I want to excerpt this here, but … read it:
It appears to be a transcript of part of an interview with two law professors with national security expertise. They talk about the process, the possible consequences, and how DJT might help or harm himself in the interim.
ETA: One gem:
[bolding – gleefully – mine]
I’ve had students who think the same way. “Instead of giving me a 0 on this test I cheated on, wouldn’t it be more fair to instead give me an opportunity to improve my score?”
That’s way more reasonable than what Trump is saying. Imagine a student who comes to you and says, “You gave me a zero on this test because you have overwhelming evidence that I cheated. Fine: I’ll cop to cheating, but only if you give me an A.”
my reading of it is that the government pleads guilty to something, and apologizes to trump and pays damages.
Well, you can’t expect a teenager to be as good at it as someone who’s been practicing for 80 years.
I can picture it now…
DOJ Lawyer: “Mr. Trump, we’ve realized the error of our ways, and are prepared to drop all charges.”
Trump: “Nope, not good enough.”
DOJ L: “Wait, what? ‘Not good enough’?”
T: “Nope. I demand damages!”
DOJ L: “Mr. Trump, that’s not how criminal charges work. This is a win for you, I suggest you take it!”
T: “Nope, fuck you! Pay me, or I’ll see you in court!”
DOJ L: “Okaaaaayyy…I guess we’re going to court?”
The student behavior I keep thinking of is the anger at being caught. “I wouldn’t be in trouble at all if you’d just mind your own business!”
Is this what’s known as “Trump Derangement Syndrome”?
Trump has always believed that he is Special-- above the law, outside the law, and that the law doesn’t apply to him. And ya know what? So far, that has been exactly the case. He doesn’t seem to have ever experienced lasting, painful consequences related to any of his personal, professional, or political crimes/misdeeds. Why should anyone be able to convince him that this time it’s going to be different?
And frankly, that’s why some of us range from convinced to afraid that it will be the same for him this time.
wow! that is a good read. mr kacynski’s cell in florence is available…
yeah, where to hold him is going to be an interesting thing. i’m sure the government has an idea or two because they seems very sure they will get a conviction.
there must be areas that are basically tiny isolated houses, that the secret service could guard. as the article mentions:
I can tell you what it would mean to anyone else. They’d be put in a hole in the wall in maximum security at Florence, Colorado, and they would apply what’s called “Special Administrative Measures.” Several of my terrorism clients have had those imposed on them. There’s a microphone outside their solitary confinement to monitor anything that they say, even between prisoners. Their mail is extremely limited. Their telephone contact is extremely limited. And that’s what would happen to anyone else similarly situated.
Trump’s insistence on keeping talking about this creates a record that would justify isolation in maximum security on the basis that “We can’t trust this man not to continue to talk. We can’t trust him not to further share these secrets with people who may wish to do harm with them. The only way to avoid that is to put him in isolation in supermax where he doesn’t get to talk with people, except under these extremely closely monitored circumstances, certainly isn’t in a general population situation, gets to take a walk in a courtyard for one hour out of the 24 hours of the day, and the other 23 hours, leaving him mostly without human contact.”
Something like in Silence of the Lambs. Clarice offers Hannibal Lecter a deal for his cooperation; they’d transfer him to some deserted island where they’d let him walk outside once a day.
I hope and pray that Jack can convince even the most MAGAty of jurors that this asshole needs to go away.
Doesn’t that describe Trump now?
I haven’t been able to find much explanation on this, but reporting this morning is saying there is a chance that the arraignment won’t be able to be held tomorrow. Apparently, trump needs local council (as in Miami based, not just Florida based) to represent him at the arraignment, but so far he hasn’t been able to hire one. They would, in that case, still hold the first appearance but the arraignment would have to be postponed.
The defendant loves for legal proceedings to be postponed, so I can see him really dragging his feet on finding an acceptable lawyer. Would the court foist a public defender on him for purposes of holding the arraignment in a timely manner? (In not a legal eagle by any stretch, but I watched Law & Order last night. I’ve never heard of such a specific requirement as a lawyer based in a specific city…)
If a defendant can’t (or doesn’t) find a lawyer in a timely manner, do the courts normally proceed with the case anyway or do they say “Find one or we’ll give you one unless you opt to represent yourself”?
I am intensely curious to have this question answered, but while I am waiting I will derive unparalleled amusement at the prospect of Trump being forced to stand next to whichever local public defender happened to draw the short straw on the day.
I can’t imagine this is true. What it might be is that he needs someone who has been admitted to that Court. (The Southern District of Florida). It’s not difficult if you’re a member of the Florida bar, but it does take a few days, at least, for the forms, etc.
Maybe he can talk Aileen Cannon into representing him at this arraignment?
I pity that poor bastard…
Good one!
Perhaps that’s what they meant when they said a “local” lawyer and I misunderstood.
The reporting from NBC:
Ken Dilanian
Trump’s arraignment in Miami tomorrow can’t go forward unless the former president finds local counsel — and it’s unclear whether he has, sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
At least one prominent Miami-based defense attorney has turned Trump down, a source said.
If Trump doesn’t find local counsel, the surrender and first appearance will still happen tomorrow, but the arraignment may have to be postponed.