Trump II, The Revenge of the Trump

And in today’s vengeance news:

Roger Stone is convicted of obstruction, lying to Congress, and general mopery. Prosecutors recommend a sentence of 7-9 years.

The Attorney General’s office overrules the prosecutors’ and recommends a lesser sentence.

All four federal prosecutors assigned to the Stone case resign.

Remember when we had good Republicans like George W. Bush, who would never use their power to ensure their political henchmen escaped punishment? Ah, yes, the good old Republicans of yesteryear. It’s amazing how Trump is such a departure from Republican norms. Flabbergasting, really.

This is still not completely verified, though it does seem to fit the pattern Trump has established of punishing those who speak out against him:

He’s recreating the justice system so that it rewards his mafia members and punishes his enemies.

And it looks like we’ll probably lose 4 more prosecutors before long. AFAIK, they just quit the Stone case and didn’t outright resign, but I’m guessing that they are not long for this justice department.

“All four career prosecutors handling the case against Roger Stone, a confidant of President Trump, asked to withdraw from the legal proceedings Tuesday — and one quit his job entirely — after the Justice Department signaled it planned to reduce their sentencing recommendation for the president’s friend.”

One completely quit, one resigned his position at the DC Attorney General office but will still work in the Baltimore Attorney General office. The other two, so far, only removed themselves from the case. How long before the three who didn’t outright quit are fired for some reason?

“I stay out of things to a point people wouldn’t believe.” You’re right, Trump. People wouldn’t believe it.

As I said, folks, I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

This country is in deep, deep shit.

So, she left her job as a US Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she was working on the Stone case, when she was nominated for a posting in the Treasury Department. And as soon as the sentencing guidelines were overturned, her nomination was canceled. Wow.

We know. I mean, yes, you have been making a big show of bumping old threads to preen and gloat, but it’s clear your heart’s not in it.

My Trumper co-worker says that Trumps tweet and DOJ change in stance on the Stone sentencing is part of draining the swamp. He thinks those four AUSAs were part of some sort of bigger plan to stick it to Trump and his supporters. I hope the Judge can see through the BS and sentences Stone to substantial time. Trump would then be forced to pardon Stone or call the judge names. He’d probably do both. There is probably no real political risk to Trump at this point and I’m somewhat surprised he hasn’t already done so.

I hate to say this because I’m sure I’ll be flamed to a crisp but I feel that over the last three years the racists and MAGA idiots have coopted the American flag so it’s starting to stand for something completely different than it used to. Whenever I see the flag on someone’s pickup truck or whatever, the first thing that pops into my head? “oh, a MAGA person”. It’s no longer “there is the symbol of my country”.

^^ Too true, unfortunately.

The “President’s pleasure” is not usually without limit:

18 U.S. Code § 1513. Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant

There you go, quoting a “law” again! What do you think this is, 2019?

(Sorry to harp on this. That was my last such snarky comment. I don’t think it can be emphasized enough, however, what an important change we’re witnessing).

Some more background:

Trump withdraws Treasury nomination of former U.S. attorney for D.C. Jessie K. Liu after criticism of her oversight of Mueller prosecutions

[my emphasis]

So this may be about more than Stone’s sentencing.

The mob boss is threatening judges now. “Let my enforcer off, or things may get rough for you”. We are back in prohibition times.

I completely agree. I will happily fly the flag when Trump is out of office and the Stars and Stripes once again represents the USA.

In my neck of the woods, in addition to the flag there is almost always another piece of propaganda attached to the vehicle to help fill in my impression of the owner. Molon Labe, Trump, American Redoubt, gun or hunting stickers, Gadsden flag, etc.

Back in 2016 I remember the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass raising a stink about the “tarmac meeting” with AG Loretta Lynch during which he supposedly warned her to back off the Hillary email investigation. Yes, I thought at the time, that does seem inappropriate.

But now that a sitting president is openly conducting mass retributions – which are a far more obvious and blatant warning against anyone else who might investigate or even criticize him or his cronies – there’s complete silence from Kass.

Utter IOKIARDI. The right has zero credibility anymore.