Congressman Dan Goldman says decision by Jack Smith ‘establishes that Donald Trump is above the law’

Summary

Special counsel Jack Smith dropped 44 federal charges against Donald Trump, citing DOJ policy that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

The charges, including election interference and classified documents retention, could be refiled after Trump’s presidency.

Critics, including Rep. Dan Goldman and former Capitol officer Aquilino Gonell, decried the move as a miscarriage of justice, asserting it places Trump above the law.

Trump and allies celebrated the decision as a victory, with Vice President-elect JD Vance vowing to prevent similar prosecutions.

Democrats fear Trump will seek political retaliation, deepening national divisions.

  • morgan423@lemmy.worldEnglish
    276·
    13 hours ago

    It seems counter intuitive, but you want as little of this of this floating around as possible while he’s in office. Act like nothing’s pending throughout his term, then reopen this the minute he’s out.

    We don’t need him having more motives to try to dictatorially stay in power after his term, and stuff like clearly pending trials and sentencings hanging over him the moment he leaves the WH could give him that extra incentive.

    • snooggums@lemmy.worldEnglish
      671·
      12 hours ago

      then reopen this the minute he’s out.

      I’ll take shit that will never happen for $800, Alex.

        • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          12 hours ago

          And I’m not sure which would be worse. Vance might be a bit more moderate on some things but his competence and ability to work with others makes him more dangerous on those.

          • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
            4·
            10 hours ago

            I’ve been debating this with myself, and my conclusion is that Trump might be worse because Vance is at least a politician. He has some knowledge and “respect” (maybe) for the trappings of the office, whereas Trump gives no shits for rules or regulations and is all too happy to trample on every right and freedom we have.

            But who knows, I could go both ways on which would be worse.

      • morgan423@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        12 hours ago

        Nothing for the Federal stuff, I guess.

        He can’t pardon the state felony convictions he has, though. That’s the case that worries me in this regard.

        • Nougat@fedia.io
          91·
          11 hours ago

          Oh yes you can.

          Ford’s pardon of Nixon states:

          Now, Therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.

          Whether or not any crimes were charged is irrelevant. Whether or not any charges were made and then dropped is irrelevant. “All offenses.”