Biden does not want Feds to go after Trump for crimes. If they don't, does that finally mean a President is above the law?

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pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
7,674
3,217
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Oddly enough, that's not how it works. The Constitutional requirements to be President are-



That's it. That's all there is.
If he is prosecuted and found guilty it could dissuade the public from voting for him in 2024.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
8,698
136
Is a President above the law for crimes outside of treason?
Certainly hope he isn't above they law for any of his many crimes, president or no president. But I'm no lawyer. I hope they get him for 1/2 dozen things at least, and I really hope he does time. Best thing for the country.
 

MtnMan

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2004
8,960
8,191
136
If he is prosecuted and found guilty it could dissuade the public from voting for him in 2024.
You clearly don't understand how fucking stupid the 73 million that did vote for him this year really are. He boasted about shooting someone on 5th Ave, and not losing any votes. He proved that by killing 200K+ and not losing any votes.

Let's let the tax people, states, and his creditors reduce him to an insignificant has been.
 
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Stokely

Platinum Member
Jun 5, 2017
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If we didn't go after war criminal GWB for killing (arguably) a million people and maiming many, many more for his invasion based on a ludicrously-transparent lie...I'd say Trump is in the clear. Give him a few years if he hasn't hamburgered himself to death, he'll be everyone's pal just like friendly ol George is now.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
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I am lately struggling to find reason to believe that a collapse of America in the next 10 years is not inevitable. And to justify my motivations for not wanting it to happen.
Well, I've said that the collapse of America is not only ongoing but is manifest now. There was an op-ed piece published recently and linked here (~ a month ago, linked below in this post), I think it had its own thread, by a guy who was living in a country that was experiencing collapse over a period of time and he explained that it wasn't something that happens suddenly, it happens gradually but inexorably. People don't recognize it (most), some do. Life goes on, people do "normal" things while abnormal things continue to happen, very troubling things, repeatedly. We are very arguably there already. Tell me that we haven't had myriad happenings in America the last two decades that are not more than alarming but unprecedentedly ominous and troublesome, and more so, on an accelerated basis the last handful of years.

If it were just political, I wouldn't be as concerned, but we have an existential crisis continuing to develop (how can you not think that year after year of obvious worsening signs of the global warming crisis aren't absolutely obvious? Worst year on record for hurricanes this year.) that the Republican Party refuses to acknowledge even exists! ~1/2 the electorate willing to excuse the actions of the worst POTUS in American history. If it weren't for this incredibly mismanaged pandemic we'd likely have been stuck with this living disaster for 4 more years.

Here's the thread here on that op-ed piece:

 
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Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,266
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For the record, It's pointless to go after exP Trump for political transgressions. Real crimes however need to be pursued.
The one huge beef that the apologists defend is that when Obama took office hundreds of thousands of deaths, more than COVID here meaning the Iraq war, nothing was done. A half a million, maybe a million who never saw the beginnings of justice.

Biden? Let's just say that I won't hold my breath however that's not functionally important. NY has enough on Trump and his family to put Donnie in a max prison for the rest of his life and the Kids for a couple of decades.

NY- our unofficial motto is "Zero fucks given, we are going to kick your ass when you seriously break the law"
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
34,004
8,040
136
If he goes after him, it will further divide the country, possibly beyond repair. His cult will lose their shit and it will end the nation as we see it.

First, as others have said, no one needs the DOJ to pursue criminal charges on Trump. SDNY can do that all by itself.

Second, that Trump's cult exists at all - practically ends the nation "as we see it".
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
8,698
136
The one huge beef that the apologists defend is that when Obama took office hundreds of thousands of deaths, more than COVID here meaning the Iraq war, nothing was done. A half a million, maybe a million who never saw the beginnings of justice.

Biden? Let's just say that I won't hold my breath however that's not functionally important. NY has enough on Trump and his family to put Donnie in a max prison for the rest of his life and the Kids for a couple of decades.

NY- our unofficial motto is "Zero fucks given, we are going to kick your ass when you seriously break the law"
1/2 maybe million deaths due to the Iraq war? Huh? You're maybe counting Iraqi casualties? American casualties were less than 5,000:

4,424

As of June 29, 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Defense casualty website, there were 4,424 total deaths (including both killed in action and non-hostile) and 31,952 wounded in action (WIA) as a result of the Iraq War.


We're suffering that many deaths in America from the Trump virus in less than a week these days, and it's gonna get a ton worse before Trump is escorted out of the White House.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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First, as others have said, no one needs the DOJ to pursue criminal charges on Trump. SDNY can do that all by itself.

Second, that Trump's cult exists at all - practically ends the nation "as we see it".

SDNY is a federal court jurisdiction & the US Attorneys are DoJ employees. They put Michael Cohen in prison. They'd have tried to do the same with Individual_1 were he not President. DoJ policy forbids it until Jan 20, 2021 at 12:01 PM. And then it won't.
 
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HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
36,730
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SDNY is a federal court jurisdiction & the US Attorneys are DoJ employees. They put Michael Cohen in prison. They'd have tried to do the same with Individual_1 were he not President. DoJ policy forbids it until Jan 20, 2021 at 12:01 PM. And then it won't.
Isn't that evidence the President is above the law?
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
Yes.
Of course there's nothing actually stopping federal prosecution of a sitting president. It's DOJ policy/opinion. Not codified in law.

It's structurally impossible because the President has the right to fire them. Impeachment & conviction would put any President in the same position as the rest of us, as does having their term in office expire.
 

eelw

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
9,796
4,983
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What other countries have attempted to prosecute their former leader? Because what would the blowback be for the country if it was successful? Well with how much a joke the US is currently with most of the world, can't really go much lower
 
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Nov 8, 2012
20,828
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Are you telling me that the elite establishment doesn't want to go after the elite establishment?!?!

Well hooooooly fuck color me surprised in shocked and appalled..... Deeeeeerp.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
85,632
50,853
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Are you telling me that the elite establishment doesn't want to go after the elite establishment?!?!

Well hooooooly fuck color me surprised in shocked and appalled..... Deeeeeerp.
Speaking of derp, that’s not what the article says and it’s already been pointed out in this thread.
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,634
8,522
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Ideally that is not up to Biden is it?

I might be being naive, but that would be my thought. Surely it ought to just be a matter for the usual processes of law and shouldn't be Biden's decision either way?

I don't care whether Trump gets a personal come-uppance or not, as long as he's out of power. Though the more he's tied up in a legal mess the less damage he can do as a cult-leader, surely? Just a matter of keeping him busy till his dismal diet and lifestyle finishes him off.
 
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ondma

Platinum Member
Mar 18, 2018
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Biden needs to go after righting as many Trump wrongs as possible by executive order and in congress, especially if they manage to get both runoff seats and control the senate. He needs to heal the nation as much as possible and try to win back some Republicans who actually have legitimate though processes. He needs to immediately focus also on the 2022 mid terms and the 2024 pres election. I dont see how going after Trump will help any of these causes. Just let the state courts go after him.
 
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pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,634
8,522
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What other countries have attempted to prosecute their former leader? Because what would the blowback be for the country if it was successful? Well with how much a joke the US is currently with most of the world, can't really go much lower

Iraq and Pakistan, come to mind. Both ended with execution by hanging (one way more justifiable than the other). Probably shouldn't go that far.
 

eelw

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
9,796
4,983
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Biden needs to go after righting as many Trump wrongs as possible by executive order and in congress, especially if they manage to get both runoff seats and control the senate.
And this is why he's gutting all the senior positions. Well yes he's getting personal revenge against them. But by getting as much a shitshow in this lame duck, covid and rebuilding the government has to be Biden's priority before he can get through all the EO to wipe out orange loser's legacy while he was chump in chief.
 

eelw

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 1999
9,796
4,983
136
Iraq and Pakistan, come to mind. Both ended with execution by hanging (one way more justifiable than the other). Probably shouldn't go that far.
Well execution can be saved for Barr and Pompeo. Yeah the orange loser needs to live as long as possible while rotting in jail or possibly develop side effects from covid
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,407
8,698
136
Yes.
Of course there's nothing actually stopping federal prosecution of a sitting president. It's DOJ policy/opinion. Not codified in law.
Barr is a prime example of Wm Blake's maxim, "he whose face shows no light will never become a star." He's a dead soul.