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To the editor:
An old adage warns that “crime doesn’t pay."
Like most norms Donald Trump has dismantled, that axiom has been stood on its head. On May 18, the Justice Department announced a settlement agreement with Trump, his sons and their businesses that created a $1.776 billion taxpayer “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate people Trump believes the DOJ has wronged.
Presumably, the thousands of Jan. 6 insurrectionists Trump pardoned (including those who were caught on video attacking police officers) along with key allies that helped perpetrate Trump’s 2020 election lies will be eligible to get paid for their crimes.
But, the DOJ went further; a day after announcing the settlement, they issued an addendum that “forever barred and precluded from prosecuting or pursing” federal charges against Trump, his family and his businesses for all past and pending tax audits and irregularities. The addendum also absolved Trump and his cohorts from any responsibility to pay monetary damages to parties harmed by the Trump’s tax shenanigans.
For all practical purposes, the addendum is a sweeping, blanket self-dealing presidential pardon that wipes the slate clean for all past fraudulent tax practices perpetrated by the Trump syndicate; a get out of jail free card.
The net effect of the addendum is that the over $2 billion the Trumps have raked in since Jan. 20, 2025 (on cryptocurrency, deals with foreign heads of state, prediction markets, insider trading, etc.) will be kept by them - no questions asked, as the saying goes.
Trump reminds of another corrupt crime boss, fictional character Jake MacIllany (played by James Cagney in 1959) who advised that if you plan to steal, “Never Steal Anything Small."
Joseph Cannisi
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Valete
It appears that Mr. Trump is adopting a similar approach to President Biden’s broad presidential pardon. This action can be interpreted as suggesting that such pardons are commonplace. However, it is noteworthy that the letter does not mention President Biden’s extensive family pardons, which may be perceived as a selective presentation of information. This approach can be viewed as indicative of a perceived liberal tendency to criticize others for their actions while simultaneously engaging in similar behavior.
Wednesday, May 27 Report this
krell1349
But Biden is not a grifter like the entire Trump family. The pardons are for sale in the Trump administration. How much will you pay to be pardoned?
Friday, May 29 Report this
Valete
Krell1349
Propaganda Man, I’m not sure about you, but as a law-abiding citizen, I don’t require a pardon.
Monday, June 1 Report this
Valete
Krell1349 (AKA Propaganda Man)
I knew it; I knew it; I knew it. Propaganda Man would claim that Biden isn’t a grifter, allegedly like the entire Trump family. However, Propaganda Man overlooked the fact that Biden and his entire family are skilled confidence tricksters who orchestrated a complex scheme over several months. This scheme revealed that the Biden family and their associates have received over $20 million in payments from foreign entities. Before accusing Mr. Trump of being an alleged grifter, a vague term, it would be wise to examine the Biden family’s domestic and international business practices. ( Put that in your pipe and smoke it!” )
Tuesday, June 2 Report this
reenjoe
Joe Biden pardoned Hunter Biden - true. Joe Biden waived Hunter Biden's back taxes - false. Hunter not only paid the $1.4 million he defrauded the IRS out of Hunter also paid another $600,000 in penalties and interest. Joe Biden pardoned himself - also false.
Donald Trump is trying to pardon himself, his family, their businesses and business associates for tax fraud- true. Donald is trying to waive repaying back taxes and penalties, plus end
ongoing audits for all things Trump - true. No propaganda, just the facts.
Wednesday, June 3 Report this
krell1349
The entire Trump family are grifters, not allegedly and he will pardon them. They are normalizing grifting by doing it in plain sight. He will also pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. What a travesty of justice. And I don't require a pardon but the MAGA grifters will get them. No propaganda here. You spin the MAGA propaganda.
Friday, June 5 Report this