Trump’s co-defendants are already starting to turn against him

The finger-pointing among Donald Trump’s inner circle has begun.

And as his four criminal cases march toward trials, some of his aides, allies and co-defendants are pointing at the former president.

In court documents and hearings, lawyers for people in Trump’s orbit — both high-level advisers and lesser known associates — are starting to reveal glimmers of a tried-and-true strategy in cases with many defendants: Portray yourself as a hapless pawn while piling blame on the apparent kingpin.

“History has shown the 18 co-defendants that Donald doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” said Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, referring to the 18 people charged alongside Trump in the Georgia election racketeering case.

jballs,
@jballs@sh.itjust.works avatar

Another criminal defense attorney who closely watches the Trump proceedings posited another motive for those seeking to pin Trump with responsibility for the actions they took: Trump is likely to make a sweeping claim of executive immunity against all the charges.

“Eventually, Trump is going to assert broad presidential immunity and everyone else is going to ride under his authority,” said the attorney, William Shipley.

John Lauro, Trump’s attorney in the federal election case, signaled recently that he intends to file just such a sweeping immunity claim to attempt to derail the charges.

Sounds like the evidence is so overwhelming that instead of trying to deny the crimes took place, they’re going to argue that presidents can do whatever the fuck they want. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’m still constantly amazed that almost half the country is willing to throw away our democracy in support of Donald Trump.

Rodsterlings_cig,

"Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal"

theodewere,
theodewere avatar

the livestream of this will get interesting.. as he starts to see just how alone he is, he is just gonna lose his shit on a regular basis.. this screaming baby cannot keep that mouth shut when baby's mad..

OhStopYellingAtMe,
@OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world avatar

He already loses his shit on a regular basis. That’s why he wears adult diapers.

theodewere,
theodewere avatar

so that's the question, how high on ketamine will they have to keep him

Rapidcreek,

They should all save their own asses. It’s what trump would do.

TokenBoomer,

If he is on trial or in prison, and Biden goes to the Celtic Otherworld, will the aliens finally come and save us?

Kalkaline,

Imagine being dumb enough to go to prison so Donald Trump doesn’t have to.

smeenz,

It’s probably fear of the dirt that Donnie has on them getting out.

Techmaster,

Imagine being more scared about people finding out what you did with that donkey in Tijuana than going to prison for trying to commit the worst act of election fraud in US history.

WHYAREWEALLCAPS,

FSB, but yeah.

Bitrot,

It’s hard to find good henchmen these days. Indeed can help.

TubeTalkerX,

Seriously, look what the Joker's henchmen would do for him.

Ageroth,

No need to look further than what 21 and 24 do for the Monarch

BadNewsNobody,

Hench 4 Life

iamanurd,

Go team venture!

roofuskit,
roofuskit avatar

When your entire promotion structure in your business looks like a bucket full of crabs, this is what you get.

Tylerdurdon,

Joel Haver needs to do one of these

superduperenigma,

“Nobody wants to work anymore!”

-Mob bosses who refuse to provide free attorneys for employees who get arrested on the job

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever,

Not at all a surprise and very much “leopards ate my face” material

But yeah. Criminal organizations like the mafia or yakuza families or whatever understand this. Hell, random ass gangs in the inner city understand this. You don’t cut your accomplices free the moment they get caught. You pay for their defense and take care of their families. Because turning on you is how they get a shorter sentence.

VanillaGorilla,

But yeah. Other criminal organizations like the mafia or yakuza families or whatever understand this.

RizzRustbolt,

It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that Trump thinks of himself as Lenny from Rocknrolla.

Jumper775,

They also had the scare factor of I will kill your family if you talk which trump might have a hard time doing.

aseriesoftubes,

They also had the scare factor of I will kill your family if you talk which trump might have a hard time doing.

Don’t underestimate the power of him whipping his followers into a froth through the power of suggestion (the “meddlesome priest” approach). He has a large number of adherents who are dangerously unhinged and seriously well-armed. All he needs to do is drop a few names on Truth Social or Twitter (at least while those platforms still exist).

KevonLooney,

That isn’t shit compared to actual crime syndicates. These people are public figures now. Trump fans mostly threaten people who can’t fight back.

bazus1,

It’s quite the day when the faces start to fight back against the leopard.

Sanctus,
@Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

Oooooh I fall apart.

Down to my core.

Didn’t know it before.

Surprised cause you caught me off guard.

Hardest damn jury I fought.

jordanlund,

“Hey, I never even saw these assholes before… You gotta tell 'em you don’t know me. We never met. Tell him.”

morphballganon,

“I don’t think they’ll believe me, laddie.”

bazus1,

https://weliveentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/army_of_darkness_2-780x423.jpg

Techmaster,

Into the pit with those blood thirsty sons of whores!

Rapidcreek,

I love that Republicans continue to liken our criminal justice system to those of a banana republic when, in fact, these individuals have been properly charged, arraigned, given an opportunity to sever their cases or move them to a different court or request a more speedy trial, are out on bail, have been provided with an attorney if they don’t have one, AND ARE, IN THE EYES OF THE LAW INNOCENT UNTIL A COURT OF LAW SAYS OTHERWISE—all the distinguishing features of the world’s gold standard of justice. In a banana republic, they would have already been executed for participating in an attempt to overthrow the government….

Mudface,

If found guilty, shouldn’t the punishment be actual execution?

Schadrach,

Depends on which charges. Hell, a lot of them he could be convicted of and still be allowed to hold office.

Basically it boils down to there being a LOT of charges and only some of them potentially barring from office, etc. He could be convicted on a dozen or more counts and just get 10+ in prison while running for office from his cell, depending on which ones.

kescusay,
@kescusay@lemmy.world avatar

You don’t understand! The very possibility that any of these oligarchs fine Americans have to spend any time facing any sort of judgment at all is itself proof positive that we’ve descended into lawless anarchy! The country will fall apart one missed martini lunch at a time!

Don’t you see?!? The law is for thee, not me!

PizzasDontWearCapes,

Their claims to their base that “if they are able to do this to us, they could do it to you” should be the wake up call that snaps the MAGA cult out of its blind devotion.

How the average MAGA cultist can look at Trump et al and feel that they are part of the same group is mind boggling.

negativenull,

MAGAts are all “temporarily embarrassed millionaires”, and thus part of the in-group (as soon as they get their millions)

smeenz,

*billionaires

SatansMaggotyCumFart,

First one then the other.

After they catch up on their payday loans.

this_1_is_mine,

they are loss invested. they havd put so much time into it stopping now would only mean all of it was a waste.mental gymnastics aside at that point it would feel like it costs less to contine to the very bottom then stop and turn around… you know just incase everything starts going your way again… theres always a chance if you let it fester. best to smother it like a fire. never leave a little burning.

fadhl3y,

Their claims to their base that “if they are able to do this to us, they could do it to you” should be the wake up call that snaps the MAGA cult out of its blind devotion.

If they are able to expose my scams they might be willing to expose your scams too!

cedarmesa, (edited )
@cedarmesa@lemmy.world avatar

💀

some_guy,

Two excellent replies. I have nothing more to add.

Wilziac,

Then why say anything?

khepri,

It’s how authoritarians operate in every realm. No matter how fair or objective or established the process is, they will insist on playing the victim, crying wolf, and framing as an attack on “all of us” everything that might infringe on their God-given right to do whatever they want to whoever they want. It’s a big part of the reason why you can’t give a mouse a cookie when it comes to Nazis.

Mdotaut801,

Wow. Yeah. You make some very very good points that can’t be refuted. Banana republic my arse.

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