Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Books are my comfort food!

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

“But what about the lurkers?”

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

How stupid are these people?

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / BREAKING NEWS: Trump Indicted

BREAKING NEWS: Trump Indicted

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Commence with the champagne popping and other celebrating…

ETA: NBC News reporting here

ETA2: I made this, feel free to share with your TIFG friends and family

BREAKING NEWS: Trump Indicted

Reader Interactions

368Comments

  2. 2.

    Alison Rose

    I’ll repeat myself from downstairs:

    BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT YOU LITTLE BITCH

    God, I hope he’s enraged. I hope he’s angrier than he’s ever been. Eat a dick, Donny.

  8. 8.

    HumboldtBlue

    Wooohooo, yo, Jack, you got any more of those indictments in your bag?

    (Phillies pitcher Zack ‘wheeler just went 7.1 no-hit against the Tigers before giving up a single in the top of the 8tth).

  9. 9.

    bbleh

    @Rk: also too Roberts court does NOT complete the evisceration of the VRA, as a result of which Cook has changed ranking on several Congressional races from R to D.

    All in all, not a bad roundup.

  12. 12.

    Abnormal Hiker

    @Rk: Comment on WaPo:  I guess this is what happens when Pat Robertson stops praying for you.

  13. 13.

    hells littlest angel

    Unfortunately, the indictment is in Florida, where justice goes to die.

  14. 14.

    Yutsano

    I just got the video announcement from Brian Tyler Cohen right as I pulled up at home.

    Eat it you fat fascist fuck.

  18. 18.

    MattF

    Fundamental thing is that Trump has a very limited behavioral/political repertoire. He will do what he has done before, again and again.

  22. 22.

    MazeDancer

    Mark Meadows doing his dolphin imitation really means Trump screwed.

    Though this is the documents case, which has tons of witnesses.

  23. 23.

    dmsilev

    From WaPo,

    Former president Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’s been charged by the Justice Department in connection with the discovery that hundreds of classified documents were taken to his Mar-a-Lago home after he left the White House — a widely anticipated but also seismic event in the nation’s political and legal history.

    Several Trump advisers confirmed the charges. Trump said he has been summoned to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. A seven-count indictment has been filed in federal court naming the former president as a criminal defendant, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a case that has yet to be unsealed.

    (Clears calendar for Tuesday afternoon)

    (adds popcorn to shopping list)

  27. 27.

    Mike in NC

    Picturing Trump, with tears in his eyes, whining about how unfairly everybody treats him. Sad!

  28. 28.

    gene108

    I never thought this day would come. Oh, happy day! The sun ☀️ 🌞🌈 shines on us (despite Canada not raking their goddam forests).

  29. 29.

    bbleh

    @MattF: is doing.  And the faithful will follow, and the media will broadcast the spectacle.  But I suspect there is a substantial number of people — some medium-to-high-single-digit percentage of former TFG voters — who are starting to wrinkle their noses at the stink.  And it ain’t gonna get any prettier.

  31. 31.

    dmsilev

    Re: that Ari Melber Tweet, it wasn’t all that long ago that Trump was the first former US President to be indicted on state-level felony charges. At this rate, maybe The Hague is in his future….

  32. 32.

    scav

    Seven counts, but if there is a miracle, there will be many more, enough to light us to justice.  Burn on.

  35. 35.

    Mousebumples

    We popped the bubbly. Going with (M)2ama Mango Moscato in the Mouse House. 🥂🎉

  38. 38.

    zhena gogolia

    It’s summer, so my academic peeps are having parties — one tomorrow, out to dinner Sunday, another party next Tuesday, so champagne will flow! 🍾🍾🍾

    Too bad my acid reflux won’t let me drink it any more! I’ll watch!

  41. 41.

    randal sexton

    Woooot!!  It’s beer indictment o clock.  Future campaign slogan:  “vote Biden so Trump don’t walk”

  43. 43.

    different-church-lady

    I woke up and I was in a good mood.

    I had a good day at work. They brought us surprise food.

    Now this.

    Nobody wake me up.

  47. 47.

    Scout211

    Here’s a taste of Trump’s defense strategy.  Straight from TruthSocial: HaHaHa!

     

    Page 1: The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is “secured” by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time.

    Page 2: I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!

    Page 3: This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America. We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!

     

    I AM AN INNOCENT MAN. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY CORRUPT. THIS IS ELECTION INTERFERENCE & A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

  50. 50.

    dmsilev

    The Post again

    “I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump posted on social media site Truth Social. He claimed he was being treated unfairly. “I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States,” he said in a screed that ended: “I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!”

    “Screed” is in the original story. Heh.

    The full screed, seen in screenshot at TPM’s live blog, is quite something, even by TFG’s standards. Did you know that Joe Biden keeps his Corvette in a garage with a paper-thin door that is open most of the time? I didn’t.

  51. 51.

    steppy

    Hot diggity! I was going to buy some good whiskey tomorrow, but I will gladly drink the rotgut tonight.

    LOCK HIM UP!!

  52. 52.

    grumbles

    In all seriousness, I am very pleased to see that no one is above the law, still.

    Many are above some laws; some are above most, but America still doesn’t make kings.

  54. 54.

    JPL

    @different-church-lady: Well I have a not quite 2 year old and a 4 year old grand imp spending the night.  Carter turned 4 in February and has already announced to me that he probably shouldn’t watch grown up TV.

    I guess I’ll read about it more tomorrow.

     

    It is a good day.

  55. 55.

    Tom Levenson

    Old fashioneds on a deck overlooking the sea.

    Perfect combo w. which to toast the moment: sweet, with a dash of bitter.

  57. 57.

    zhena gogolia

    I am literally listening to the Hallelujah Chorus.

    FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH.

    Thank you, Lord! 🙏🙏🙏

  60. 60.

    zhena gogolia

    Ooh, time to play the Star-Spangled Banner on my piano. But maybe I’ll wait for conviction for that.

  63. 63.

    JPL

    btw Emptywheel wanted to remind everyone that it is a sober event.   This was the other day when everyone knew it was coming.

    How is everyone going to celebrate this sober event.

  65. 65.

    Jackie

    @dmsilev: That’s noon my time: Gives me time to take flowers and small American flag to my Dad’s niche! He’ll be celebrating wherever he’s hangin out!😊

  66. 66.

    smith

    The beauty of it coming now is that, unlike Nixon, he can’t make it go away simply by resigning. Guess that’s the advantage in having to wait and going through the courts instead of impeachment.

  67. 67.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Somebody do wellness checks on Cacti and Will Stincel. I’m sure they’re feeling terribly betrayed because Merrick Garland didn’t betray them

  72. 72.

    Mousebumples

    The Biden Accomplishments Guy™ (@What46HasDone) tweeted at 6:47 PM on Thu, Jun 08, 2023:
    I know there are A LOT of you out there who need to sign this. Whom among you is brave enough to admit you were wrong and will actually do it? Merrick Garland is waiting #TrumpIndicted https://t.co/jL7TpAusyf
    (https://twitter.com/What46HasDone/status/1666955195299840003?t=RuHEf6izYg6OnvkVM4fg-Q&s=03)

    ⬆️ Merrick Garland apology form, for anyone who needs that…

  79. 79.

    stacib

    MSNBC is reporting there will be mug shots this time. Please, please, please let these get leaked.

  80. 80.

    C Stars

    I just happened to have poured myself a glass of Guinness when I stumbled upon this here post. First I had heard of it, but really couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. Sláinte, everyone!

     

    (Also I am pretty sure I made this happen by suggesting a couple of posts down that it wouldn’t happen. So you’re welcome 😁)

  83. 83.

    Scout211

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Nope.  They will quickly switch into, “He may have been indicted, but the DOJ will never get a conviction!!!!!111!!!”

    And a pox on any jackal who ruins the fun with that kind of statement.

    Today through (at least) Tuesday is for celebrating, people!

  87. 87.

    Alison Rose

    LOL Haberman doing that top-notch journalism: “It’s important to note that one of the charges is conspiracy to obstruct. That requires two people.”

    No shit, Sherlock.

  93. 93.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    I know these things take years. But with all the parallel criminal and civil cases, and all the associated hearings and motions and squid ink and delays he’ll try to throw at the process, he’s going to spend every day for the rest of his life feeling despair, incoherent rage, and deep existential fear. However and whenever it all ends.

    And I find that comforting.

    @Scout211: Don’t pox me, bro! I’m celebrating!

  94. 94.

    PAM Dirac

    @JPL:

     

    btw Emptywheel wanted to remind everyone that it is a sober event.

    reminds me of Nixon’s resignation. I was home from my first year of college and a bunch of friends and I got some beer and pizza and headed for Lafayette Square. It was party time. A huge cheer went up when a moving van came by. Someone had a radio and had a station where a news reporter was reporting from the scene. He was saying something like “I wish I could say it is a somber scene here”. Somber hell. We wanted that dick gone. Now we want the orange fart cloud gone and will celebrate bigly each step of the way.

  96. 96.

    dmsilev

    @Baud:

    The courthouse is going to be a mob scene on Tuesday.

    Rudy will be there as well?

    Oh, you didn’t mean Mob scene. Sorry.

  97. 97.

    MomSense

    @stacib:

    Perp walk perp walk perp walk perp walk perp walk perp walk perp walk!!!

    📢📢📢📢📣📣📣📣🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🍾🥳🎈🎈🎈👯‍♀️🍾

  103. 103.

    Alison Rose

    More stunning NYT brilliance, from Shear:

    One might think that Trump’s chief political rival, President Biden, would make political hay of the charges. But Biden has always vowed to stay far away from the Justice Department, so it would be very complicated for him to do that. Trump could use anything he said to fuel accusations of a political prosecution.

    No, one might not think that, if one knows anything about President Biden, a man who actually has an adult level of maturity, unlike Trump.

  106. 106.

    Dopey-o

    @zhena gogolia:Too bad my acid reflux won’t let me drink it any more! I’ll watch.

    if you call your doctor first thing Friday morning, you can start taking Pantaprazole and by Tuesday afternoon you should be good to guzzle champagne!

    alternately, if you’re on a proton pump inhibitor, double the dose.

    @steppy: Tell us about this high quality whiskey you will purchase. I want to be ready on Tuesday!

  107. 107.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    let ketchup fly!!

    Robert Costa @costareports

    (thread/tonight) What I’m hearing… Trump is frustrated not just with the indictment but with people in his inner circle who reassured him for months that it was very unlikely to happen… source close to Trump says “too much happy talk for way too long” about what could happe

    ETA: anybody know where he’s getting seven counts? I think I’m hearing The Beast is thus far the only named source for this news? The DoJ hasn’t said anything official?

    Michael Steele @MichaelSteele 20m

    Donald Trump indicted on 7 counts. Remember: he is in this position because of his own actions; there was no “witch-hunt”; a federal judge ruled there was probable cause Trump committed a crime. HE owns this.

  114. 114.

    Baud

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Trump is frustrated not just with the indictment but with people in his inner circle who reassured him for months that it was very unlikely to happen

     
    Cacti is in Trump’s inner circle?

  121. 121.

    JaneE

    Here’s hoping for a conviction on all counts.

    Do we know if any of the charges carry mandatory prison terms? (wish, hope).

  124. 124.

    TS

    @Scout211:

    I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country

    Where does he get this from – did the US really elect someone so dumb – or are his followers so dumb that they believe this lie of epic proportions.

  125. 125.

    smith

    @Baud: The courthouse is going to be a mob scene on Tuesday.

    Seriously, regarding mob scenes — TFG will almost certainly spend the time between now and Tuesday trying whip up his true believers into a violent froth. It will be telling to see if he gets the same damp squib he got in NY, or if the crazies actually report for duty in FL. For years a lot of people have feared that GQP incitement will lead to something worse and more sustained than J6. This could be a clear indicator if those fears are valid.

  132. 132.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @hrprogressive:

    Cool, now throw his ass in jail / DQ him from office.

    can anything legally DQ him other than an impeachment conviction by the Senate? IANAL but people keep citing the Debs precedent that he can run from a cell

  136. 136.

    smith

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: And he has to phrase it carefully about votes a president got, because Hillary actually got more.

    ETA, Sorry I guess you were talking about 2020. I think he started using that line in 2016, though.

  139. 139.

    Bill Arnold

    @Baud:

    They better disclose who pays his bail.

    They need to take his keys away from Trump Force One.

  142. 142.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Told ya so…

    Fortunately I was already drinking some beer while grilling so I was already in party mode.

    THANK YOU MERRICK GARLAND!!!!!!!!!!

  143. 143.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @smith:

    Seriously, regarding mob scenes

    Maybe we’ll see a human chain of assholes (MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Tuberville, Ron Johnson) surround the courthouse.

  145. 145.

    BC in Illinois

    Now, this is a good day.

    Good to hear about Trump. And I think I have reason to expect a slam dunk of a charging statement — “the defendant did THIS . . . and THIS . . . and we will show THIS . . . and THAT . . . etc.   Trump may put out tissue-thin, incoherent argle bargle. Jack Smith is not going to be embarassed in Federal Court.

    On the other hand, this is only my second-favorite story of the day.

    Last night, my wife and I pulled into the outer banks of NC, where youngest daughter was expecting her second son / our 9th g’child. And sure enough, we were awakened at 6AM (5AM Central Time); daughter and husband went to hospital at 7AM; and 11:06 AM the child arrived. June 8 — a day to remember. We were in charge of the two-year-old, who got to see his “cute,” “tiny” little brother at 6PM.

    In addition, the new grandson has my name as his (middle) name. There was some discussion about how the name might be a surprise to some, which had brought up the legend of the name of our third child, some 39 years ago. It wasn’t my mother’s favorite name. Not that she said anything against it. What she said was (and I quote):

    “I’m sure we’ll grow to love the name, dear.”

  151. 151.

    Jackie

    Wanna bet Melania is secretly celebrating behind her securely bolted suite? She probably has A LOT of 🍾 stashed away… 🥂

  154. 154.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Ketchup futures exploding. Popcorn futures popping. Bronzer futures collapsing.

  155. 155.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Jackie: “I will appear for picture standing next to when $1million dollars clears in Zurich, hold hand for 2. Walking into court home holding his hand will cost five, and large emerald”

  156. 156.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Local radio (CBS News) reported that TFG was indicted “by the Biden administration”. Seriously…lol! Yep, it’s all Ol’ Joe’s fault!

    Robertson dead, Watt dead and now TFG indicted… what a good day!

  158. 158.

    scav

    @JPL: The “Event” is sober if we drink all the alcohol.

    Leaves none for it.  Stands to reason.

  162. 162.

    Kirk

    I cheered. I will celebrate a great deal more once the conviction happens. (And yes, I think it will. Not necessarily all counts, but I believe we’ll see one despite Florida and all the rest.)

  168. 168.

    bcw

    As long as we don’t get Aileen Cannon as the judge. I hope Smith is filing charges on any crimes that happened in Washington, in Washington, also.

  169. 169.

    BruceFromOhio

    Commence with the champagne popping and other celebrating…

    Nope. Miles to go before I celebrate, and that’s when that two-bit ratfuck soulless criminal is in his cell in a federal penitentiary, or a state prison in Georgia.

  170. 170.

    japa21

    I am glad this has happened, but saddened that so many of my fellow Americans are undoubtedly outraged by this. And I have no doubt but that this has locked up the nomination for Trump.

  171. 171.

    schrodingers_cat

    I feel vindicated about my decision to become an American. This is a great day for the United States of America and the rule of law. No one is above the law. Even the President.

    #Proud American

  175. 175.

    brantl

    @E.:  You don’t get out much? Take a good look at Bitch McConnell, and tell me why you DON’T hate him.

  176. 176.

    Spanky

    @bcw: That is certain to happen. That’s where he stole the docs.

    And (ohpleaseohpleaseohplease) possibly where more espionaging happened.

  178. 178.

    zhena gogolia

    @Baud: I went to play the Star-Spangled Banner but my husband had tidied up my music and I couldn’t find it (can’t play by ear). I’ll find it tomorrow.

  179. 179.

    NotMax

    Courthouse appearance June 13, the day before Dolt 45’s birthday.

    How sweet it is.

  180. 180.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Huzzah!  My wife called from Utah at 7:56.  My wee one was excited to answer the phone and after she said hello, I yelled from the kitchen, “tell mommy trump was indicted.”  Grooming, baby.

  181. 181.

    Redshift

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    IANAL but people keep citing the Debs precedent that he can run from a cell

    And Lyndon LaRouche, much more recently! I know a lot of jackals aren’t that young, does no one else remember “This is Lyndon LaRouche, speaking to you from prison!”

  182. 182.

    BC in Illinois

    @TS:

    “I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country.” [Trump]

    Where does he get this from – did the US really elect someone so dumb – or are his followers so dumb that they believe this lie of epic proportions.

    And where does he get — and who would ever listen — to the argument of “I was elected to high office, so I can never be touched”?

    Over-40 of my over-70 years of life, have been lived in the states of Maryland and Illinois. We sent our governors to prison on a regular basis. No one died of shock. My brother — who lived in Illinois longer than I did — had his proposal for a gubernatorial term limit. Everyone elected to the office of governor should be granted one six-year term in office, followed by an automatic ten-year prison term.

  184. 184.

    Baud

    Maybe Trump can have Robert Hanssen’s cell in Supermax. It just became available.

  185. 185.

    karen marie

    @Bex: What does he have to add? I don’t remember hearing his name mentioned in relation to J6.

    I can’t have popcorn because it’s almist dinner time, and I had my quota of alcohol (a Coronita!) yesterday, so my celebrating will be limited to enjoying the fuck out of the 2nd half of yesterday’s fish burrito.

    It would be delicious anyway but Trump’s tears make it doubly so.

  190. 190.

    sdhays

    Put me down as someone who thinks that the more that is revealed about these crimes, the worse it will be for Trump politically. I still don’t think anyone in that party has what it takes to defeat him for the nomination, but I think talk of indictments strengthening his support are wrong.

    And I think the more we find out about these charges, the weaker, or at least smaller, his support will get.

  194. 194.

    Adam L Silverman

    Marking my beliefs to market: I am astounded and stunned that he was actually indicted at the Federal level. I did not think they would actually do it.

  196. 196.

    Ken

    I don’t see any mention of Fox in the comments. Has anyone done a wellness check? I figure they’re either howling in rage, or talking about anything other than the indictments — as in the joke that first circulated during the impeachments:

    CNN: Trump indicted
    MSNBC: Trump indicted
    ABC: Trump indicted
    FOX: Six ideas for tasty summer salads
    SUMMER SALAD NETWORK: Trump indicted

  199. 199.

    Burnspbesq

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    can anything legally DQ him other than an impeachment conviction by the Senate? IANAL but people keep citing the Debs precedent that he can run from a cell

    We may be about to find out, if there are one or more counts under 18 U.S.C. Section 2071 in the indictment. The issue will have to be litigated.

  200. 200.

    Suzanne

    Weird feelings in this weird era: my MIL called and told Mr. Suzanne that the indictment was making her feel sad because she wanted to celebrate it with my FIL.

    It pisses me off that my FIL did not live to see the fucker go to jail.

  203. 203.

    Andrya

    @TS:   The statement is actually true, just totally irrelevant, and in no way an achievement of TFG .  He confined the comparison to “sitting presidents” by which he clearly means “presidents running for re-election as an incumbent”.  And he’s comparing absolute numbers of votes, not percentages.  Purely due to population growth, TFG got more votes ( 74.2 million) even than major landslides such as Reagan in 1984 (54.5 million),  Nixon in 1972 (47.2 million) , LBJ in 1964 (43.1 million) and FDR in 1936 (27.7 million).  Of course, Reagan, Nixon, LBJ and FDR got much higher percentages of the votes, but TFG did get the most votes in simple numbers.

    He’s not really being stupid himself (this time) he’s counting on his MAGA followers being stupid.

  204. 204.

    MisterForkbeard

    @TS: I always love it when Trump goes off about how many votes he got.

    Hillary got more votes than he did in 2016. Biden got 7 million more than he did in 2020. Sad.

  205. 205.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    I think I stole this from someone on here:

    Today’s lesson: Live your life such that the DOJ doesn’t have to send to the Hague for a war crimes prosecutor to drag you into court.

  207. 207.

    sdhays

    @BC in Illinois: And where does he get — and who would ever listen — to the argument of “I was elected to high office, so I can never be touched”?

    Well…a lot the national elite think this way. Remember, there was a massive elite consensus that Ford’s pardon of Nixon was “good for the country” because Nixon going to trial would have been bad.

  210. 210.

    different-church-lady

    Wow, I bet the New York Times feels pret-ty stupid righ… OMG, no, I can’t do it, I can’t keep a straight face…

  212. 212.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @BC in Illinois:

    What wonderful news! A day to remember and celebrate indeed! Congratulations to all involved, and a big welcome to the brand-new Jackal.

  214. 214.

    different-church-lady

    Oh, yeah, and even the Supremos gave us reason to smile today. Even them.

  215. 215.

    sdhays

    @schrodingers_cat: Maybe Chris Licht can organize a town hall on Twitter Spaces so we can find out more about what Trump thinks. I hear he has some time on his hands.

  217. 217.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Adam L Silverman: Astounded and stunned in a good way, or…?

    Anyway, always happy to see you here man. Maybe sometime in the next few weeks we can get a look from you on how the republican cults are treating this

  221. 221.

    Elizabelle

    Yippee!  And me w no cake in the house.  A glass of wine will have to do.

    All this and Pat Robertson’s demise too.  Plus, the Supreme Court thought better of eviscerating more voting rights.  Big news day.

  223. 223.

    MisterForkbeard

    @sdhays: There are STILL a lot of semi-moderates in media that were openly pushing for Biden to pre-emptively pardon Trump just a few weeks ago. Geraldo was one of them IIRC

  225. 225.

    different-church-lady

    @Baud: ​
    BIDEN BREAKS OWN RECORD FOR OLDEST PRESIDENT

    ALSO IN THE NEWS:
    Trump indicted for espionage (page A16)

  226. 226.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    @Ken: Hannity is complaining there are different rules for republicans.  Blah-blah-blah.  Joe Biden is currently under investigation for bribery.  How come no one talks about that!

  228. 228.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I usually think no one should pay any attention to Jonathan Turley, but tonight, I most sincerely hope that trump is thinking of adding Lawyer Hurley to both his defense team, and his campaign

    ane Goldmacher @ShaneGoldmacher

    On Fox News, attorney Jonathan Turley raises a most unusual idea: “Trump could run on pardoning himself” in 2024. “They may have given him a rather unique campaign slogan,” he adds.

  229. 229.

    different-church-lady

    @Baud: ​
      I don’t know about you but I’m going to go home and tell my family I love them…

  234. 234.

    Adam L Silverman

    @MisterForkbeard: More just surprised surprised. My assessment was that AG Garland appointed a special counsel to 1) protect the institution of the DOJ and 2) run through all the traps and then quietly put this to bed to protect the institution of the DOJ as an apolitical institution.

    I only popped in because I’d just hit publish on the war update post. Basically doing that every day is all the bandwidth I have for Balloon Juice. Since those updates are the priority, that’s where I place the effort and energy.

    Hope all is well with you!

  235. 235.

    citizen dave

    Man, I wish Rush Limbaugh had lived to see this day.

     

     

    Not really.

     

     

    Also, Fuckin’ A!  I call it a good start.

  240. 240.

    Hungry Joe

    @MisterForkbeard: But 10 million of Biden’s votes don’t count because they came a million illegal immigrants who voted ten times each. Or maybe ten million illegal immigrants each voted once. Whatever. It was rigged, I tell you, RIGGED!

  243. 243.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Adam L Silverman: Doing well here, thanks for asking. And I don’t get to visit the Ukraine War posts while they’re still active, so it’s cool to see you around in realtime here.

    Thanks again!

  245. 245.

    Jackie

    @japa21: Nothing more Patriotic than voting for an indicted, twice impeached, convicted of sexual assault, one term ex-president.🤪

  252. 252.

    Soprano2

    The odious Pat Robertson is in hell and TFG was indicted. It’s a good day!

  253. 253.

    Jackie

    @NotMax: I consider it an EARLY birthday gift to me! I’m quite sure I’ll be enjoying my Flags Day birthday MUCH more than TIFG😉🍷🍿🎂

  255. 255.

    Alison Rose

    @Suzanne: Was just texting with my mom about this, in re: her parents. They were both born in NY, lived there until they moved to Florida in their mid-60s, and they hated the everloving hell out of Trump. They both passed before he was elected, and I’ve always been glad that they didn’t have to witness that or live through all of it (also that they didn’t have to suffer under DeSantis). But now I wish they could see the news, because they’d both be thrilled!

  258. 258.

    Kent

    @MisterForkbeard:@sdhays: There are STILL a lot of semi-moderates in media that were openly pushing for Biden to pre-emptively pardon Trump just a few weeks ago. Geraldo was one of them IIRC

    Geraldo might be semi-literate, semi-insane, and semi-debauched.

    But he isn’t semi-moderate.

  262. 262.

    Kent

    @Hungry Joe:@MisterForkbeard: But 10 million of Biden’s votes don’t count because they came a million illegal immigrants who voted ten times each. Or maybe ten million illegal immigrants each voted once. Whatever. It was rigged, I tell you, RIGGED!

    They don’t count because they were cast in blue states.

    I mean, take California and New York out of the picture and Trump wins.   Electing Biden is a blue state conspiracy!

  264. 264.

    Noskilz

    Sounds like a good excuse for a very festive weekend. Might have been nice if the story broke earlier in the day for dinner planning purposes, but that seems very first world problems.

  265. 265.

    Jeffro

    it’s like man, I blink, and we’re 250+ comments in…almost like today is a…a…

    …CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!!!

    (FYI, I am wearing my special “Dirty Fucker* ” t-shirt with trump’s ugly mug on it – per musician Dave Hause – and the rest of the Fro family is like, “well, Dad has waited a long time to wear that thing”)

    LOLOL

    *go listen to the song if you have a minute!  Dave didn’t originally write it about trumpov, but he had the shirts printed up once he realized what a good fit it was for that orange asshole

  266. 266.

    Timill

    So now I have to consider: what to celebrate with: the marzipan, the butter almond, the cherry, or the gourmet? Opinions?

  267. 267.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @TS: No, it’s true. Only problem for Trump is that his opponent got still more votes. Millions more, in fact

    Eta: There’s a good reason for this, population growth.

  269. 269.

    Jeffro

    @Alison Rose:

    BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT YOU LITTLE BITCH

    God, I hope he’s enraged. I hope he’s angrier than he’s ever been. Eat a dick, Donny!

    get out of my head!  =)

  271. 271.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Dylan Wells @dylanewells 1h

    Vivek Ramaswamy responds to Trump indictment: “It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump weren’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics. I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.”

    I wonder if the MAGAts are gonna make this a litmus test for Tiny D and… whoever else is pretending to run for president over there

  273. 273.

    Jeffro

    @randal sexton:“vote Biden so Trump don’t walk”

    It’s a good campaign slogan!

    Especially considering that all of the GOP weasels (save Christie?) will now be campaigning on “vote for me and I’ll pardon trump”

    and BEST WISHES with that one, Republicans!

  274. 274.

    JaySinWA

    For today for some of us it is “let us eat cake”  (Ice cream bars and alcohol will have to do for us). What’s on the table for Arraignment Tuesday and hopefully for Conviction day?

  277. 277.

    CaseyL

    Chiming in from overseas to say this news has me so excited I can’t sleep.

    Not sure when or if I’ll have internet access tomorrow, which kind of sucks. But I will definitely raise a glass at the first opportunity!

  278. 278.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @Adam L Silverman:

     I did not think they would actually do it.

    I never thought I’d see this happen either.

    If only the WGA strike had been settled. I’d love to hear from Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, the Daily Show, and SNL right now.

  279. 279.

    jonas

    @scav: ​
     

    New indictment a disgusting act of election interference, says Trump

    He should know. It’s exactly what he was trying to pull with Biden in Ukraine. What a fucking scumball.

    May he rot in jail. And then hell.

  282. 282.

    Ramona Rosario

    @Kirk: I think so too – that there will be a conviction. This is a pretty cut and dried procedure to try theft of national defense information and the government has a lot of experience trying such cases. If Trump truly knew what was good for him, he would do what Petraeus did and plead out.

  284. 284.

    Jeffro

    @Alison Rose:I want people to do like they do in France and throw flour and eggs at him.

    I’m good with a plea deal that involves trumpov walking coast to coast at the point of a pitchfork while being pelted with rotten tomatoes.

    Seriously, Don!  Just complete the walk and all charges are dropped, your “fortune” stays intact, all of it.  =)

  286. 286.

    mvr

    @E.: Trump’s the person I’ve hated third longest, the other two being my middle school Gym teacher and Henry Kissinger both of whom I started hating in the early 70s and I’m not sure which came first. Was the early to mid 80s that I started hating Trump.

  289. 289.

    mali muso

    What a day! And apparently in other karmic justice news, Assange just lost his appeal against extradition. When it rains traitors, it pours.

  291. 291.

    mvr

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: ​ Of course it was eclipsed on the same day by Biden’s 81 million. He won’t mention that part.

     
    He is in fact positively denying it in the tweet (or whatever) complaining about his indictment.

  292. 292.

    Jeffro

    @smith:Seriously, regarding mob scenes — TFG will almost certainly spend the time between now and Tuesday trying whip up his true believers into a violent froth. It will be telling to see if he gets the same damp squib he got in NY, or if the crazies actually report for duty in FL.

    this is true, not just for next week in FL but going forward

    his crazies here, there, and everywhere are already just waiting for his instructions to go violently berserk (or as I put it a few days ago, for him to just say ‘kill them all’)

    if trump does it, I can see him being taken into custody almost immediately and charged for that, too.  It would be yet another clarifying moment for the country and while the hardest of the hard core would stay proudly defiant, I have to believe that a former president telling his supporters to flat-out kill his enemies would leave the vast majority ready to throw trump in jail and throw away the key.

  293. 293.

    Burnspbesq

    If you’re not sure you can handle more good news, skip this comment.

     

     

    FBI has arrested Nate Paul, the Austin real estate developer at the heart of the misconduct charges that led to Paxton’s impeachment.

  296. 296.

    TaMara

    OMG, it just keeps happening. And I think Elie might just have a handle on it:

  298. 298.

    WaterGirl

    @NotMax:

    Courthouse appearance June 13, the day before Dolt 45’s birthday.

    June 13 isn’t the day before TRE45ON’s birthday.  It’s my birthday! Happy birthday to me!  I’m sure Jack Smith timed it that way for me on purpose.

  300. 300.

    Jeffro

    @Baud:Maybe Trump can have Robert Hanssen’s cell in Supermax. It just became available.

    @Wyatt Salamanca:One more indictment and Trump gets a free sandwich from Subway.

    Everybody’s bringing their A-game for Smithmas, I see!  LOLOL

  313. 313.

    smith

    @Jeffro: Well, we will soon find out. As I recall, there was a thought that a mob might gather to make trouble at MAL on his NY indictment day, but only a few dispirited diehards showed up, and they just stood around looking lost. Of course, they weren’t in a place to personally hurt the libs who were persecuting their Great Leader, so that may have taken the fun out of it.

  315. 315.

    Jeffro

    OT but bringing you all this amazing snippet from Brooksie as the cherry on the sundae after the Robertson, Watt, and now trumpov-indictment news:

    Personally, I have a lot of sympathy for the No Labels effort. I’ve longed for a party that would revive the moderate strain in American politics exemplified by Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John McCain and contemporaries like Michael Bloomberg*.

    If the 2024 election was Bernie Sanders versus Ron DeSantis, I’d support the No Labels effort 1,000 percent. An independent candidate would bring this moderate tradition into the 21st century, and if Sanders or DeSantis ended up winning, his agenda might not be my cup of tea, but I could live with him.

    Donald Trump changes the equation. A second Trump presidency represents an unprecedented threat to our democracy. In my view, our sole focus should be to defeat Trump. This is not the time to be running risky experiments, the outcomes of which none of us can foresee.

    Furthermore, I’m persuaded that a third candidate would indeed hurt Biden more. Trump voters are solidly behind him, while Biden voters are wobbly. Then there’s the group of voters called the “double-haters.” They dislike both candidates. The Wall Street Journal recently quoted Tony Fabrizio, a Republican pollster, who said Biden was up by 39 points with such voters.

    Finally, if America wants a relative moderate who is eager to do bipartisan deal making, it already has one. In fact, he’s already sitting in the Oval Office. Joe Biden doesn’t get sufficient credit, but he has negotiated a bunch of deals on infrastructure, the CHIPS Act, guns, the debt limit. As long as Biden is running, we don’t need a third option.

    I know, right?  Wow.

    June 8th is now a quad-fecta of a banner day in American history!!

    *but we must remember to properly mock the lumping-together of Hamilton, Lincoln, and Roosevelt with…McCain and Bloomberg…at SOME point!

  317. 317.

    Jackie

    @WaterGirl: Oooh! I celebrate mine the 14th! Something tells me I’ll be celebrating much more profusely than TIFG will be celebrating 😂

  321. 321.

    jonas

    It will be interesting to see which lawyer(s) step up as Trump’s defense team. Will it be actual legal talent or the usual motley crew of marginally-qualified mob lawyer hacks whose main tactic is to scream and threaten and pound the table? He no doubt recognizes that shit just got real and he needs real legal representation now, but anyone competent he could retain will surely only take the case if he agrees to remain in a Hannibal Lecter-style restraint system with a ball gag throughout the entire process so he can’t run his mouth in court or post on social media about the “stupid, fat lady judge” or threaten jury members or whatever.

    Oh, well. Amateur hacks it is, then!

  322. 322.

    TriassicSands

    Indicted? This is the worst news ever. Trump is the nicest, kindest, most honest, competent, loving, sweet, benevolent, brilliant overachieving saint in the history of human kind. Sigh, the witch hunt has continued until this poor beleaguered man, who has never done anything wrong in his entire life was finally trapped by corrupt traitors in the Justice Department.

    Not.

    My real response?

    HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

    HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

    HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

    HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

    Ad infinitum…

    Have fun in court you rancid piece of fascist shit!

    @Burnspbesq:

    Thanks. I can effortlessly handle a never ending amount of news like what we’ve heard today.

    In truth, I care the most about the case in Georgia. If they indict him and manage to put together a jury without a single MAGAt on it, then Trump won’t be able to pardon himself, if re-elected.

    I don’t think any of these cases are guaranteed to cost Trump the nomination. But if they can get 12 honest jurors in Georgia (a very tall order), then Trump could actually do time.

    Best case scenario? All these cases cause Trump so much stress that is head explodes and we’re done with him forever. (Except, of course, for his elevation to martyr and saint.)

  323. 323.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @jonas: I forget which recent (and maybe already former) attorney had to resign from his “white shoe” law firm because the firm wanted no association with trump. Parlatore?

    I’m sure Dershowitz will want to be there. I wonder if Turkey isn’t already on thin ice with the rest of the faculty at his law school

  325. 325.

    Percysowner

    @Mousebumples: ​
     I worked in a law library for 40 years AND in Akron, Ohio where there was a HUGE scandal in the courts. The big take away was the law moves SLOWLY. Also, too Merrick Garland knows that “if you come for the king, you best not miss” and made sure he had all his ducks in a row before he moved.

    We will have to see how it plays out. Florida is Trump friendly, but jury selection will be tight. The Right Wing Circuit and District courts in Florida may try to throw a wrench in the process. For now, I’m happy.

  326. 326.

    jonas

    @Jeffro: ​
     

    OT but bringing you all this amazing snippet from Brooksie

    Dear God, is someone holding a member of his family hostage? That certainly came out of nowhere. Well, I guess the old adage about blind squirrels, nuts, etc., exists for a reason…

  327. 327.

    TriassicSands

    @Ken:

    Truth Social: Salads? I don’t want no steenking salads. Give me a giant quadruple cheeseburger. Make that six!

  330. 330.

    Jeffro

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: VR: I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.

    Yup – we all saw this coming.  It is indeed the new GOP litmus test and everyone in their race at the moment save Hutchinson and Christie will fail it.

  331. 331.

    zhena gogolia

    @WaterGirl: Watt. He was Reagan’s Interior Secretary who said something like, we shouldn’t worry about the environment because we need the Second Coming.

  332. 332.

    Jeffro

    @smith: some folks were worried about that, perhaps – I’m more worried about nuts around the country who will attack statehouses, prosecutors (and their families) identified by the trump cult as enemies, and so on.

    unfortunately it’s easy to picture more loons driving into the WH and Capitol barriers, etc.  my hope is that trump himself slips (he’s usually pretty good at keeping his violent suggestions vague) and says something so obviously intended to incite violence/murder that he gets charged with that, too.

  337. 337.

    jonas

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ​
      Re: Turley or Dershowitz — It’s one thing to act as some talking head to spout legal-sounding bullshit on Fox where neither the host nor the audience have any remote understanding of the facts or the law. It’s another to try to peddle that shit in a federal courtroom. Ask all the idiots who tried multiple times in multiple courts to get electoral votes tossed in the 2020 election or delusional whackaloons like Kari Lake. Guys like Turley are shameless hacks because it pays the mortgage on their Georgetown colonial, but they’re not idiots. I doubt they would touch Trump with a ten-foot pole in an actual courtroom case — at least if they were interested in winning.

  338. 338.

    JGreen

    Remember when that miserable bastard said that he saw people dancing in the street when the towers went down on 9/11? Of course, that was a lie.

    But, I’ll bet he can see people dancing in the street now. And he can take credit for it, which he loves to do.

  339. 339.

    pajaro

    Summer’s here and the time is right…

    I’ll give you indicting, so much indicting this summer that you’ll say, please, no more indicting, I can’t take it any more.

  340. 340.

    Brachiator

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Colbert and the other late-night comedians must be SICK that they’re forced to be off the air right now.

    I hope the announcement was in time for the BBC political comedy shows which are recorded on Thursday evening. The Now Show, The News Quiz and Have I Got News for You.

  341. 341.

    zhena gogolia

    @WaterGirl:
    WaPo, 1983:

    Watt is the most controversial Interior secretary ever, including curmudgeonly Harold L. Ickes, who served under Roosevelt. Watt’s responsibilities may be departmental, but his agenda is global, his theater celestial. He has raised a fortune for the Republican Party, and made radical changes in the management of public lands, granting oil, gas and coal leases that run for decades into the American future. His enemies, quite simply, hate him. William Turnage, director of the Wilderness Society, once summed it up: “James Watt is the worst thing that ever happened to America.”

  344. 344.

    Jeffro

    @zhena gogolia: Watt was a precursor, a beta test run for the GOP’s strategy of “put someone most completely opposed to a cabinet department’s mission in charge of that department”

    And as we saw with Bush Jr and then especially with trumpov, they do LOVE that strategy.

  345. 345.

    NobodySpecial

    I’ll be damned, they actually are gonna do it.

    Of course, I’m still waiting for the rug pull, but that’s my Fitzmas allergies talking.

  349. 349.

    Anotherlurker

    I just found out about the continuing slog toward justice in this country and I couldn’t be more pleased. To see that the bloated orange sack of corruption will have his day in court has made me happy.

    Couple this with the passing of Robertson and Watt leaves me with almost ecstatic. I will enter full ecstasy mode with convictions.

    Until then I will have to be content with a wee dram or 3 or 4 of Jamison.   Slainte!!

  350. 350.

    jonas

    @JGreen: ​
     

    Remember when that miserable bastard said that he saw people dancing in the street when the towers went down on 9/11? Of course, that was a lie.

    IIRC, he also claimed that his Trump World Tower on the Lower East Side was the tallest building in Manhattan after the towers collapsed. Which, of course, was also a lie (the Empire State Building, and about half a dozen others were taller). Leave it to Trump to make one of the country’s biggest national tragedies all about him. As I wrote earlier: fucking scumbag. May he rot in prison and/or hell.

  351. 351.

    Kent

    You know it is a wild news week when Lionel Messi coming to Miami to play in the MLS gets flushed down the memory hole because of Trump.

  352. 352.

    jonas

    @Kent: ​
      Props to Messi for not following craven sell-out Ronaldo to the fucking Saudi league. Like David Beckham when he joined the LA Galaxy, he’s a senior player now and probably won’t be a huge factor on the field, but could still bring some excitement to the US MLS and Miami in particular. Wishing him well!

  355. 355.

    Mousebumples

    @Percysowner: The big take away was the law moves SLOWLY. Also, too Merrick Garland knows that “if you come for the king, you best not miss” and made sure he had all his ducks in a row before he moved.

    Agreed. Mostly aimed at those that said it would never happen. And props to those who are admitting their shock and surprise.

    Not a lawyer, but I’ve been cautiously optimistic, based on all the super obvious criming that’s been happening.

    Just… Slow… Moving… Process.

  356. 356.

    KrackenJack

    @Manyakitty: It has occurred to me that the MAGAts have gone so far around the bend that the Dems can honestly reclaim patriotism while they denounce it to own the libs.

  357. 357.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Just a wafer-thin bit of more schadenfreude: there was a hearing today for the lawyers who used Chat GPT for research and submitted non-existent cases for their legal doc.
    Thread

  360. 360.

    TriassicSands

    @Baud: Maybe Trump can have Robert Hanssen’s cell in Supermax. It just became available.

    In the unlikely event he is convicted, I think we can expect house arrest at Mar-a-Lago with full golfing privileges. Anything more would clearly be “cruel and unusual punishment.”

    Poor baby.

  361. 361.

    Kent

    @jonas:  Props to Messi for not following craven sell-out Ronaldo to the fucking Saudi league. Like David Beckham when he joined the LA Galaxy, he’s a senior player now and probably won’t be a huge factor on the field, but could still bring some excitement to the US MLS and Miami in particular. Wishing him well!

    He is going to jack attendance through the roof.  Not just Miami. But every away game as well.

  362. 362.

    Josie

    Been without electricity for the last five hours due to local storms. I couldn’t wait to get here to join the celebration. Hooray for Jack Smith and Merrick Garland and all their hardworking DoJ cohorts. This is just the beginning.

  364. 364.

    Chris T.

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Somebody do wellness checks on Cacti and Will Stincel. I’m sure they’re feeling terribly betrayed because Merrick Garland didn’t betray them

    Along the lines of “X can’t fail, it can only be failed”, isn’t this a case of “Garland can’t fail-to-betray, he can only be failed to fail-to-betray”?

  368. 368.

    Miss Bianca

    So, the big news yesterday was that James Watt died? I had no idea that fucker was still alive – he’d been dead to me for years.

    Oh, and I guess a couple other things happened too.

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