Pool Photo By Seth Wenig: Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York.
Column By Mike Bibb
According to an AP News story, April 4, 2023, just when you thought President Trump’s 34 felony count indictment couldn’t get any more ridiculous, on the very same day Trump sat in a Manhattan, New York courtroom listening to a list of “falsified business records” he allegedly committed, one of his former associates, porn star Stormy Daniels, was ordered to pay $122,000 in attorney fees to a Trump attorney.
Stormy Daniels is one of the defendants implicated in the New York District Attorney’s complaint for bringing a case against Trump.
Attorney Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump attorney, announced her firm has accumulated more than $600,000 in fee judgments against Daniels’ “meritless litigation.” The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California ordered $122,000 of the $600,000 to be paid.
This whole convoluted mess is rapidly descending into a smelly pile of legal crap.
Even more absurd, the loaded-up indictment sounds like an echo chamber, with each charge remarkably similar to the previous. Almost three dozen times!
Equally perplexing, there doesn’t appear to be much meat on the bone. The DA’s explanations detailed the government’s usual boasts of hard work in putting the case together but seemed to lack sufficient detail in outlining the merits of the alleged infractions.
When asked by the press to explain the confusion, the DA remarked it wasn’t necessary to be specific on the allegations at the time.
In other words, Trump is supposed to have violated some law, but he’s not entitled to be informed what those infractions are, other than they involve bogus campaign violations.
That will be revealed in future court proceedings, the DA assured everyone.
Basically, sounds like a, “Let’s charge a guy with a crime; we’ll figure out the details later” mumbo-jumbo.
What could go wrong with this strategy?
Not being an attorney, nor particularly bright in trying to figure out the ways and whys of how government often thinks and functions, I’m having a little difficulty in comprehending a 34 felony count indictment against a former president can be predicated upon previous misdemeanor violations – which have exceeded the state’s statute of limitations for being prosecuted – and elevated to alleged felony federal campaign finance infractions, without twisting the rules of civil and criminal procedure in order to obtain an indictment and possible conviction.
How, exactly, is that possible? And, do it 34 times!
Then, hold a press conference and attempt to explain this nonsense to the public and expect them to understand. A daunting task, to be sure. Obviously, not everyone – including the liberal media – could grasp it.
If CNN and MSNBC couldn’t quite fathom the gobbledygook, then the DA has problems.
All of this is reminiscent of the old Soviet-style police enforcement adage, “Find me the man, and I’ll find you the crime.” Or, words to that effect.
Finally, we learn Trump’s next court appearance isn’t scheduled until Dec. 4, 2023 – eight months away.
For a District Attorney who was practically jumping out of his pants to hook Trump any way he could, and settle for his next court date over half a year away – around Christmas time – doesn’t sound as urgent as we were led to believe.
If this is the road our legal system is going down, we’re in big trouble.
