’s behalf, much to their own detriment. It isn’t to talk about the dominoes that continue to fall. There are lots of other threads for that. Please stick to the topic of the thread as outlined in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/103 "2023-10-25T13:35:45Z")
I think the most likely explanation for why otherwise reasonable people climb into Trump’s handbasket is the most simple. Trump (like Mephistophiles but without the subtlety and grace) gets his mark to do one little, insignificant indiscretion just one time as a favor. Once they’ve done that, like maybe fudging a number on a financial report, he’s got them. They’ve done that one thing, and nothing came of it. No one got into trouble. No one got hurt. What would be the harm in doing one more thing? Wash, rinse, repeat. Next thing you know you’re plotting the unconstitutional take-over of the government. Somehow, this illegitimate child of a shaved orangutan is able to make these personal connections with people who really should knwo better. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/104 "2023-10-25T13:37:34Z")
And now it looks like someone may be climbing out of their handbasket. We’re probably heading into FAFO territory. Powell is now claiming undue pressure was placed on her so she would plead guilty. Oh, also, the election was stolen. > **[Sidney Powell pushes claims that 2020 election was rigged and prosecutors...](https://www.businessinsider.com/sidney-powell-doubt-election-results-attack-prosecutors-after-guilty-plea-2023-10)** > > Sidney Powell has continued to push conspiracy theories claiming the 2020 US election was rigged after she pleaded guilty to election interference. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/105 "2023-10-25T13:41:58Z")
> [@Daithi\_Lacha](#): > > We’re probably heading into FAFO territory. I once had a client who pleaded guilty and then(after I was no longer his attorney) filed a motion to withdraw his plea. The US Attorney basically said “go ahead, we won’t oppose your motion. But you’re facing 20 years on these charges.” Client dropped the whole thing and served his 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/106 "2023-10-25T13:59:48Z")
> [@Daithi\_Lacha](#): > > And now it looks like someone may be climbing out of their handbasket. We’re probably heading into FAFO territory. Powell is now claiming undue pressure was placed on her so she would plead guilty. Oh, also, the election was stolen. The ink’s probably not even dry on that plea agreement. The prosecution could likely void it if they believe she’s violating the terms. “Oh, you were pressured? That’s not allowed at all! Let me free you from that pesky plea agreement right now. Trial is next week, see you there.” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/107 "2023-10-25T14:13:22Z")
She _was_ pressured. Pressured by the fact that she was liable to be found guilty and would be facing certain jail time. It’s true… from a certain point of view. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/108 "2023-10-25T14:17:59Z")
Here’s one thing she _is_ doing. By her continuous wacky waffling and her obviously tenuous grip on reality she is pre-emptively undermining anything and everything she might say on the stand in anyone else’s prosecution. Even though she will loudly protest she’s telling the truth. At least as long as the prosecutor is listening. With the result that she gets a plea deal, she testifies “truthfully” as she sees it, the jury places little or no probative value on her uselessly conflicted testimony, she sows more fear, uncertainty and doubt, then somebody more important gets off. FTW. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/109 "2023-10-25T14:46:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > With the result that she gets a plea deal, she testifies “truthfully” as she sees it, the jury places little or no probative value on her uselessly conflicted testimony, she sows more fear, uncertainty and doubt, then somebody more important gets off. That may be her plan but I doubt the prosecution is actually counting on her cooperation. I don’t think any prosecutor would ever put her on the stand, they just want to cross her off the list. She won’t renege entirely and testify for any other defendant because that’s a ticket on the midnight train to a Georgia prison. If she makes too much noise they’ll threaten her with that and she’ll shut up for a while. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/110 "2023-10-25T18:45:18Z")
My assumption would be that these RICO prosecutors have more experience in dealing with waffling minions than Powell et al have at _being_ waffling minions, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/111 "2023-10-26T14:40:24Z")
Powell is still pushing the idea that the 2020 election is stolen by Biden. After pleading guilty to help try to steal it for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/112 "2023-10-26T15:34:01Z")
The RWNJ traitors are expert in talking out of both sides of their mouths. If forced to not lie, they are capable of being reluctantly truthful. But when not under duress, they lie. Truth is a second language to these people. When they relax they speak their native tongue: lying. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/113 "2023-10-26T16:25:05Z")
I’d call them Janus-like but that sounds too respectable. A similar word would fit, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/114 "2023-10-26T16:29:42Z")
Are you saying they’re like a certain Gotham City DA? ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/115 "2023-10-27T04:05:42Z")
Yeah, but without the integrity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920.md?page=5)