Federal Corruption: Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith filed two charges against Trump relating to the January 6 insurrection, election interference, and hoarding top-secret documents in Mar-a-Lago. But Trump pushed Smith to step down. He’ll hire new department members to drop his charges. The Supreme Court also granted him immunity for “job-related” crimes.
State Charges: Trump can’t pardon himself for state cases. But sentencing for the Stormy Daniels case that won him his historic conviction on election interference has been postponed. Trump’s lawyers can delay by appealing to the Supreme Court. What about Fani Willis’ Georgia election case? Trump’s election win, plus Willis’ ethically questionable romantic entanglement, means we likely won’t see updates until 2029.
Civil Fraud: Trump owes $450 million for fraud, which he’s appealing. Cops and congress members are suing him over January 6, too, but he can delay.
Sexual Assault : A judge also found that Trump raped and defamed E. Jean Carroll. He posted bond and appealed. Still, that was civil, not criminal court. He'd owe money, not serve prison time.
Trump’s charge-dodging doesn’t just say something about presidents. Let’s think about other politicians. Cops. The military. In a country founded on genocide, anti-Blackness, and sexual violence, why wouldn’t people in power be shielded from punishment for their violence? Time and time again, that’s what attracts them to these positions in the first place.