Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Fight them, without becoming them!

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Second rate reporter says what?

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

“woke” is the new caravan.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Cancel the cowardly WaPo and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

In after Baud. Damn.

How stupid are these people?

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Trump Crime Cartel / Convicted Felon

Reader Interactions

400Comments

  1. 1.

    HumboldtBlue

    47. If convicted, what will be Trump’s sentence?
    Falsifying records in the first degree is a class E felony, punishable by a maximum of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Class E felonies generally carry indeterminate sentences, meaning that the court is authorized to impose a sentence within a certain range. For indeterminate sentences, the court often imposes a minimum and a maximum, with the minimum representing the amount of time the defendant must serve before being eligible for parole. For Class E felonies, the lowest sentencing range is one to three years, and the highest range is 1 ⅓ to four years. However, for defendants with limited or no criminal history such as Trump, there is no minimum sentence. A court can impose an alternative sentence of a fixed term of less than one year of incarceration, based upon the nature of the crime and the defendant’s “history and character.”

  8. 8.

    Leto

    @HumboldtBlue:

    based upon the nature of the crime and the defendant’s “history and character.”

    shouldn’t that be a life sentence, throw away the key? Can’t wait for the order to come down to strip the secret service detail. Fuck’em all, forever. Ef is def smiling down on us today.

  9. 9.

    Shakti

    The way my only doubt was whether jury nullification would occur?

    Now to see if the sentence will be appropriate —  and how much of a dent it will put in the Republicans.

    Also the length and process of any appeals.

  10. 10.

    ArchTeryx

    Reposted from below:

    Perfect end to a good day. @Omnes Omnibus, you were right and I was wrong, and doG dammit I’m so glad that’s the case. Eat shit, you MAGAt motherfuckers. Every single one of you that voted that 34-times convicted felon into our White House and let him almost destroy all our lives. The half million dead of COVID because of his malignant attitudes. Let him rot where the rest of the Gambinos are rotting.

    FUCK YOU.

  11. 11.

    catclub

    I really really hope the NY State appeals court dawdles. No expedited consideration. Take their cues from Aileen Cannon

  12. 12.

    cain

    @Shakti:

    It’s going to be hard to message for the Republicans, the law and order party, doncha know!? Their candidate for President is a convicted felon. If there are other trials like the one in Arizona that also go through – he’ll have multiple felonies.

    Hopefully, the taint will also show up on all the assholes GOP politicians who showed up to his trial.

  13. 13.

    Martin

    The jury system works way better than it ought to. There’s a lesson to greater civic responsibility in there that’s so far eluded us.

  17. 17.

    SomeRandomGuy

    Fun fact: When someone is found guilty on exactly 34 counts of *anything*, an entirely new trial is set that can overturn the original verdict. I encourage all concerned patriots to Google “Donald Trump Rule 34” to learn more.

    Google “Never going to give you up Rick Astley”
    …I’m really not rickrolling you!

  18. 18.

    JoyceH

    Wasn’t that statement weak! How many times can a person say “rigged” and “disgrace”?

  19. 19.

    WereBear

    Last year was Red Hot Indictment Summer (Dark Rum Gimlet) has been topped with this year’s Molten Felon Extravaganza!

    I recommend the Dark & Stormy. :)

  20. 20.

    oldster

    “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

  23. 23.

    Leto

    @Martin: that’s something that Republicans have tried to break over the past 40+ years. Civic responsibility, public trust… honestly they’ve been trying to do that since FDR, but since Reagan it’s really accelerated.

  24. 24.

    frosty

    OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!! We had a bottle of bubbly sitting in the fridge from our Chandon pilgrimage during our 2022 Road Trip. It’s open now!!

  26. 26.

    catclub

    @cain: It’s going to be hard to message for the Republicans, the law and order party, doncha know!?

     

    also the party of personal responsibility

  29. 29.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    I just hollered out loud in a Starbucks. No, I’m not embarrassed.

  30. 30.

    Martin

    Sentencing here is going to be interesting. The law is $5000 fine or 4 years for each count. Now, I don’t think $170K is going to feel like a punishment to this judge when there are multiple multimillion dollar settlements that Trump has so far refused to pay. His refusal to accept any responsibility for anything doesn’t help his situation either.

    My guess is there will be a period of time sentence, even if that’s home confinement.

  31. 31.

    Ocotillo

    Is a Florida resident officially these days?  Felons don’t get to vote there do they?

  33. 33.

    jimmiraybob

    I’m not saying that they should put him in Gitmo ….. but it would probable satisfy security concerns.

    I can’t think of anybody that’s inflicted more terror on a nation.

  35. 35.

    Shakti

    @HumboldtBlue:  My question is that for any one count?

    B/c 34 of them doesn’t seem like it should stack up to just one year served concurrently.

  36. 36.

    cain

    So, is this when we all can start wearing our t-shirts saying ‘fuck your feelings’?

  37. 37.

    jimmiraybob

    @Ocotillo: ​
      “Felons don’t get to vote there do they?”
    The irony is that Democrats have been working to restore voting rights to convicted felons. I’m not sure if that is contingent on satisfying a sentence.

  40. 40.

    sdhays

    @Martin: People say that would be unusual because he’s a “first time offender”, but being completely unrepentant would surely count for something?

    ETA: Not to mention the magnitude of the effects his crimes unfolded upon so many people. He’s an unusual offender.

  41. 41.

    different-church-lady

    And to think: if the dude had not acted like a complete asshole in the courtroom he probably would have skated.

  44. 44.

    dmsilev

    A good day. Yes, I realize he’s not going to be hauled off to the Big House next week, but a good day regardless.

  46. 46.

    CaseyL

    Just reveling in the afterglow, here.

    Guilty, guilty, guilty.  34 counts, all guilty.

    That walking obscenity, destroyer of countries and lives, is finally seeing some consequences for being such a complete shit.

  48. 48.

    Redshift

    @Martin:

    The law is $5000 fine or 4 years for each count.

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my recent involuntary legal education, it’s that relatively few crimes have sentences for different counts served consecutively. Do you have the details for this one?

  50. 50.

    Scout211

    NBC says in the State of New York he is not considered a felon until sentencing.

    I say we ignore that technicality.

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

    TRUMP IS A FELON!

  51. 51.

    sab

    @Ohio Mom: My husband is shouting at the tv with glee downstairs. It’s scaring the cats but my pitbull thinks it’s fun and exciting.

    I’m upstairs quietly reading comments wirh a smirk on my face.

  53. 53.

    SomeRandomGuy

    @Shakti: I believe the law mandates that the sentence is concurrent – not consecutive.

    There are times when there is a choice, left up to the judge, but, unless the reporting has been *terrible*, this crime only allows concurrent sentencing. So, while there are murderers in jail for 14 consecutive life sentences, no one is in jail for 136 years for 34 counts of falsifying business records in NY.

  55. 55.

    JML

    @Martin: probation and fines seem most likely. people need to prepare themselves that he’s unlikely to go to jail on this.

    and he’d still be able to run for president from prison even if he did get tossed in the clink: see also Larouche, Lyndon and Debs, Eugene

  57. 57.

    JWR

    NBC keeps asking Hogan friggin’ Gidley for his “political analysis”. WTF?! And over on CBS, Jan Crawford is having a very rough afternoon. Aww, babies wanna boddle? ;

    ETA that NBC is doing the O.J. “white bronco” copter shot, following it back up to TCFG tower.

    TCFG compliments wjca. ;)

  58. 58.

    PaulB

    From CNN, Trump may well be able to vote.

    In an interview with CNN, Neil Volz, deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an organization that works to help reenfranchise formerly incarcerated people, predicted Trump will have little problem voting since Florida actually defers to the jurisdiction of a felony conviction as to whether a felon can vote. In New York, after a law passed in 2021, any convicted felon who is not incarcerated is eligible to register to vote.

  59. 59.

    Redshift

    @cain:

    It’s going to be hard to message for the Republicans, the law and order party, doncha know!? Their candidate for President is a convicted felon.

    It’ll be a bit awkward, but I’m sure it won’t stop them. Running on “law and order” in this country has never meant anything other than “protecting nice white folks from scary Black and brown people.”

  61. 61.

    Juju

    Now that Trump is a convicted felon  will he be able to vote for himself?  I think he votes in Florida.  Doesn’t one have to complete the sentence and make amends in Florida?  Will they send the voter fraud police after him if he tries to vote and he’s not allowed to vote?  I would watch the video of that voter fraud police arrest.

  63. 63.

    Ocotillo

    Another thing, he has been complaining about not being able to get a fair trial in Manhattan or DC for that matter.  So his contention is politicians are immune from jury trials because potential jurors cannot put aside their partisan bias.  That also means if the venue was changed to Staten Island he cannot get a fair trial there either because the partisan predisposition there would mean a verdict favoring him.  The theory is when a politician is involved, they cannot get a fair trial.

    I know this is BS because the E. Jean Carroll trial had a MAGAt or two on the jury.

  65. 65.

    Timill

    @sdhays: I believe felons from other states cannot vote in Florida if-and-only-if the state of conviction has barred them from voting. What NYs practice is, I don’t know.

  66. 66.

    zhena gogolia

    @CaseyL: We have all the windows open because it’s a nice day. I played the Star-Spangled Banner really loudly on the piano. Then because my husband wasn’t home yet, I played My Country ‘Tis of Thee. He came in, looked puzzled for a second, then burst out laughing. We jumped up and down and I shouted “GUILTY” 34 times. The neighbors may call the cops on us. So far it’s quiet.

  67. 67.

    Martin

    @sdhays: Generally, yeah. Any experts here can correct me on this, but my understanding of the philosophy here is that the ultimate goal is to bring the subject to appreciate the magnitude of their actions, and to provide a level of compensation to the public. If they bring appreciation of their acts to sentencing, if they plead guilty, if they give an honest recounting, that’ll impact sentencing because the individual is already there. If not, then you need some forcing function, and I don’t think $170K is going to cut it – which is the maximum that the law allows to avoid prison.

    He can bring that to sentencing, but he can’t contradict it on the campaign trail. I think there needs to be some time imposed for the compensation to the public harmed by his actions, but if he’s still defiant going into sentencing calling the legal system corrupt, I think the judge has to throw the book at him. I don’t see any other alternative.

  70. 70.

    mali muso

    @WereBear: I WISH I had some cheesecake on hand.  As it is, I just popped a chocolate cake pan cake in the oven.  An old recipe from WWII (allegedly) that doesn’t require butter, eggs, or milk to make the best of hard times of rationing.  Takes all of ten minutes to prepare, so let’s go celebrate!

  72. 72.

    Asparagus Aspersions

    I am actually giddy. I would have paid $5000 to be sitting in that courtroom while they read the word “guilty”  34 times.

    I have WaPo live feed on, and everyone is referring to Trump as “convicted felon” all the time. And saying things like “Technically, since he is a ward of the court, he may need permission to leave the state.” And referring to him as “deflated” as in “And we see a deflated Trump walk away”.

    Every time I heard people say “Former President Donald Trump”, even though he was elected 8 years ago, it still made my brain hurt a bit, like there was a glitch in reality. For the last 30 minutes, I’ve kept hearing “Former President and convicted felon Donald Trump”  and it’s like some sort of balance is being restored to the universe.

  73. 73.

    Jay

    @PaulB:

    But, Florida law also specifically states that all fines/costs/fees be paid, and we know that TCCFG dis welsher.

  74. 74.

    columbusqueen

    He can appeal all he wants, but jury verdicts are rarely if ever overturned.  Merchan was damn careful with his jury instructions.

  75. 75.

    Ben Cisco

    My girlfriend called me while I was on the way home.

    HALLELUJAH!!

    Just to see someone in an official capacity say, “NAH.”

    Just wanted to say that! 🥂

  76. 76.

    Scout211

    @Ocotillo:Another thing, he has been complaining about not being able to get a fair trial in Manhattan or DC for that matter.

    He can’t even get a fair trial in Florida! Loose Cannon won’t let him!  Poor man.  Poor convicted felon man.

  77. 77.

    Juju

    I guess I’m late to the voting thing. I only heard the news recently. Damb migraine.

  78. 78.

    Martin

    For the voting questions – there are 5 categories of law.

    1. Can vote from prison (2 states + DC)
    2. Can vote after prison (many states including NY)
    3. Can vote after prison and parole (LA)
    4. Can vote after prison, parole, and probation (many states)
    5. Permanently banned (9 states including Florida, despite voter initiative)
  81. 81.

    catclub

    @columbusqueen: Merchan was damn careful with his jury instructions.

     

    Commentators are bringing up jury instructions as one of the few possible routes for an appeal. Also allowing Stormy Daniels to testify too much.

    I don’t see it.

  85. 85.

    jimmiraybob

    @Asparagus Aspersions: ​
      “I have WaPo live feed on, and everyone is referring to Trump as “convicted felon” all the time.”
    I will be adding this to “unindicted co-conspirator” that I’ve been using for a while.

  86. 86.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @cain:

    It’s going to be hard to message for the Republicans, the law and order party

    They’ve already given up on that pretext. Before the verdict Texas AG Ken Paxton said the “criminal gestapo” needed to be dismantled, and promised that would be his first act if he became US AG.

  87. 87.

    PaulB

    They’ll throw everything and the kitchen sink into their appeal, just as they’ve done during the trial. It doesn’t matter to them how silly their claims are.

  91. 91.

    catclub

    @Jay: But, Florida law also specifically states that all fines/costs/fees be paid,

     

    and then won’t tell felons how much they owe.

  92. 92.

    Splitting Image

    I think I was a little more confident that the asshole crook would be found guilty than some of the other people here, so I’m a little envious of the joy that so many are getting from being pleasantly surprised.

    And fuck that fucking orange motherfucker.

    Remember that even if he doesn’t do jail time for this one, he’ll be a repeat offender for the next one, and the one after that.

  95. 95.

    wjca

    @catclub: I really really hope the NY State appeals court dawdles. No expedited consideration.

    As noted on the previous thread, I’d rather they responded with an immediate “Rejected”

  96. 96.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @J. Arthur Crank:

    Reuters says a maximum prison term of 4 years.  I am not sure how they got that.

    Per count? ‘Cause that could add up right speedy-like.

  97. 97.

    LanceThruster

    Was surprised my ban was lifted. Have a request despite the previous unpleasantness. Is anyone in the Wilson, NC area? A leukemia friend who had her house foreclosed on her, is in the hospital with clots and a lung mass, learned that animal control failed to secure her 3 cats. She’s legally blind with no transportation but is desperate to try to locate her cats. Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Am out of ideas. Thank you in advance.

  101. 101.

    Burnspbesq

    @sdhays:

    As I understand it, a Florida resident convicted of a felony in another jurisdiction can’t vote if they are ineligible in the jurisdiction where they were convicted. New York only disqualifies convicted felons if they are in custody on Election Day.

  104. 104.

    Jay

    NYT Pitchbot

    “In a stunning turn of events, Donald Trump successfully got 100% of the votes

  105. 105.

    sab

    I bet Michael Cohen feels a bit vindicated. If Trump and crew hadn’t been vindictive assholes to a bad but loyal guy just trying to protect his innocent wife this whole case would never have happened.

    Trump prizes but doesn’t reciprocate with loyalty. The problem with loyal guys is sometimes they are more loyal to others who are loyal back.

    So many Republicans have thrown the wife under the bus. Cohen protected her instead of hauling her down with him. He did a lot of bad things over many years, but he wasn’t willing to take her down with him when he knew she had done nothing wrong.

  108. 108.

    CaseyL

    @JWR: ​
     

    They’re givin’ you a prison number,
    And taking away your phone.

    (OK, it doesn’t rhyme. Sorry!)

  109. 109.

    Poe Larity

    Which network will sign him up for a prison reality show? Maybe Rikers Island should sell the rights to rebrand as Trump Island.

  111. 111.

    JoyceH

    @JWR: I suspect just having to stay at Trump Tower while the trial runs has felt like confinement for him. He’s used to Mar A Lago, where all the diners stand and applaud when he shows up for dinner. He’s not getting the adulation that he’s become accustomed to. His handlers are going to have to be extra special flattering and groveling.

  113. 113.

    Burnspbesq

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun):

    Sing-Sing is still open, right?

    So are Attica and Dannemora.

    New York State has very few minimum security facilities. Ironically enough, one of them is in Queens. So “send him back where he came from” is an available option.

  114. 114.

    Jackie

    I’m picturing Biden grabbing a pillow, running into the bathroom, turning on the faucet full blast and yelling YES YES YES!!! into the pillow, turning faucet off, straightening his tie and quietly going back to work LOL

  115. 115.

    Leto

    @catclub: the legal heads on MSNBC were stating if Merchan had NOT allowed the jury to hear the instructions again, that would’ve been grounds. But because they asked, and he provided, that should strike that point.

    Also I hope Trumpov has time to learn to make toilet Diet Coke. Can’t be worse than the original.

  116. 116.

    Suzanne

    So, in other news, my Office Director inadvertently told one of my colleagues to “contact the BDSM department” to correct an error on the company website on our office group Teams chat. And there was great hilarity.

    ETA: I had no idea that corporations had an entire department for it. I’ve been missing out.

  118. 118.

    WereBear

    @sab: I read his first book. Pretty good. He admits everything he did wrong, which is really refreshing.

    His wife kept him, I gather, and it seemed sincere.

  119. 119.

    unrelatedwaffle

    Stormy Daniels is in my thoughts today. She has been THROUGH it in her life, especially after all this nonsense. People are so shitty to women on a normal day, being a sex worker telling the truth about a powerful piece of shit brought a hailstorm of abuse and harassment on her head. I hope she has a very nice evening.

  120. 120.

    Ishiyama

    The fun thing is that, if Trump gets put on probation, there are a whole lists of rules he will have to follow, or face jail on a probation hold. Drug tests, mandatory meetings with his Agent, mandatory Offender Rehabilitation classes (Anger management, Drug abuse, etc.), and “any reasonable rule decided on by his agent”. Lots of opportunities to get trapped by the system. And, in the end, his probation can be revoked and he goes to prison anyway.

  123. 123.

    Jay

    @catclub:

    It’s kinda worse than that. Floriduh! doesn’t have a State database for registering and tracking fines/fees/penalties or payments, and that’s just Floriduh!, and doesn’t include Federal or other States information.

    So, they can’t tell a felon what they still owe, they can, on a case by case basis, find unpaid finds/fees/penalties and file charges.

    It’s a feature, not a bug.

  124. 124.

    Grumpy Old Railroader

    This was such good news that for the first time in many years, I have a strong urge to lay back in bed and smoke a cigarette

  128. 128.

    Harrison Wesley

    The walls will be so red with ketchup tonight that his staff will think they’re in a Hammer movie.

  131. 131.

    sab

    @unrelatedwaffle: A very brave lady. Also another who would have laid low if Trump’s crew (including Michael Cohen) weren’t such assholes.

    My impression is that she wasn’t intending to sell her strory, but that they thought she might so they started trying to intimidate her and threaten her child, so she went on an aggressive defensive.

  133. 133.

    satby

    Just a note of gratitude to the jurors who faithfully performed their civic duty, evaluated the evidence, and rendered a verdict on it knowing it would put a target on their backs.

  134. 134.

    Barbara

    @Leto: It’s hard to reverse a jury verdict.  The jury is entitled to draw inferences regarding intent and state of mind when those elements are present.  Most likely issues on appeal are that the jury instructions misstated the law or the elements of the crime or the judge erroneously admitted prejudicial evidence.

  135. 135.

    Rusty

    @Misterpuff: If Balloon Juice had a like button I would have hit it so many times for this comment that I would have broken my phone.

  137. 137.

    LAO

    @J. Arthur Crank: because the sentencing range for an E felony is 1 and 1/3 to 4 years. But because he has no actual criminal history (convictions) he actually faces the prospect of no jail time.

  139. 139.

    zeecube

    @JWR: Who’s the man with the shitty fake tan,

    sitting in the defendant’s chair,

    Convicted  … Felon man!

    Convicted … Felon man!

  140. 140.

    NotMax

    @LAO

    Expect probation, with strict conditions. Slimmest possible chance of maybe a single weekend in custody, just to give him a taste.

  143. 143.

    Miss Bee

    @JWR: what’s he doing on the freeway? Why not motorcade up one of the avenues and get more attention?  What a loser.

  144. 144.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Misterpuff:

    Alito’s wife just ran out to run up the upside down flag!

    If I was a little closer, I’d be tempted to drive over to the Fort Hunt area just to see! And to honk loudly and repeatedly as I drove by.

  145. 145.

    Jay

    @Suzanne:

    The BDSM department does not pay very well, the benefits are few, but the job satisfaction is very high and nobody complains about overtime

    In some Companies, it’s called HR.

  147. 147.

    Ishiyama

    @NotMax: Make him write an essay on his offense and why it was wrong. Also, how long is the maximum term of probation for these offenses?

  149. 149.

    Jeffg166

    Now that Donald Trump is—very much officially—a convicted criminal, he could lose the right to vote for himself in the November general election.

    I stole that from Kos.

  150. 150.

    Tony Jay

    @cain:

    Easy.

    “The Democrats are politicising your justice system to take away the constitutional rights of white, working class men of a certain age. If they aren’t stopped today then only Woke black women will be able to blow off crimes. Can you donate $10/$50/$100 to MAKEDONFREEAGAIN to save the children from this nightmare?”

    It won’t work, but it’ll rake in some green.

    What was the plan again?

  155. 155.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Jay: If I recall correctly, all fines/costs/fees must be paid and they can’t tell you what those are, meaning it’s not possible to pay them even if you’re willing to.

  160. 160.

    WereBear

    @sab: Yes.

    A porn star helped save democracy.

    There’s a man who gives a life of danger
    To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
    With every move he makes another chance he takes

    Odds are his brain refuses to see tomorrow

    He’s a Felon Man! He’s a Felon Man!
    He’s got a parole number, and taken away his game.

    (distinctive guitar music)
    Beware of orange faces that you find
    A orange face can hide an evil mind
    Oh, comb over what you say
    Or you will give yourself away
    Odds are the jeers are what you hear tomorrow

    He’s a Felon Man! He’s a Felon Man!
    He’s got a parole number, and taken away his game.

    (distinctive guitar music)

    Dang. It is a GOOD earworm, though.

  161. 161.

    Jackie

    Heh! Switched to Faux for a moment; Felon Trump just leaving the courthouse and lots of LOUD GUILTY! shouts at him!😂

  162. 162.

    Martin

    @cain: Nah. Republicans are extremely clear that the laws don’t apply to rich white people. That’s the ‘order’ part. This court went after the wrong kind of person. They’ll fix that.

  163. 163.

    sab

    @LAO: I don’t care. Do you?

    He is still a convicted felon. 34 times a convicted felon.Convicted of election interfering.

    I think putting an old, demented, psychologically damaged guy with secret service protection in prison would be counterproductive and a waste of civic resources. Let him and his family pay for his dementia unit care like the rest of us have to.

  166. 166.

    jimmiraybob

    @NotMax: ​

    @NotMax: ​
      :Expect probation, with strict conditions ….”
    Of all the history that I’ve consumed over the decades I have to say that the possibility of a president and “leader of the free world” that has to regularly report to a probation officer never dawned on me.

  168. 168.

    Scout211

    From his Truth Social he is arguing points of law and defending himself in several posts.  I think he is preparing his appeal.  Maybe he’ll be his own attorney.  That would be awesome.

    And this:

    MY CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY VIOLATED WITH THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ELECTION INTERFERING WITCH HUNT. OUR FAILING NATION IS BEING LAUGHED AT ALL OVER THE WORLD!

    Yes, silly felon man, you are a convicted felon. The whole world is laughing at YOU!

  169. 169.

    Shalimar

    I checked Twitter to confirm to myself why I have given up on Twitter.  Despite having zero Trump supporters among the several hundred people I follow, something like 80% of the tweets they showed me on the home page were from Republicans who are upset at the verdict.  Fuck Elon Musk.

  176. 176.

    LanceThruster

    @satby: thx. She was practically a shut-in. No associations of merit with those around her. Her husband was a widower and retired Navy man who married her and he dropped dead last year. She’s got zero support structure out there. She was originally from CA.

  180. 180.

    Martin

    @JML: Probation is usually reserved for defendants that acknowledge their guilt. I think home confinement is the most likely sentence, but I can also see a case where NY doesn’t trust FL department of corrections to enforce given that DeSantis said that the state would not extradite to NY.

    I think people are ignoring all of these other decisions being made around this case that are unlikely to be ignored by the judge.

  181. 181.

    Jay

    @Matt McIrvin:

    It’s a feature, not a bug.

    They can’t tell you/them/they upfront if they have outstanding fines/fees/costs/penalties etc up front that disqualifies you/them/they from legally voting, but case by case they can investigate and find out, or just make it up.

    It is Floriduh!

  182. 182.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @LAO:   Thanks.  Can he nevertheless get jail time for being an asshole, or more specifically for contempt of court?

  183. 183.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    Now thats what I call a guilty pleasure!

  184. 184.

    NotMax

    So glad I won’t have to hear “reading the tea leaves’ anymore from the newstrons
    ;)

  185. 185.

    West of the Rockies

    I genuinely hope this creates serious physical, psychological, and emotional distress for him.

    May this be an atomic wedgie of the soul.

  186. 186.

    satby

    @LanceThruster: I don’t know many neighbors, but perfect strangers knock on my door asking if their lost cat is one of the ones I feed. Asking neighbors, even if they don’t know her, may give you leads. I take it her cats were outside, and that’s why animal control didn’t secure them?

    Ok, so if you aren’t there either you can see if the rescue mentioned above would try to investigate, but it’s likely they’re all volunteers and may not have much bandwidth.

  188. 188.

    MinuteMan

    @catclub: ​

    @catclub: ​
     

    Ask Trump if he is planning to move to a state where Felons can vote.

    I’ve heard Moscow is lovely this time of year—as long as you stay away from the windows.

  190. 190.

    LAO

    @J. Arthur Crank: lol, We definitely don’t incarcerate people for being assholes in NY, they’d have to lock up 80% of NYC. But the contempt findings may impact he’s sentence. I imagine a hefty fine.

    And yes, I know you were joking about locking up assholes.

  191. 191.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    Start spreadin’ the news
    I’m leavin’ today
    I want to be a part of it
    New York, New York

    These vagabond shoes
    Are longing to stray
    Right through the very heart of it
    New York, New York

    I want to wake up
    In a city that doesn’t sleep
    And find I’m king of the hill
    Top of the heap

    These little town blues
    Are melting away
    I’m gonna make a brand new start of it
    In old New York

    And if I can make it there
    I’m gonna make it anywhere
    It’s up to you
    New York, New York

    New York

  192. 192.

    Geminid

    @JoyceH: Trump’s statement might have been weak, but I expect he’ll come out snarling before too long. This whole trial has been a shitty, humiliating experience and he is gonna vent his fury.

  193. 193.

    3Sice

    34/34

    Only the best felony convictions.

    The bailiff came to me with tears in his eyes.

  195. 195.

    jimmiraybob

    I’m wondering if Biden will debate a deluded convicted felon.  I wouldn’t.

  198. 198.

    Miss Bianca

    @different-church-lady: I don’t think he would have skated, but I do think there’s going to be some extra penalties involved just because he *was* a complete asshole in court.

    Do.not.piss.off.the.judge!

    @LAO: But probation? Pretty pretty please?? :)

  200. 200.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @LAO:   Unfortunately, we know the defendant can’t Shut The Fuck Up, and will probably encourage his followers (either directly or indirectly) to take actions against the judge, prosecutor, jury, etc.   Can there be contempt charges in that situation, when the main trial is concluded?

  201. 201.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Random comment at Free Republic:

    “QUILTY ALL COUNTS.”

    That explains the blanket verdicts.

    ETA: One more random comment:

    “Trumps black support went up to 40% with this ruling.”

    Ummm… I don’t think that’s how it works?

  203. 203.

    Burnspbesq

    @JWR:

    Quick, somebody come up with more “Secret Agent Man” lyrics.

    “Don’s a man who lives a life of cri-me,

    To everyone he meets, he’s just a slime”

  204. 204.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    In appreciation i’m going to be rooting for the Yankees this year.

  208. 208.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @sdhays: The talking head on TV said that Florida defers to the venue where the conviction occurred. I believed NY allows Class E felons to vote, so Felonious Trump may be allowed to vote in Florida. I’m not 100% certain.

  212. 212.

    TS

    Posted on the dead thread – too keen to read all the guilty comments

    Good News to wake up to down under! Jury appeared to take enough time to be serious about their deliberations – no doubt some of the disciples will now love him more

    How on earth can a reputable political party nominate such a person to lead their party?

  214. 214.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @WereBear: My wife stopped by the liquor store on the way home from work for dark rum so I’ll be joining you soon.

  216. 216.

    Barbara

    @WereBear: Kind of a strange counterpoint to Larry Flynt outing David Livingston as he tried to make the Clinton impeachment process a stepping stone to becoming speaker of the House.

    I am not a fan of porn, but I can only imagine how people in the industry feel about the profound hypocrisy of politicians and supporters on the religious right end of the spectrum.

  220. 220.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    34 to 0

    I’m getting tired of so much winning

  221. 221.

    cain

    @Chief Oshkosh: Seems like an oversight by Florida, who just use that law so that they can stop certain kinds of people from voting.

    I fully anticipate the Florida legislature to pass a law to allow Trump to vote.

  223. 223.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Fun thought: The Secret Service is providing security for a convicted felon…lol!

  225. 225.

    Anonymous At Work

    I stop living online for literally 2 hours and this happens.

    Gotta get away more often.

  226. 226.

    Jay

    @Chief Oshkosh:

    Qualifications
    To qualify for voter registration in New York State, you must:

    be 18 years old (you may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18);
    be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
    not be in prison for a felony conviction;
    not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
    not claim the right to vote elsewhere

    https://elections.ny.gov/voting-after-incarceration

  229. 229.

    Geminid

    @trollhattan: It sounds like Trump was holding back. There may have been some coaching involved, since this verdict was forseeable. But next time he gets in front of a microphone it could get ugly. Trump’s handlers would do well to cool him down for a couple days, if they can.

  233. 233.

    brantl

    @cain:  If he’d paid her out of his pocket, he would’ve skated, too. Who picked cheapness in the Stumpy Achilles Heel bingo?

  234. 234.

    WereBear

    Watching him on MSNBC, a clip of the live feed of him from 5:20.

    By golly TFG looks awful. And his voice has no life in it.

    Somewhere, a ketchup bottle trembles.

  235. 235.

    HumboldtBlue

    Ya know what would be karmically magnificent?

    If the Central Park 5 showed up to sentencing.

  238. 238.

    JWR

    Wanna bet the Repubs will make light of his status as a convicted felon during their convention? “And now, ladies and gents, your favorite convicted felon and mine…” (Uproarious laughter and applause from the crowd.)

  239. 239.

    Danielx

    Can I afford a decent bottle of pinot noir and a really decadent dessert this evening?

    Why yes, yes I can.

    Hahahahahaha!

  244. 244.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @LAO:   My thinking is that if I (as some anonymous person in the internet) in real life made threatening statements against a state Judge,  I could be charged and face jail time, but  I would have to go through a trial first.     As I understand it, with contempt of court, the judge has a lot of discretion and can send people to the basement lockup and in most cases there isn’t a lot the locked up person can do except apologize to the judge.    So if Trump opens his orange piehole and threatens, defames, etc. people associated with trial, the contempt charges can expedite a trip to the Big House.

  245. 245.

    RaflW

    Just popping by to say “Wowza!”

    I’ll have time after dinner out to read up & process this. But hurray for NYC jurors.

  246. 246.

    Gus diZerega

    @Martin: Alexander Tocqueville, writing during Jackson’s presidency, described juries as not only determining the verdict, but also as mini legislatures. They had the right to determine whether a law was truly a law in that particular case.

    Obviously this principle can be abused in deeply racist or otherwise authoritarian cultures but it also rendered the Escaped Slave Act null and void in much of the North because juries would not convict.

  247. 247.

    Soprano2

    So how long until “Law and Order” does a “ripped from the headlines” show based on this? 😂🤣😂🤣

  248. 248.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Awesome news to wake up to! Hope this changes the MSM narrative around the election, by all rights Biden should be heading toward a landslide win.

    One thing I have been confused about is how much the MSM narrative, as well as assessments by people I consider astute & not given to following the MSM narratives like lemmings, that Biden is in real danger of losing this election. It is striking how foreign governments have been hedging their bets to prepare for a possible 2nd Trump term. Did people not expect guilty verdicts against Trump, or did/do people not expect guilty verdicts to move needle electorally?

    Intellectually, I understand Adam L. Silberman’s argument that GOP voters would vote for Trump even if he is in prison, but I can’t wrap my head around the idea that guilty convictions wouldn’t be disqualifying for enough American voters to put the outcome of the Nov. election beyond doubt.

    I suppose the GOP will portray Trump as a victim of malicious prosecution & persecution, & try to delegitimize the entire justice system.

  249. 249.

    satby

    Also hope LEO are identifying the MAGA psycho screaming that “your children are dead”, apparently to the court or the jurors in reaction to the guilty verdicts, in the video at the Daily Beast.

  250. 250.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @zhena gogolia:

     

    It’s still sweet, isn’t it?

    You are goddamn right it is. It is events like this (and solar eclipses) that can bring people together to share the experience.

  252. 252.

    Jackie

    DA Bragg’s statement short and sweet; thanking the jurors for their service.

    Now taking questions.

  254. 254.

    WereBear

    @Gus diZerega: Near the town of Timbuctoo is John Brown’s body, and the area was known, according to local records, for patrolling to keep slave catchers OUT.

    All small towns, made it possible.

  257. 257.

    stinger

    Somebody remind me, please: Was this trial like the J6 hearings, where all witnesses except the two Georgia poll workers were Republicans? Were all the witnesses here, except the documents experts, TCFG employees/lawyers?

  259. 259.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @WereBear: ​
     

    Somewhere, a ketchup bottle trembles.

    They’re in the witness protection program

  260. 260.

    LAO

    @J. Arthur Crank: I think you’re conflating the judge’s finding that Trump  violated his court order with a criminal conviction for contempt. He wasn’t charged with contempt. He could be separately charged with the contempt under a new indictment if he continues with this behavior.

  261. 261.

    Martin

    @stinger: No, a number of witnesses were paralegals who were validating various information. I think we can say Stormy wasn’t really on Trumps side at any point. But a lot of the others did work for him or work with him at one point or another.

  263. 263.

    Martin

    @LAO: Yeah, I think the gag order is still in effect until the judge lifts it, and I don’t think he has yet.

  264. 264.

    WereBear

    Very professional performance by Mr. Bragg. He got out of there like he didn’t want the smile to overtake his face…

    and a reporter asked if he is worried about reprisal!

  265. 265.

    Almost Retired

    I sort of want to send a bottle of champagne to each of the Central Park Five.

  266. 266.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @LAO:   Ah, I see.  The defendant is such an asshole that it hard to distinguish the criminal actions from the plain old asshole actions.

  269. 269.

    JWR

    @HumboldtBlue: Okay, now you’re taking it to it’s logical conclusion, which any self-respecting Repub would never, ever do. ;)

    And no live Stephen Colbert or Seth Meyers to help us gloat?! I’ll have to check in with Jimmy Kimmel.

  275. 275.

    Fake Irishman

    Do love the nytimes.com headline in huge bold font.

    “TRUMP GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS”

    (Don’t worry though, there’s also a story about how dysfunction in “congress”  is driving experienced legislators in “both parties” to retire.)

  277. 277.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Baud: But how is being a convicted felon not be disqualifying to just enough “independents” & GOPers to let Biden run away w/ the election. They don’t have to vote for Biden, they just need to not vote for Trump.

  278. 278.

    Jackie

    Statement from Michael Cohen to RawStory:

    “Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law,” Cohen said in a statement. “While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters. I want to thank my attorneys, Danya Perry and Joshua Kolb, for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process.”

    He’s still sober 😁 Let’s see how he is in another hour when he’s on MSNBC! I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he shows up with a bottle of bubbly 😊

  279. 279.

    RSA

    I’m hoping that NY Governor Kathy Hochul (a) is getting requests for meetings with Trump representatives concerning a pardon, (b) strings them along for a while, and (c) makes it all public.

  280. 280.

    Ironcity

    @Mike in Pasadena:

    Ask Trump if he is planning to move to a state where Felons can vote.

    I’ve heard Moscow is lovely this time of year—as long as you stay away from the windows.

    @cain:

    That is especially true if you in an “in” group, that is, the group that gets to stay in the building and not out the window.

  281. 281.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Geminid:

    IANAL.

    Does the gag order on TCFFG expire with the jury verdict, or is it still enforceable? I’m worried about his tweets and rallies that could encourage some of his unhinged supporters to initiate violence.

  283. 283.

    Eolirin

    @YY_Sima Qian: We all thought various things were disqualifying about Trump in 2016. They turned out not to be. We really won’t know how much of an effect this will have on voting until it happens.

  286. 286.

    Geminid

    @YY_Sima Qian: U.Va. political scientist Larry Sabato has discounted the potential impact of a guilty verdict. He said there are very few people whose minds are not already made up about this election.

    I’m not a big Sabato fsn, but he may have it right here because this country is so extremely polarized.

  287. 287.

    smith

    @SiubhanDuinne: IANAL, either, but I’ve heard several people who are say it’s in effect until the judge lifts it.  I think it’s important, because there will be people trying to doxx the jurors and aim the Felon’s flying monkeys at them.

  290. 290.

    Dave

    @YY_Sima Qian: I think it’s fair to say that his election is still a very real possibility that other countries should be planning for and also hold that his conviction likely will negatively impact his chance at that.

    No need to be Eeyore I read LGM for that but it’s too early to tell beyond it almost certainly won’t help him.

    The Gods don’t love me enough for him to lose 25% of his potential voters from this but I certainly won’t complain if it turns out they do.

  291. 291.

    catclub

    @Scout211: OUR FAILING NATION IS BEING LAUGHED AT ALL OVER THE WORLD!

     

    I really don’t understand how the people most likely, a few years ago, to be chanting U S A, U S A are now buying that the US is the worst and failing. I am impressed and appalled that Trump zeroed in on that.

  292. 292.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Geminid: As I said in a previous thread about the Apprentice revelations, this isn’t good for Trump.  MAGAs may not care, but ordinary people might.  And there is no scenario where it helps him.

  293. 293.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Geminid: ​ 

    Omnes made the point in an earlier thread that the verdict won’t have an impact on us or Trump’s base, but it will with those on the margins, I would think it would particularly play a role on those right-wingers who are tired of Trump’s shit. Just like us.

  294. 294.

    Martin

    @Geminid: I would note how little political response he’s gotten here. Every time he’s called for his supporters to turn out, they’ve failed to do so.

    There’s a substantial disconnect between voter proclamations and voter actions here. Be wary of that.

  297. 297.

    VFX Lurker

    @YY_Sima Qian:  But how is being a convicted felon not be disqualifying to just enough “independents” & GOPers to let Biden run away w/ the election. They don’t have to vote for Biden, they just need to not vote for Trump.

    True story: I thought white Americans would resoundingly reject the gross and unqualified white man in 2016. I’m a GenX white woman, and I didn’t get it.

    Baud’s right — other countries should be prepared juuust in case. Me, I need to write more Postcards to Voters so I don’t wake up on November 6th, 2024 with any regrets.

    Tonight, however, I shall celebrate today’s happy news with cake.

  298. 298.

    catclub

    @brantl: If he’d paid her out of his pocket, he would’ve skated, too.

     

    If he had paid her out of his pocket, there would be no illegal, unrecorded campaign contribution. No crime at all.  Cheapskate.

  299. 299.

    NotMax

    Is NYC ready for a Mayor Bragg?

    N.B.: Not the slightest idea if he has political ambitions.

  300. 300.

    PaulB

    I love that they’re now trying to pretend that they just don’t know what crime Trump has been found guilty of committing.

    Judge Jeanine: “It is unheard of in New York State…that a defendant can be indicted on a crime—and not know what that crime is…it’s a violation of the Fifth Amendment…”

    Jonathan Turley: “The one thing we didn’t know—is really what he was found guilty of…”

    Yeah, it’s a real head-scratcher.

  301. 301.

    catclub

    @PaulB: My legal expertise from watching courtroom dramas is:  Don’t they ask before pleading “Do you understand the charges against you?”

    Did Trump lie then?

  302. 302.

    Geminid

    @SiubhanDuinne: I don’t know. I think the person Trump is mostly likely to hurt is himself. He has a campaign to run and he could still have a path to victory. Trump doesn’t need to amplify the impact of this affair, he needs to diminish it. But can he?

  303. 303.

    karen marie

    Sentencing is set for July 11 at 10 a.m.

    I hadn’t seen this info elsewhere but apparently Judge Merchan announced it after the jury had left the courtroom.

    Mark your calendars, kids!

  304. 304.

    Mai Naem mobile

    So since TFG can’t vote in Floriduh does that mean that DeSatan and the Fla legislature pass a law legalizing voting by all felons? A law allowing just TFG to vote ?

  306. 306.

    Subsole

    Just got off my shift and heard the news.

    I know y’all can hear me laughing right now, because it is the hardest I have ever laughed in my life.

     

    And y’know what makes it even better?

    Y’all know the entire NYT editorial board is just sitting out in their cars, listening to Harry Nilssen and snot-crying at this news.

  307. 307.

    LAO

    @NotMax: He can’t be worse than are current bozo.

    ETA: Also you don’t run for DA, if you don’t have political aspirations.

  309. 309.

    Geminid

    @HumboldtBlue: Sabato did not say a guilty verdict would not shift any votes; he just discounted the number. It sounded like the commenter I answered thought this verdict should be a decisive factor this November, and that was what I was responding to.

  310. 310.

    MisterForkbeard

    @PaulB: That’s been the weird talking point the entire trial. “We still don’t know what he’s charged with doing or what law he broke, because this is a show trial”

    No bitches, it was stated pretty clearly in the indictment. Trump committed a bunch of misdemeanors in order to accomplish election interference, which makes them felonies. That’s it, not hard to misunderstand.

  312. 312.

    RandomMonster

    @karen marie: I hadn’t seen this info elsewhere but apparently Judge Merchan announced it after the jury had left the courtroom.

    Just a few days before the Republican convention. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!11!

  314. 314.

    hedgehog mobile

    Sipping a Manhattan and watching Hal Sparks on Twitch.  Truly a lovely night.

  315. 315.

    robtrim

    200 hours of community service – serving meals in a soup kitchen for the homeless.

  316. 316.

    Martin

    Regarding polling, remember that stages of grief take time. Step 1 is denial. That might last through sentencing.

  317. 317.

    TS

    So democrats are being told by the media to calm down and not dance in the streets – just imagine if trump were found not guilty – the MAGA crowd would be out there screaming – it is so frustrating that the rules are different for the convicted felon.

  321. 321.

    RandomMonster

    @Dave: The Gods don’t love me enough for him to lose 25% of his potential voters from this but I certainly won’t complain if it turns out they do.

    From your lips to the FSM’s orechiette…

  323. 323.

    Jeffro

    FOLKS!

    If you want to drop a little cash on a deserving artist who called it years ago like we did, head over to http://www.davehause.com and get yourself a “Dirty Fucker” t-shirt with the Convicted Felon’s ugly mug on it.  Suitable for cleaning toilets as well as irritating the shit out of any RWNJs in your life.

    (I’m on my second one =)

  324. 324.

    Ken

    @RSA: I’m hoping that NY Governor Kathy Hochul (a) is getting requests for meetings with Trump representatives concerning a pardon, (b) strings them along for a while, and (c) makes it all public.

    (d) announcing attempted bribery charges against all of them, releasing the video recordings of their attempts.

  325. 325.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Somebody in the comments at one of the WaPo articles about the verdict pointed out that both grandfathers of Ivanka’s three children are felons.

  326. 326.

    Redshift

    @Odie Hugh Manatee:

    ETA: One more random comment:

     

    “Trumps black support went up to 40% with this ruling.”

    Ummm… I don’t think that’s how it works?

    One of the few positive effects of conservatives’ virulent racism is how it leads to them to actions based on cartoonish stereotypes. (Like TCFG inviting indicted Black guys on stage in the Bronx.)

    Though I’m unsure if the stereotype at they have in mind is “they’re all criminals” or “they hate the cops, like me,” or what.

  331. 331.

    Geminid

    @Subsole: I happened to be listening to Sean Hannity’s radio show when the verdict came down. One his guests cried,  “We have crossed the Rubicon,” like this verdict marked the death of the Republic. It wasn’t a very resilient take.

  334. 334.

    NotMax

    Very quickly cobbled up lyrics.
    I am the very model of a modern slimeball criminal
    Continually rant and rave and throw out threats subliminal
    About the judge and jury I’ve nothing to say positive
    They’re vermin exponentially vomitive
    ;)

  335. 335.

    Ruckus

    @jimmiraybob:

    Haven’t been in prison but I have been to Gitmo.

    I believe that would be a great place for him to serve any time necessary. Every damn minute of it.

  336. 336.

    LanceThruster

    @satby: yeah… it was a perfect storm of things gone wrong too numerous to detail at the moment. And at each step of trying to get useful information, learning more bad news further complicating diminishing hopes of rescue. Not even to a point myself where I’m having much optimism. Regardless of outcome, the help offered here was a much needed bright spot in otherwise painful circumstances. I bonded with her crew as well. Thx all.

  337. 337.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Intellectually, I understand all of the arguments why the convictions will not be decisive, I guess the dissonance of celebrating the conviction & no one expecting it to mean much for the Nov. election is finally hitting home for me, having watched the rising craziness from across the Pacific for most of the past 2 decades.

  339. 339.

    RandomMonster

    @Ken: Never have I more wanted to hear “sentence to begin immediately”.

    You and me both brother.

  342. 342.

    H.E.Wolf

    @mali muso: ​I just popped a chocolate cake pan cake in the oven. An old recipe from WWII (allegedly) that doesn’t require butter, eggs, or milk to make the best of hard times of rationing. Takes all of ten minutes to prepare, so let’s go celebrate!

     *snap!* I’m preparing to make that exact cake, too.
    My copy of the recipe is in the immortal “I Hate To Cook Book” by Peg Bracken.

  344. 344.

    Matt McIrvin

    @YY_Sima Qian: It’s really hard to say. Trump has insisted all along that he’s being unfairly politically persecuted, and most people already inclined to vote for him will probably interpret that verdict in this way. The crime is complicated and slightly hard to understand–paying hush money to a sex worker may be scandalous but isn’t in itself illegal; falsifying financial documents is, but it’s a misdemeanor; so the actual felony is falsifying documents *in the service of* illegal election interference as embodied by the hush money payment (or so I understand).

    For people who really want Trump to be innocent, it’ll be possible to dismiss it as a penny-ante “process crime” ginned up by a system rigged against Trump. And Trump will surely appeal, since he appeals everything. It might move some votes on the margin. It might fade into the general cultural noise by November. We just don’t know.

  346. 346.

    Dave

    @YY_Sima Qian: I think it’s more accurate to say that we don’t know how much it will matter. It could be anything from a wash to the beginning of a rout. If I was forced to guess at this moment I’d say noticable but not necessarily decisive impact.

    More normal times and candidate and it would be over but a more functional party would never have him as the nominee

  347. 347.

    H.E.Wolf

    @mali muso: ​
     I think I remember that you became a parent right around the horrific 2016 election. Seems to me that you have an especially good reason to celebrate today!

    (We all do. But still.)

  348. 348.

    Elizabelle

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Somebody in the comments at one of the WaPo articles about the verdict pointed out that both grandfathers of Ivanka’s three children are felons.

    That’s delicious.

  350. 350.

    Geminid

     

     

    @Martin: I’m not sure what you are telling me to be wary of, or why. I mean, I’m already wary of Larry Sabato; I just agree with his assessment that the impact of this verdict will be relatively small..

  353. 353.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Here is hoping it’s the beginning of a rout. A strong mandate w/ solid majorities in both chambers of Congress should hopefully reduce the mainstream Dems’ long standing compulsion to triangulate toward GOP craziness in both domestic & especially foreign policy spheres (responding to both the reality of Senatorial gridlock & electoral fears). Start w/ abolishing the filibuster.

  354. 354.

    Jeffro

    Here’s a crack in the GOP to noodle on…actual pardon-requesting J6 insurrectionist Congressman Mo Brooks, on Twitter just a bit ago:

     

    GUILTY of 34 felonies per jury of 12 random citizens (none sought job). GOP faces choice. USA future at stake. Keep Trump as nominee & gamble USA’s future. OR Replace Trump with a good character nominee & BEAT THE STEW OUT OF BIDEN!

  355. 355.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @H.E.Wolf: ​

    There’s another WW2 recipe, “Potato Peel Pie” which I do not recommend as it is reportedly wretched.

    But it’s at the heart of “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, which I heartily recommend, both the book and the film. Takes place during the German occupation of the English channel island of Guernsey. The pie is allegedly a true recipe from Guernsey during the occupation.

  356. 356.

    Subsole

    @Geminid:

    Oh, that’s delightful.

    I am enjoying these peoples’ anguish far more than I should, probably.

     

    I don’t mean I should be kinder and more solicitous of their feelings, or anything.  I mean I am about to fucking OD on dopamine over here. Help.

  357. 357.

    Spanky

    @Subsole:

    Y’all know the entire NYT editorial board is just sitting out in their cars, listening to Harry Nilssen and snot-crying at this news.

    “You’re breaking my heart

    You’re tearing it apart

    So FUCK YOUUUUU :

  358. 358.

    H.E.Wolf

    @VFX Lurker: ​Me, I need to write more Postcards to Voters so I don’t wake up on November 6th, 2024 with any regrets.

    Tonight, however, I shall celebrate today’s happy news with cake.

     You are inspiring me to do both!

  359. 359.

    Another Scott

    It would be kinda delicious if TCFFG got no jail time as the result of the convictions today.  But ended up in the slammer for 30 days because of him breaking the gag orders and refusing to shut up with his threats.  (And a few of his “spokesmen” ended up there as well, for conspiring to break the gag order.)

    We’ll see.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  360. 360.

    Redshift

    @Geminid:

    U.Va. political scientist Larry Sabato has discounted the potential impact of a guilty verdict. He said there are very few people whose minds are not already made up about this election.

    Sabato is generally pretty good, but even in normal times, presidential election campaigns are much more about getting people to vote than about persuading voters to change their support. We already have info that TCFG”s voters are less likely to vote, and this conviction could definitely depress that further.

  362. 362.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Jeffro: ​

    Excellent. I don’t use the word “cult” lightly when discussing his cult. It’s the real thing. And it’s hard to break out of the groupthink of a cult.

    This verdict won’t shift a huge percentage of his culties. Cult members have different thresholds for when enough is enough and they finally admit to themselves that their cult leader is evil, and many never get there.

    But this will shift some. And in US elections right now, a couple of percentage points is huge.

  367. 367.

    Steeplejack

    They are frothing on Fox News. Just clicked over for a few minutes: Jeanine Pirro: “This is a sad day for America.” Suck it, MAGAts!

  371. 371.

    Ruckus

    @Martin:

    I agree with this.

    I also think that because he was president and wants to be again that this is not your average case. There was some doubt that the jury would convict. That they asked for clarification and checked some testimony to make sure what they were doing, and came back with a guilty on all counts, I’d bet there is very little doubt that there will be any reversal or minimum sentencing. We give the president immense power and shitforbrains screwed the pooch worse than any previous president. We as a country are screwed if all of this was a waste of time. shitforbrains should never have been elected because he has zero idea what needed to be done and has zero skill at any of it.

  373. 373.

    Hoodie

    It’s hilarious how this case rose to the surface. It’s right in his wheelhouse of scuzzy and stupid. He wants to be a badass mob boss but he’s a pathetic tub of guts farting and sleeping his way through a case that revolves around a perfunctory sex act where he acted like a low rent Hugh Hefner wannabe with a porn star who is smarter than he is, colluded with a dopey hack who front pages Bat Boy and alien abduction stories and a bus bench lawyer whose previous professional accomplishments amounted to scamming taxi medallions.

  375. 375.

    Steeplejack

    I guess I picked the wrong day to silence my phone so my siesta wouldn’t be interrupted! I woke up a couple of hours ago to find all hell breaking loose—texts, emails, voicemail. I’m still taking it in.

    This is an epochal day. I feel like I missed my opportunity to kiss a nurse in Times Square. My other regret is that earlier today I thought about putting a bottle of bubbly in the refrigerator and then thought, “Naw.” Well, the bottle’s in there chilling now!

  377. 377.

    Princess

    @YY_Sima Qian: 15-20% of Republican primary voters have been leaving their TVs and warm chairs to go out and vote against Trump. This conviction will strengthen the sound of some of them to stay home or vote third party in November. His conviction won’t start a landslide in favour of Biden. But it’s too cynical to say it won’t have an effect at all.

  378. 378.

    Jay

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym:

    earlier this week I pointed out that the FTFNYT Polls Guy put a caveat in to cover his ass when election results come in,

    he admitted that in all the polls they have done so far, President Joe Biden’s numbers are composed of mostly “always voters” while TCFG’s are composed of “never voters”, and while President Joe Biden’s share of “always voters” is increasing, TCFG’s share of “never voters” is falling.

  379. 379.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Princess: That is my hope, & I’m normally one w/ a very cynical view of the world. It’s just that very few pundits out there (be they mindless or astute) & no government (be they friend, foe or neutral) out there seem to have assessed that the convictions will matter all that much.

  380. 380.

    Princess

    Michael Cohen pled to 8 counts, several of which were directly related to the Stormy payments. He was sentenced to three years in jail. I believe he had no prior criminal convictions. Our wise Bj lawyers think Trump won’t get jail time and I’m not disagreeing, but I’m curious about the difference between Cohen and Trump. We’re Cohen’s felonies more serious?

  382. 382.

    Ruckus

    @Scout211:

    I’m not laughing. I’m still pissed that this shithead will likely be able to run for the next election. And if he can he will – his fans (and yes he has them) will vote for him. I don’t expect he will get enough votes but if he runs he will likely get not an insignificant number of people to vote for him. And as I see it currently republicans have no one else and no concept of anyone else. shitforbrains is making a mockery of our country and most of it’s citizens.

  384. 384.

    Jay

    @YY_Sima Qian:

    It’s a slow moving “drip, drip, drip” starting with Charlottesville, through Jan 6th, Roe, etc.

    It’s a slow and steady erosion.

    As an example, here in BC we have two Reich Wing political parties, that together, “poll*” better than the NDP + Greens.

    So they held a conference of their “movers and shakers” to try to either unite the Parties or formally commit to a partnership in a coelition Government.

    The conference became a crime scene with metaphorical bodies scattered everywhere. Bridges were burned.

    The pundit’s however, keep claiming that the NDP + Greens are going to lose.

    *polling is broken.

  385. 385.

    Geminid

    @Redshift: Sabato discounted the potential impact of a verdict; he did not dismiss it though. But as l’ve pointed out, my comment responded to someone speculating as to whether this could have a major impact, or maybe even a decisive one.

    I think the impact will be conditioned in part by how Trump handles this. He can downplay it, and express confidence he’ll win on appeal. Then he could go back on the attack against Biden on issues like “the broken border” and “rampant inflation.”

    This will be bullshit, of course, but it would sure beat crying about how he’s been victimized. I wonder, though, if Trump has the discipline to be strategic here. I think this could be a real test for him, and for his campaign managers.

    Speaking of which, there’s reporting that a group of conservatives have launched a campaign against National Committee Chairman Chris LaCivita. He and Susan Wiles are said to be Trump’s core campaign managers.

    Among other things, LaCivita is accused of undermining Trump and the MAGA Movement, and hiring “RINOs” instead of stalwart Trumpers for various state-level campaign posts.

  387. 387.

    Brachiator

    @Geminid:

    I think the impact will be conditioned in part by how Trump handles this. He can downplay it, and express confidence he’ll win on appeal. Then he could go back on the attack against Biden on issues like “the broken border” and “rampant inflation.”

    I don’t deeply follow Trump’s reaction to this trial, but when I look I mainly see clips of Trump claiming that Biden has personally that Trump be prosecuted for all these various offenses. He then tries to rally his cult with revenge fantasies.

    This will be bullshit, of course, but it would sure beat crying about how he’s been victimized. I wonder, though, if Trump has the discipline to be strategic here.

    Did you laugh after typing this? Trump. Discipline. Strategic. That’s comedy gold.

  388. 388.

    wjca

    @Geminid:  I wonder, though, if Trump has the discipline to be strategic here.

    I suppose there’s a first time for everything.  But TCFG has always been strictly tactical.

  389. 389.

    Glidwrith

    @Martin: The residency is an interesting question. I’m given to understand that for tax purposes, Mar-a-Lago was stipulated to NOT be a residence. So if he voted there, it was voter fraud or tax fraud, but he’s never been challenged on that. Wonder if it will change?

  390. 390.

    Jinchi

    Google “Donald Trump Rule 34” to learn more

    Please don’t ruin a perfect day by following that advice.

  391. 391.

    Jinchi

    @SiubhanDuinne: ​
      Does the gag order on TCFFG expire with the jury verdict, or is it still enforceable?

    I don’t know when it expires, but he’d have to be suicidal to violate it while the judge is deciding whether and for how long to send him to jail.

  392. 392.

    Ruckus

    @Geminid:

    shitforbrains really is no different than he’s been his entire adult life and there is a valid reason I call him shitforbrains. Because he is. All him being who he is and what he’s done politically in the last few years is show that any moron can be in charge. Won’t do anything close to a decent or even acceptable job at it, but can still wear the shoes.

  393. 393.

    Ruckus

    @robtrim:

    One really, really, really has to feel sorry for those homeless. Bad enough they have to be homeless but to have to deal with him just to get some food? That seems to be a pretty damn high cost for a lukewarm cheese sandwich on 4 day old white bread.

  394. 394.

    Ruckus

    @NotMax:

    NOW CUT THAT OUT!

    This is a site that humans read, and that is akin to making people brush their teeth with hydrochloric acid.

  397. 397.

    Geminid

    @Brachiator: Well, you got your yucks in, didn’t you? But I’ll just say Trump used to be better at politics. He’s never been a Professor Moriarty, but he’s shown the low cunning of a career criminal and it’s worked for him.

    So we’ll see how he deals with this conviction going forward; whether he downplays it like he needs to, or amplifies it to the detriment of his political prospects.

  398. 398.

    TerryC

    @MisterForkbeard: “No bitches, it was stated pretty clearly in the indictment. Trump committed a bunch of misdemeanors in order to accomplish election interference, which makes them felonies. That’s it, not hard to misunderstand.”

    They know that. They also know that their constituency finds it confusing so they lather on the confusion. It works. I think their constituency is our canary in the coal mine of CO2 atmosphere increases. The most sensitive are getting stupider.

Comments are closed.