By Julie Kelly
The first grand jury indictment against Donald Trump, like so many highly-anticipated gotcha moments involving the former president, landed with a thud this week.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s 34-count bill of goods failed to impress legal and political observers across the spectrum. Even Ruth Marcus, associate editor for the Washington Post, admitted the legal basis for the charges is “unnervingly flimsy at worst.”
News coverage of Bragg’s faceplant is quickly disappearing from the front pages as all desperate eyes now turn to Jack Smith, the mysterious figure appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland last year ostensibly to take over the Justice Department’s investigation into Trump’s culpability for January 6 and alleged mishandling of classified documents. As I explained here, Smith is special counsel in name only; the team of investigators and prosecutors who initiated the first set of inquiries simply changed letterhead.
Given the targets of Smith’s recent subpoenas, we can surmise there is nothing independent or impartial about his behind-the-scenes work. In rapid succession, Smith has successfully sought testimony from Trump’s inner circle, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows and White House lawyer Evan Corcoran.
For the first time in history, a vice president will testify before a grand jury considering evidence of crimes committed by his former boss. Mike Pence, after winning partial immunity, reportedly will answer questions about his exchanges with Trump in the weeks leading up to the protest at the Capitol. Oddly, Pence will not be compelled to discuss what he did on January 6—a dubious protection considering his key presence throughout the day and into the next morning.
Of course, the public can’t read any of the government’s arguments since everything remains under seal. Ditto for court orders granting Smith’s every wish. As the most norm-crushing investigation in history unfolds in the nation’s capital, judges without explanation keep the files out of the view of the American people.
Out of view, that is, except for what D.C. apparatchiks want to spin. Selective leaks keep Smith’s inquiry in the headlines. CNN disclosed this week that Smith’s team is focused on postelection discussions in the Trump White House related to the possible seizure of voting machines. “Details about the secret grand jury testimony and closed-door interviews, neither of which have been previously reported, illustrate how special counsel Smith and his prosecutors are looking at the various ways Trump tried to overturn his electoral loss despite some of his top officials advising him against the ideas.”
The coordinated leak strategy is intended to give the appearance that the prison walls, once again, are closing in on Trump.
This time, however, it’s true.
Smith’s multipronged investigation—another recent leak indicated Smith’s team is considering obstruction charges tied to the classified documents investigation—by far represents the most dangerous legal threat Trump has ever faced. Working with a limitless budget, no media scrutiny, zero congressional oversight, compliant federal judges, and abundant case law providing a clear pathway to multiple felony charges related to January 6, Smith is in the driver’s seat. And he knows it.
A D.C. grand jury likely will indict Trump on multiple counts for his key role in the events of January 6. Grand juries are composed of the same voters who sit on regular juries—and that is terrible news for Trump. Washington, D.C., is the most heavily Democratic city in the country, even more so than New York City and San Francisco, and grand juries since January 6 have issued hundreds of federal indictments representing thousands of criminal counts. The Justice Department has a near-perfect conviction rate for January 6 defendants; judges refuse to move trials out of D.C. despite overwhelming proof Trump supporters cannot receive a fair trial in the nation’s capital.
Trump almost certainly will be charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, the felony slapped against at least 250 January 6 defendants punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and conspiracy. He could face other offenses such as tampering with witnesses and/or evidence if Smith shows proof that Trump tried to interfere with any aspect of the investigation, including the work of the January 6 select committee.
But Smith might decide to pursue seditious conspiracy charges, which poses the greatest legal peril for Trump. Several men have been convicted or pleaded guilty to the rare charge, a crime comparable to treason. Five members of the Proud Boys are now on trial for seditious conspiracy; prosecutors have cited Trump’s off-handed (and prompted) remark for Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during the September 2020 presidential debate as a call-to-action of sorts that motivated the group’s unarmed “attack” on the Capitol.
Should any or all of the Proud Boys defendants be found guilty—the case is expected to finally go to the jury next week after four months of arguments—the convictions will add fuel to Smith’s pursuit of a similar charge against Trump.
When he is indicted, Trump will confront the same legal and judicial circle of hell that has destroyed the lives of hundreds of Americans and counting. Judges he appointed will automatically be disqualified—not that it makes a difference since his judges have acted as badly, and in the case of Judge Timothy Kelly, worse than jurists appointed by Democratic presidents. His case will probably be assigned to an Obama-appointed judge such as Amit Mehta or James Boasberg, the new chief judge.
Bragg like Wil-E_Coyote sets sets a a Trap for the Roadrunner (Trump)and gets caught in his own trap
Democrats just make themselves more desperate with their pipe-dream attacks and the ensuing failures, which only pisses them off and makes them make even more desperate attacks. Of course, like a deranged general in battle taking defeat as a personal insult and sending more troops into a losing battle and needlessly killing more soldiers, the Democrats are never using their own money. They us OURS.
So, Bragg’s premature incarceration of Trump that embarrassingly failed will only incite the whiny, crybaby loser bitches to redouble their efforts (judicial integrity be damned) to get Trump at all costs. Every accusation leveled at Trump has a corresponding and worse example actually committed by Democrats. It’s as if they don’t even have enough imagination to invent the accusations; they have to use their own covered up crimes as examples.
You do realize that an arraignment is only the prelude to a trial, don’t you?
If the garbage isnt dismissed, what is the crime charged?
Bragg is going to be lucky to avoid a jail cell.
But Trump will continue to be both free, and innocent.
The federal campaign contribution cap is $3,300 for any one candidate. This is a serious law, intended to keep money from buying political office or favor. The cap for contributions to any party committee is $41,300.
That’s the crime that business records were falsified to conceal.
Since when did a NY prosecutor have the jurisdiction to prosecute a federal case, one the FEC has already ruled on and decided no violation was committed? And why are all the charges dated AFTER Trump was already President? How could he influence an election that had already occurred?
No crime, just fascist political persecution. You should be so proud of your fascists.
Nah. Fabricating charges based on accounting errors is how unelected regimes try to stay in power… And also how they fall.
At least he won’t have to worry about being put in a cell with anyone he prosecuted and convicted.
Trump was not a candidate in a NY election.
It wasn’t a campaign contribution. It was Trump’s own money. All their charges are dated AFTER the election.
Bookkeeping in a privately owned company is none of NY’s business. Trump was defrauding or causing any harm to no one.
See how totally baseless and obviously political this prosecution is NOW?
Yeah, I do, even when it is for purely political reasons. However, you on the left already had Trump in the jumpsuit and shackles, marching towards solitary confinement. You don’t care if there is actual evidence of a crime, you just want to put Trump in jail because you can’t counter his accomplishment-based popularity.
Again, the CNN poll: 62% want Trump indicted (read: imprisoned) but only 37% think there has been a crime. What does that tell you?
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Embattled St. Louis Soros-Funded Circuit Attorney in More Hot Water – Kim Gardner Sanctioned by Judge for Withholding Evidence in Double-Murder Case and Allowing Killer Out On Bond
Another one of the Jew hating Nazi scumbag Soros DA’s.
I have no clue why she has not been disbarred, she had a court prop made into an operable weapon to attempt to prosecute a couple defending their private property. She is beyond insane.
No clue? She’s a Democrat Soros puppet. None of the leftist judges or attorneys would dare contradict money-bags fascist daddy Soros. She is doing the Democrat bidding, making life more dangerous with more gun crimes, which the left can then use to promote anti-2nd Amendment legislation and gun confiscation.
Fat ass Alvin has jumped the shark.