this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2024
755 points (99.3% liked)

News

23406 readers
3243 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. We have an actively updated blocklist, which you can see here: https://lemmy.world/post/2246130 if you feel like any website is missing, contact the mods. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

Special counsel Jack Smith dropped 44 federal charges against Donald Trump, citing DOJ policy that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

The charges, including election interference and classified documents retention, could be refiled after Trump’s presidency.

Critics, including Rep. Dan Goldman and former Capitol officer Aquilino Gonell, decried the move as a miscarriage of justice, asserting it places Trump above the law.

Trump and allies celebrated the decision as a victory, with Vice President-elect JD Vance vowing to prevent similar prosecutions.

Democrats fear Trump will seek political retaliation, deepening national divisions.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 7 points 3 hours ago

People don't understand that this was the most-damaging ting Smith could do. If he didn't drop the charges now they'd be dismissed entirely in January.

By dropping them without prejudice now, before trial begins and before the case can be reassigned by the Trump admin, the charges can be refiled in 2029.

Smith is keeping his eyes on the prize.

[–] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 5 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Cry more. Americans brought this on themselves. After everything we've gone through over the past decade with the orange, we elect him right back in the WH with eyes wide open. We deserve everything that's coming our way.

[–] Commander_Keen@reddthat.com 2 points 3 hours ago

“The government you elect is the government you deserve.” - Thomas Jefferson

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 24 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Democrats sat on their ass for 4 years and bailed Trump out.

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Yup. Jack's hands were tied by SCOTUS.

It is good that he didn't dismiss the charges with prejudice tho 'cause that means they can be brought again.

[–] Denidil@lemm.ee 6 points 6 hours ago

Dropping them now actually prevents a Trump Admin appointee from getting them dismissed with prejudice. it sucks that trumps delay tactics let him run out the clock, and it's unclear of Garland was malicious or incompetent in how long he delayed appointing Smith. Hopefully we come out the other side.

[–] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world 11 points 7 hours ago

See Americans, this is the type of shit you should invade gov buildings for, that type of shit is for when the institutions don't work, not for when they are doing their job

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

There are a couple of troubled people that deserve a pardon and an apology. Maybe their boom sticks back too? They will definitely not do it again! They pinky promise!

[–] squid_slime@lemm.ee 1 points 7 hours ago

The liberals keep fascism in their back pockets just in case.

Capitalism hasn't been able to offer what it promises and its only natural that the left or right would emerge the victors. Sadly with poor education in america and red scare, McCarthyism both still poisoning the well then only one realistic outcome is possible and your all living it. A trump victory.

If you want real change join a socialist / leftist org. Read socialist theory and teach others of the scientific approach to society and class differences.

[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Merrick Garland needs to be remembered by history as an all time coward. The way we use Machiavelli to label a traitor, we need to use Garland to denote the most limp, failed and feckless human being.

Here's everything you need, press this one button and the majority of the country will celebrate you perpetually and history will call you a hero... Doesn't lift a finger, throws up down the front of his shirt, falls asleep.

Fuck Merrick Garland, without qualification.

[–] ellen_musk_0x@lemm.ee 6 points 7 hours ago

The blame is squarely at the feet of McConnell, Obama, Biden, Orrin Hatch, and finally Merrick Garland.

A timeline:

In 2010 Obama nominated Kagan to SCOTUS. A nomination criticized by Hatch as blatantly partisan. Hatch said that he had known Garland for years. He added that, if nominated, he would be a “consensus nominee” and that there was “no question” he would be confirmed.

Then in 2016 with the Scalia vacancy, McConnell made up the fictional "Biden rule" to refuse seating or even hearing a nominee. Hatch then claimed that this process could proceed if an uncontroversial nominee was proffered. He again mentioned Merrick Garland:

"The president told me several times he’s going to name a moderate [to fill the court vacancy], but I don’t believe him. [Obama] could easily name Merrick Garland, who is a fine man. He probably won’t do that because this appointment is about the election. So I’m pretty sure he’ll name someone the [liberal Democratic base] wants.”

Then of course, Obama caved to Hatch's public request further elevating Garland in the public eye and to the approval of centrists and liberals. McConnell still refused to acquiesce, and dragged it out into the next presidency.

Then with Trump's electoral win, and some backroom dealing to get Kennedy to retire, the federalist society and the heritage foundation got their 40+ year wish. A conservative court, despite the rules, the circumstances, the math being otherwise. And all with zero fight from the Obama Administration.

Fast forward to the Biden administration in 2021, FOREVER still entertaining the notions of bipartisanship. Even while the GOP will offer a handshake while donning a Freddy Kruegeresque sharpened gauntlet of knives.

So of COURSE Biden nominated Garland to AG in the foolish hope that Americans and the GOP would somehow view this move as apolitical, above the frey, etc.

Garland is a symptom just like Trump is a symptom. They both stem from the same problem. That problem being a new aristocracy, a political class that seeks to simply preserve their places in power, and completely purge the citizenry from the body politic. A new Jim Crow, but one of bureaucracy. One that exclusively values the opinions of the political class over the wishes of the people. Garland is the example of this system as is Obama/Biden and many others. Meanwhile men like McConnell will easily exploit this system, and men like Trump will gain power as a reaction TO this system.

Power has been removed from the people (what little we had) and now the GOP and the majority of the DNC seek to keep it that way as it keeps them in power.

If you think I'm wrong about the DNC, just look at their actions. They're floating Rahm Emanuel to head the DNC. They're already talking about a Harris/Buttigieg ticket in 2028 (because you know, fuck the voters, their primaries, their caucuses. Who needs a Democratic process?)

And it's not a nobody saying this. It's guys like David Axlerod saying it on the LibDem mouthpiece network MSNBC.

[–] elrik@lemmy.world 70 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Democrats fear Trump will seek political retaliation, deepening national divisions.

No, it's not a fear. It's an acknowledgement of exactly what he has said he will do:

Trump has said repeatedly he will seek political retaliation, deepening national divisions.

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 22 points 1 day ago

This feels like a joke from Portal

"Test subjects fear I will kill them with turrets and fry whatever is left, even if it's still alive. Mostly because of my plans to kill them with turrets and fry whatever is left even if it's still alive." - GlaDOS probably

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

More like fear of retribution from the orange felonious madman

[–] Draegur@lemm.ee 4 points 21 hours ago

He's above law so the law is beneath him.

But nothing is beneath him so the law means nothing.

[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 198 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

The United States is a fucking joke. The nation supposedly founded on the rejection of a king believes that one person is literally not subject to US law. I could not have more contempt for, or feel more shame about being an unwilling participant in the unprincipled hypocrisy of this absolute shit hole of a country.

Fuck the oligarchs that run this place. Fuck the fascist Republican Party. Fuck the cowardly Democrats. And fuck the moronic, fear-riddled people.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 day ago

The average lifespan of an empire is 250 years.

The USA is 248 years old.

These facts are unrelated and I don't remember why I brought them up.

Here here. Fuck the entire broken system that keeps people so visibly and obviously above any semblance of justice.

[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago

Strictly speaking, it makes sense that you don't ask the DOJ to prosecute their boss, considering if DOJ threw the case, he could not be prosecuted again later due to double jeopardy.

Instead, presidents are to be judged by Congress through impeachment, since Congress is supposed to be independent.

Does not really change anything since congress is too broken by partisan politics to do anything, but I just wanted to point out where the issue really is.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That is the biggest and most obvious show of the corruption of the US American "justice" system. It was long known as the best "justice" money could buy, but this is open disregard of any legal principle.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] card797@champserver.net 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is what America voted for. Cthulu help us.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 day ago

You know, for the first time in my life I understand the Cultists from Lovecraftian horror. If there was some ritual we could perform to awaken an Elder God to devour the planet, I would be about ready to join in.

[–] Prandom_returns@lemm.ee 28 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Went from oligarchy to patriarchal oligarchy reaaal quick there lmao

Everyone's going to shrug it off like they did in russia when putin was beginning to spread his roots. Then they'll cry 'it's not the people's fault, it's him!".

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] aarRJaay@lemm.ee 48 points 1 day ago (1 children)

English person here: I didn't think he was classed as 'sitting' until he was officially voted in with the Electoral College and sworn in. Surely there's still time to prosecute.

[–] Dupree878@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You’re right that he’s not sitting yet, but wrong in that there’s not time to prosecute before he is sworn in. And anyway, he’d be the boss of the prosecutors against him so he can retaliate with no fear of consequence.

[–] aarRJaay@lemm.ee 9 points 1 day ago

Thank you for clarifying

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 176 points 1 day ago (3 children)

sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

The charges, including election interference

🤡

Election interference is legal if you do it so well you win.

[–] MisterFrog@lemmy.world 9 points 9 hours ago

This is honestly the biggest joke of them all.

Get ready for way, way more election interference.

[–] Manalith@midwest.social 4 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

In fairness, that's election interference over the last election. It just took a whole cycle to conclude that he definitely did do it. There's no way he did it this time though right? Right?

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

No one could possibly be that daring that they'd do it and win, lose, then do it again to win again?

Second time must have been legit.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] LotrOrc@lemmy.world 110 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Wow I'm so shocked

Had 4 years to sort this and out the fucker in jail for treason and decided to dick around doing fuck all til a few months before the election.

Biden has the blood of 100,000 on his hands and the death of democracy in his lap. That's his legacy.

Once again, Biden sticking to "policies" and "traditions" that are not law and facilitating terrible outcomes for the USA

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 181 points 1 day ago (17 children)

If only we still had another month with a Dem president and his AG controlling the DOJ...

I mean a month is a short time, ideally we'd have had that the last four fucking years and had plenty of time to handle this.

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 106 points 1 day ago (17 children)

Fairly certain and it appears obvious the DOJ believes the president is totally immune.

Part of the reason we are not members of the ICC.

Part of the reason Dick Cheney is not in The Hague right now.

Fairly certain United States has been a fascist country since at least 1790

[–] UsernameHere@lemmy.world 52 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Every single time someone tries to hold Trump accountable he claims it is a witch hunt.

Every single time the charges don’t stick because of intimidation or corrupt judges the public believes that it is a witch hunt just a little more and it is harder to get people to take it seriously.

This has happened so many times now that he has been able to win an election as a felon.

The DOJ knows that even if they successfully charge Trump now, his administration will get him out of it. Their only hope is to put it on pause and wait for an opportunity to actually hold him accountable. Because there is no way that can happen after he won an election.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (16 replies)
[–] Kalysta@lemm.ee 33 points 1 day ago

If only the AG didn’t waste 3 years before filing charges.

load more comments (15 replies)
[–] Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago

I told my wife 4 years ago when these charges came in "If this becomes more than a slap on the wrist I will be amazed", I am not amazed.

load more comments
view more: next ›