The Trump Card...

[ATeam]

Yeah, sure. It’s complicated is the excuse.

No. It's not the excuse. It's the way it is. It would not be complicated at all if Republicans would join with Democrats to expel Menendez. With the senate closely divided, and with a 2/3 vote required for expulsion, it is impossible to expel Menendez without help from the Republicans, and so far, the Republicans have done nothing to help. They are saying Menendez should stay pending the outcome of his trial.

As a practical matter, Menendez is almost certainly voted out on Election Day. He is not a candidate in the Democratic primary. The Democrats are highly likely to nominate Andy Kim for the seat, and Kim is highly likely to win in November.

Menendez says he will consider running as an independent "... if he’s able to dispense with the indictments that have ruined his political career." (Source). Him dispensing with his indictments is highly unlikely.

While it should have happened long ago, and while he should not be seated now, come November, Menendez is done as a US Senator. The voters will do what the Democrat and Republican senators have so far failed to do.

 

[Ragman]

Yeah, sure. It’s complicated is the excuse.

 

[muttly]

No. It's not the excuse. It's the way it is. It would not be complicated at all if Republicans would join with Democrats to expel Menendez. With the senate closely divided, and with a 2/3 vote required for expulsion, it is impossible to expel Menendez without help from the Republicans, and so far, the Republicans have done nothing to help. They are saying Menendez should stay pending the outcome of his trial.

As a practical matter, Menendez is almost certainly voted out on Election Day. He is not a candidate in the Democratic primary. The Democrats are highly likely to nominate Andy Kim for the seat, and Kim is highly likely to win in November.

Menendez says he will consider running as an independent "... if he’s able to dispense with the indictments that have ruined his political career." (Source). Him dispensing with his indictments is highly unlikely.

While it should have happened long ago, and while he should not be seated now, come November, Menendez is done as a US Senator. The voters will do what the Democrat and Republican senators have so far failed to do.

Dude was indicted last year. No demanding to resign by Senate leader Schumer at all.
There would be enough to expel. They just want his vote. Hypocrisy pure and simple.

 

[ATeam]

Dude was indicted last year. No demanding to resign by Senate leader Schumer at all.
There would be enough to expel. They just want his vote. Hypocrisy pure and simple.

OK. Whatever you say. No point running in circles about this. Republican support is required to expel Menendez, as is Democratic support. Neither is forthcoming. Hard to play the hypocrisy card when both sides are both failing to do the needed thing.

And this off topic from this Trump thread. Start a Menendez thread if you wish to discuss further.

 

[muttly]

Oh, lookie here. A different set of rules with Tish when it’s not Trump:

An Irish society, an unpaid loan and the hypocrisy of Letitia James

As the old Irish proverb says, forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid.

nypost.com

 

[muttly]

Interesting indeed…

 

[ATeam]

What Will MAGA Say if Trump Files Bankruptcy?

As tomorrow's deadline approaches for Trump to post cash or bond to forestall collection efforts on his half-billion-dollar civil fraud judgement, three scenarios are possible:

1. Trump was lying when he told the court he did not have the money. He has the money and will post cash or bond before the deadline expires. Where the money came from will be unknown for a while but the source will eventually discovered and disclosed by the court-appointed monitor.

2. Trump does not have the cash or bond to post. The deadline passes and AG James begins the process of seizing Trump's assets.

3. Trump does not have the money and he declares personal bankruptcy to buy himself time.

Personally, I think #1 will happen tomorrow. But I just read this article which makes a reasonable case for Trump taking the bankruptcy option.

If that's what Trump does tomorrow or soon after -- file bankruptcy -- that will confirm the fact that he is indeed bankrupt. He's not a great businessman. He's not a stable genius. He's not rich. He's broke. Not only is he broke, he is a fraud too, just as the court found. If Trump files bankruptcy, he's the one filing bankruptcy. He would not be denying he is bankrupt. He would be confirming it.

If a bankruptcy filing makes all that clear, I'm wondering how the people who idolize Trump will explain that away. What logic and alternative facts will they use to continue to pretend Trump is rich and successful?

 

[ATeam]

Who Owns Trump Tower?

Hint: It's Not Donald Trump

As the financial details of Donald Trump come into public view, a number of surprises come too. For example, I was surprised to learn that Trump Tower is not owned by Donald Trump.

Trump Tower is owned by a commercial mortgage company named GMAC, which is a wholly subsidiary of General Motors Corp. Trump's name is on the building because of a licensing agreement. GMAC pays Trump fees to associate Trump's name with the building.

The building itself is said to be worth X millions of dollars. But those millions do not belong to Trump. They belong to the building owner GMAC, and the owners of the condos located in that building.

One of those condos is Trump's famous triplex condo in that building. Because it is not his primary residence, that condo is a Trump asset AG James can seize to satisfy Trump's civil fraud judgement. That's if Trump does not post cash or bond by the 3/25/24 deadline to forestall such a seizure. James can also seize the licensing fees GMAC pays to Trump. Instead of paying Trump, GMAC will pay the licensing fees to the State of New York, if AG James so directs.

There was a time when building owners were happy to license the Trump name to put on their buildings. It was financially advantageous to brand their buildings "Trump." Not so much any more. A number of buildings once named "Trump _________" (Place, Plaza, Court, or other such names) have taken the Trump name off. They did so because the Trump name was degrading the market value of the property. Once an asset, the Trump name became a liability and the building owners ditched it for that reason.

It will be interesting to see if GMAC does the same, and one day names Trump Tower something else.

 

[Ragman]

What Will MAGA Say if Trump Files Bankruptcy?

If a bankruptcy filing makes all that clear, I'm wondering how the people who idolize Trump will explain that away. What logic and alternative facts will they use to continue to pretend Trump is rich and successful?

If bankruptcy does indeed happen, the Maga monsters will continue to adore him and deflect the move as protection for their messiah. If the fact that he is asking for absolute immunity doesn't bother them (we see that in response to the question asked here), a bankruptcy surely will not either.

 

[ATeam]

Trump Catches a Break From Appeals Court

Appeals court rules Trump must pay $175 million bond within 10 days. This is a substantial reduction in the $465 million bond which was due today. The judgement size remains the same. The bond, if secured, will forestall judgement enforcement efforts by AG James. (Ruling here)

The Engoron appointed monitor remains in place, as does Engoron's order that the Trump Organization install an Independent Director of Compliance. The monitor and the Director of Compliance end Trump's ability to play his financial shell games. All major transactions must be reported to the monitor, who will report any shenanigans to the Court.

Now the $175 million/10-day countdown clock begins. The new deadline is Thursday, Apr 4.

Trump recently said in a Truth Social post that he has nearly $500 million in cash. If that is true, he should have no trouble at all securing a $175 million bond, right?

 

[ATeam]

Trump's CRIMINAL Trial Date is Set for April 15

Regarding the so-called "hush money" trial:

Trump's motion for prosecutorial misconduct is denied.
The trial is on and it begins soon.
Criminal defendant Trump is required to attend.
No word yet about Melania being present to show loving support for her husband as Stormy Daniels testifies.

 

[Pilgrim]

Trump Catches a Break From Appeals Court

Appeals court rules Trump must pay $175 million bond within 10 days. This is a substantial reduction in the $465 million bond which was due today. The judgement size remains the same. The bond, if secured, will forestall judgement enforcement efforts by AG James. (Ruling here)

It looks like the Appeals Court has imposed an infusion of Reason into this case by overruling Engoron's ridiculous and unconstitutional bond amount. If getting fair treatment from a state court is considered a "break", I guess it would certainly apply to NY. To put this in context, NY is one of only four states that don't have a cap on surety bonds. Of the other 46, IL has a $250M cap, three others have $150M, all the others are less. The Engoron bond amount was way beyond the norms set by the rest of the country. For perspective, link below shows cap amounts listed by state.

https://us.aicpa.org/content/dam/aicpa/advocacy/state/downloadabledocuments/appeal-bond-analysis-9-12-14.pdf

 

[Pilgrim]

No need to, it's obvious...

Why not break it down in simple words for all the "Maga Minions"? Just so no one will think you aren't able to support your argument.

 

[Ragman]

Why not break it down in simple words for all the "Maga Minions"? Just so no one will think you aren't able to support your argument.

No need. It's obvious. Argument supported.

 

[Pilgrim]

Because absolute immunity doesn’t mean absolute.

There seems to be some confusion about absolute immunity. Apparently there are some who think it means Trump is claiming absolute immunity applies to anything and everything at any time. That's not the case at all. This article summarizes both sides quite well, in easy to understand English.

"The immunity case in Donald J. Trump v. United States will center on one simple sentence: “whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office...
(emphasis mine)

Court briefs filed over the next month will focus on the questions of what constitutes an official act of a president; which acts are within the outer perimeter of a president’s duties; and the liability of former presidents to criminal prosecution for conduct while in office."

Explaining the Trump immunity case at the Supreme Court | Constitution Center

On April 25, 2024, Supreme Court will consider former President Donald Trump’s claims of immunity from conspiracy and obstruction charges related to the 2020 presidential election. Here is a breakdown of the second high-profile case involving Trump at the Court this year.

constitutioncenter.org

 

[Pilgrim]

No need. It's obvious. Argument supported.

What argument? Obviously, there isn't one.

 

[muttly]

Trump's CRIMINAL Trial Date is Set for April 15

Regarding the so-called "hush money" trial:

Trump's motion for prosecutorial misconduct is denied.
The trial is on and it begins soon.
Criminal defendant Trump is required to attend.
No word yet about Melania being present to show loving support for her husband as Stormy Daniels testifies.

The extortionist is going to testify? Oh, ok.
Is the perjurer expected to as well?

 

[muttly]

 

[ATeam]

The extortionist is going to testify? Oh, ok.
Is the perjurer expected to as well?

Characterize them as you wish. In court, before a jury, they are known as witnesses. And the jury will gauge their credibility.

 

[muttly]

Characterize them as you wish. In court, before a jury, they are known as witnesses. And the jury will gauge their credibility.

In court, he’s known a a perjurer, TWICE.