Forget Impeachment--Donald Trump Should Be Under Arrest

[babylonsister]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/forget-impeachment-donald-trump-should-be-under-arrest?ref=home


Forget Impeachment—Donald Trump Should Be Under Arrest
WHAT’S TAKING SO LONG?
The Senate needs to go about its obviously constitutional business. But I sure hope prosecutors in New York and Washington are going about theirs, too.
Dean Obeidallah
Updated Feb. 08, 2021 9:31AM ET / Published Feb. 07, 2021 8:40PM ET

snip//

I encourage people to read the “Statement of Facts” portion of the House impeachment managers’ brief filed Tuesday that lays out more than just the grounds to convict Trump in the impeachment trial—it makes a compelling case to charge Trump with at least insurrection. While the House managers, headed by Rep. Jamie Raskin, do not cite the federal statute for this felony given that the impeachment trial is not criminal, they lay out the roadmap for prosecutors to build a case.

One of the most important points they make is that Trump’s misconduct is not solely about the words of his January 6 speech before the attack. Instead, they argue in powerful detail that Trump laid the groundwork for the insurrection over a period of months beginning with his repeated comments during the campaign that “the only way we’re going to lose this election is if this election is rigged.” Trump was priming his supporters to be on board with this concept if he lost the election.

From there, the House managers highlight Trump’s post-election lies about the election being “stolen” through his call for his most rabid supporters to gather in Washington, D.C.—not on any random day, but on the very day federal law mandated Congress meet to certify the election results.

The House managers’ brief leaves you with the sense that Trump radicalized some in his base —like ISIS does--with a non-stop drumbeat of lies and fiery rhetoric intended to incite them to the doorstep of violence. And finally, on Jan. 6, Trump pushed them through that door, activating them to use force to stop the certification.

snip//

The impeachment trial this week is step one—but even if Trump is convicted, accountability for Trump’s crimes cannot simply be disqualifying him from running from office again. Accountability can only come if Trump is criminally charged and fully prosecuted. That’s the best hope we have at preventing Trump or any future president from engaging in the same dangerous and illegal conduct. In fact, today would be a great day to arrest Trump.

[BSdetect]

1. That is definitely essential. He must be dealt with in court.

[panader0]

2. I find it quite ironic that the first lawmaker to mention criminal charges is Liz Cheney.

She is giving Democrats a lot of cover on this. Do it!

[Demsrule86]

16. She is indeed. A bipartisan support of prosecution would hurt the GOP as they try to

claim that it is a political prosecution.

[crickets]

18. True.

I can't stand Liz Cheney, but her "we need hearings and lots of them" message is certainly resonating with me. More like this, please.

[2naSalit]

27. I agree.

She's not that popular in her neck of the woods and I was surprised to see her win at all. But in this instance, she is at least correct. She's still not our BF but she does have a sense of reason, and I'll take it, even from her.

I was surprised to see her quote but glad for her candor and strength to stand up against the mob.

[Evolve Dammit]

39. Agree. And SDNY needs to move as well.

[KarenS]

3. I agree with this and it cannot come soon enough. n/t

[sboatcar]

4. Would it be double jeopardy for him to be charged with these crimes after his trial?

[Demsrule86]

15. No, Impeachment is political-not criminal. He could still be tried in court and should be.

[sboatcar]

17. Excellent, thanks for clearing that up

[Demsrule86]

22. I wasn't sure and asked someone here and then even looked it up...it is a legitimate concern.

[Tommymac]

46. The Impeachment Trial is NOT a Criminal Trial.

The House Impeachment is the political version of a Criminal Grand Jury Indictment.

The Senate Impeachment Trial is the political version of a Criminal Trial.

Some of the legal and political 'terms' look the same, the proceedings may look similar in some regards (testifying under oath for example - lie to the Senate and they can bring legal perjury charges) but each has it's own set of rules.

An Impeachment Conviction is NOT a Criminal Conviction. No double jeopardy involved.

[OLDMDDEM]

5. I agree with you nt.

[berksdem]

6. LOCK. HIM. UP!

[PuppyBismark]

7. You got that right

I can wait until the impeachment trial is over as it will help the public understand the arrest. Then the new attorney general and the state attorneys general can come public with the investigations and indictments. I think the Democrats are laying low until that time. No need to poke the bear this soon.

They certainly have an open and shut case in the matter of the payments to the two porn stars including the checks signed by him. Ask Michael Cohen. There are lots of federal charges to come.

I suspect he has written himself a pardon, but that will be decided by the courts and most knowledgeable lawyers have indicated it will not stand.

So, stock up on the popcorn, should be interesting.

[fwvinson]

41. Can't pardon himself, or anybody, now. Pres. Bidden would have to do that.

[aggiesal]

49. Pendejo45 signed the double-secret probation pardons before he left office for ...

his family and himself.

He will not produce them until needed.

[former9thward]

51. Nonsense.

There are no "secret pardons". The only people saying that are those who predicted Trump would pardon himself and others. When he did not do that now they are claiming they are "secret".

[spooky3]

55. Are you saying that you don't believe pardons have been granted that have not been disclosed?

There is no requirement to disclose all pardons. Attempts to require disclosure have failed, have they not?

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/344024-dem-rep-to-introduce-measure-requiring-white-house-to-disclose-pardons
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-can-president-trump-issue-secret-pardons-1562790

[former9thward]

58. There was nothing secret about the Trump White House

Every single day for four years things were posted on DU from "WH sources" about what Trump was doing. For those who think pardons can be secret and pulled out of a hat when needed, please show where that has happened in the last 230 years.

[aggiesal]

56. You don't seem to get a joke, when it is given. ...

Double-Secret Probation is from the movie "Animal House".

And there is no such thing as a double secret probation pardon.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Criminal prosecution is much more important than the senate trial. Nt

[Demsrule86]

10. He belongs behind bars...how are you!

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. Fine thanks- looking forward to a DJT prosecution! Nt

[Demsrule86]

23. I am too. Stay safe Fiendish Thingy

[Demsrule86]

9. This may be why certain witnesses are not called...looks like Trump met with the leaders of

the insurrection on January 5th in the White House.

[pandr32]

11. I completely agree

Once upon a time these things were dealt with more harshly.

[lindysalsagal]

12. YEP. We all watched it. We are all prime witnesses.

[librechik]

13. I heartily agree. Bastards misrepresenting Traitor !'s.s heinous crime as mere politics

Is part of the treachery.

But DOJ is not obeying Biden. We have a leadership problem There.

[lettucebe]

19. Give it time. I'm sure he'll be charged criminally, sooner or later

He cannot stop committing crimes so even if the ones we know about don't bear fruit, give it time.

[BarbD]

20. Seems to me that someone who plotted, encouraged and staged a coup

should be liable for sedition charges.

If this isn't a crime against the United States, what is?

[world wide wally]

21. I couldn't agree more

[Stuart G]

24. New York State Attorney General Letitia James will prosecute to the fullest..... AND...

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. WILL GET TRUMP....

Vance Jr. has bee District Attorney of Manhattan for 10 years.
He and Letitia James will get Donald Trump....Trump will go down.

and as he goes down..........Donald Trump will...................

GO AROUND AND AROUND....

Trump doesn't have a clue, says Stu..

[electric_blue68]

28. AG James, yes. But I thought I heard that Vance...

may be wavering... 🙄

I hope I read that wrong !

[Stuart G]

30. .I honestly don't know..We will all see.

[former9thward]

53. So why haven't they?

[CaptainTruth]

25. "I want to see him in prison." Nancy Pelosi June 2019

I will never forget that quote because I DO TOO NANCY!

Nancy's statement makes me confident that she will turn over EVERYTHING the House has on Trump to prosecutors.

[Stuart G]

31. If Nancy Pelosi said that, she will do everything to make prison happen for Donald Trump!!!

This isn't Watergate, this is "Sedition and Insurrection..!!!!!!!!

[2naSalit]

32. Yup!

I feel that the Senate trial is necessary in that it will expose the depth of organization in attempting to kill democracy which will place all evidence in the public access category which will provide evidence for the criminal trials to follow including the biggest RICO case in history along with other crimes. The GJs need time to get their evidence and I expect that, as I predicted back in 2018, a good third of Congress will be implicated. The Senate trial is necessary to expose the enablers and methodology, and to ban him from running for office ever again.

I expect a lot of litigation for a while.

[Lock him up.]

37. I hope the DOJ will have access to and will review all the GJ material in the Mueller probe.

TEN obvious Obstruction of Justice violations cannot go unpunished forever.

Also all the obstructions of Congress relative to illegal orders to not comply with lawfully issued subpoenas!

If he gets a pass, no other POTUS will ever comply with the Constitutional rules of the three branches of goverment.

[Jetheels]

26. I wanted to read this article but members only. Thanks for snippet.

Anyway, I think the groundwork was being paved years ago, with trumps popularization of birtherism and his assault on facts, science, truth.

[lagomorph777]

29. Before and during the insurrection, he ordered the National Guard to stay away.

That is the most damning evidence of all.

[2naSalit]

33. That and the strategy meeting the night before. ...nt

[lagomorph777]

34. Yup - I wonder if there's any way to learn what happened there.

Maybe arrest a couple of them and put the squeeze on.

[2naSalit]

35. I can't help it, but...

Oh lordy, I hope there's tapes!

[OneBlueSky]

36. Ummmm . . . Yes and No . . .

Yes, he should be under arrest . . . on more counts than I can enumerate on fingers and toes . . .

But . . . . . .

No, we shouldn't forget impeachment . . . he has to be held accountable for January 6 . . . and everything that led up to it . . .

JMHO, of course . . .

[calimary]

38. Sure works for me!

[SayItLoud]

40. Sure would be nice to know if tRUMP filed "secret pardons" and for whom. NT

[BobTheSubgenius]

42. That "pre-priming" of his base with early, early mentions of a rigged election.

It was obvious and outrageous....and no one had the power, or at least influence, to get him to stop and act like a normal person for a few minutes?

[soldierant]

43. No criminal conviction and no prison sentence

can reliably prevent him from ever holding public office again.

Convictions can be pardoned and sentences can be commuted. The only reliable deterrent it a Senate vote to bar him from public office, and that can only be done in connection with an impeachment.

if i understand correctly, and if my sources are accurate, that vote can be taken after the vote to convict or not is taken, and it can be taken even if he is not convicted. And it requires only a simple majority.

I think that's worth a wait.

[bringthePaine]

44. gotta bring game as hard as possible on all fronts - make 'em defend the indefensible in

every venue, under relentless pursuit of both civil and criminal justice; mercy cannot be
quartered in any way - the crazies see it only as weakness, therefore they must be shown
only the most severe penalties allowable by law; the law will do its work if we nourish it
with truth and unflagging commitment to the demands of true justice - fair to complainants
and perpetrators, as well as serving the needs of just, democratic society

[bucolic_frolic]

45. I believe the evidence will show it is a matter for the courts and would have been

if he weren't President at the time.

[Rebl2]

47. I agree

I would have thought they would have already charged him by NY prosecutor.

[Lunabell]

48. He definitely has blood on his hands.

If not held criminally liable, the families of those killed during the insurrection can definitely show civil liability. If my love one died after trump's speech that day, I would sue. He needs to pay. Bigtime.

[Blue Owl]

50. Now we're talkin'!

[hughee99]

52. Exactly! Trump isn't in office anymore, if he's broken laws,

He should be tried like a private citizen. Impeachment won’t provide any real accountability, certainly not now, after he’s left office.

[triron]

54. Imprisonment is almost too good for him. How about sentenced to hard labor.

[hughee99]

57. Either way, he'd still need a real trial. Nt

[tclambert]

59. I generally oppose capital punishment, but it would be good for America to hang Trump for treason.

You see the world with Trump in it. Now picture the world without Trump. Which do you prefer?