# How has the disgraced, CONVICTED FELON, former but once again President Trump pissed you off today? (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 15, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178 "2021-05-15T18:35:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 42
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/821 "2022-02-07T16:24:28Z")
So what, exactly, is the proscribed punishment for destroying public records? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/822 "2022-02-07T16:47:54Z")
Why, _re-election_, of course!! ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/823 "2022-02-07T16:49:00Z")
Banishment would be a start. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/824 "2022-02-07T16:52:11Z")
As I read the articles, he cleverly didn’t tell staff what to do. Like a mob boss, he implied it but the onus is on them. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/825 "2022-02-07T17:01:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So what, exactly, is the proscribed punishment for destroying public records? From the _Daily Kos_ article cited upthread: > “It is against the law, but the problem is that the Presidential Records Act, as written, does not have any real enforcement mechanism,” noted James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association. “It’s that sort of thing where there’s a law, but who has the authority to enforce the law, and the existing law is toothless.” Add this to the list of norms and violations that used to be followed out of respect for the institution of the presidency but henceforth need to be codified with clear enforcement mechanisms. I’ll also add that corporate CEOs have done time for destroying records, and a major accounting firm bankrupted for same. yet no consequences are likely for Individual One. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/826 "2022-02-07T18:15:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > in some cases he actually _BURNED_ the papers. We may never know the worst of what he did Fucking mob boss behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/827 "2022-02-07T18:21:15Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > dd this to the list of norms and violations that used to be followed out of respect for the institution of the presidency but henceforth need to be codified with clear enforcement mechanisms. So I guess Biden can now just order the secret service to assassinate the entire leadership of the Republican party. He can then pardon everyone involved including himself. Cool beans! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/828 "2022-02-07T18:25:36Z")
Why anyone listened to this idiot is beyond me. Trump should have been abandoned to wander the White house alone trying to figure out how to turn on the lights. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/829 "2022-02-07T18:32:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > dd this to the list of norms and violations that used to be followed out of respect for the institution of the presidency but henceforth need to be codified with clear enforcement mechanisms. > > So I guess Biden can now just order the secret service to assassinate the entire leadership of the Republican party. He can then pardon everyone involved including himself. Cool beans! I’m pretty sure there’s nothing in the Constitution that says he can’t. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/830 "2022-02-07T18:59:52Z")
Especially if he send a golden retriever to do it. Because _there’s nothing in the rulebook…_ ---
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/831 "2022-02-07T19:14:47Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Especially if he send a golden retriever to do it. Disney Presents: _Assassin Bud, The Hit Dog_ “He’s been a very bad boy.” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/832 "2022-02-07T19:18:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So I guess Biden can now just order the secret service to assassinate the entire leadership of the Republican party. He can then pardon everyone involved including himself. Cool beans! No, no, no. It’s ONLY okay if Republicans do it. If a Democratic President wears a tan suit or mispronounces a word—\> **IMPEACHMENT!!** ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/833 "2022-02-07T21:29:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So what, exactly, is the proscribed punishment for destroying public records? This is also being discussed in a nearby thread (the Schadenfreude thread, I think, except I don’t feel like going back there to look for it at the moment). Anyway, somebody made a post pointing out that, similar to the President’s ultimate power to decide what material is classified, likewise the Presidential Records Act gives the President ultimate authority to decide what records must be preserved. So, apparently, he could perfectly legally rip up or burn whatever records he wanted. Hang tight, I’ll go find that post if I get around to it . . . ---
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/834 "2022-02-07T21:33:41Z")
> [@susan](#): > > As I read the articles, he cleverly didn’t tell staff what to do. He personally ripped up the papers. Not sure if he burned any. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/835 "2022-02-07T21:34:49Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > This is also being discussed in a nearby thread (the Schadenfreude thread, I think, except I don’t feel like going back there to look for it at the moment). Okay, here it is: @Buck_Godot in the NEW SRIOTD Part 2 thread: > [@NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 2)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/39): > > That last bit could be very interesting regarding Trump. I guess the question is how “unlawfully” is defined. Unfortunately may be one of those things like “classified” where its whatever the president says it is. ETA: Yeah, unfortunately it looks like I was right slightly_frowning_face From this [link](https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-rules-apply-government-records-during-presidential-transition) on the presidential records act (PRA): Instead, the president is responsible for interpreting whether the PRA applies to specific records, which implicates public and congressional acces… ---
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/836 "2022-02-07T21:39:26Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So I guess Biden can now just order the secret service to assassinate the entire leadership of the Republican party. He can then pardon everyone involved including himself. Wouldn’t help, could possibly hurt as the bastard McConnell is replaced by someone with fewer scruples (or at least less political sense, since it is hard to have fewer scruples then the Turtle). I’d assassinate somewhere between 4 and 6 Supreme Court justices and then whip out the pardon pen. Even if people were outraged and impeached Joe, Kamala would still get to do the replacements (or if she is implicated, Pelosi (who is much to smart to get caught being involved, even if she were)). ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/837 "2022-02-07T22:09:31Z")
75 years in, and the spoiled little rich kid shitbird has yet to face a consequence. Still waiting, no so patiently. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/838 "2022-02-07T22:32:02Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I’d assassinate somewhere between 4 and 6 Supreme Court justices and then whip out the pardon pen. Even if people were outraged and impeached Joe, Kamala would still get to do the replacements (or if she is implicated, Pelosi (who is much to smart to get caught being involved, even if she were)). [Moderating] Do not post about assassinating political figures. Not even as a joke. Not even in the Pit. No warning issued, but seriously, do not do this again. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/839 "2022-02-07T22:35:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So what, exactly, is the proscribed punishment for destroying public records? Just now catching this. Should be _prescribed_ (“state authoritatively that it should be done”). _Proscribed_ means “forbidden by law.” ---
**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:** [February 7, 2022, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178/840 "2022-02-07T22:38:53Z")
So it should be prescribed that destroying records is proscribed? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-1/942178.md?page=43)