Summary

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

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

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

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

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

  • aarRJaay@lemm.ee
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    38 minutes ago

    English person here: I didn’t think he was classed as ‘sitting’ until he was officially voted in with the Electoral College and sworn in. Surely there’s still time to prosecute.

  • xenomor@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    The United States is a fucking joke. The nation supposedly founded on the rejection of a king believes that one person is literally not subject to US law. I could not have more contempt for, or feel more shame about being an unwilling participant in the unprincipled hypocrisy of this absolute shit hole of a country.

    Fuck the oligarchs that run this place. Fuck the fascist Republican Party. Fuck the cowardly Democrats. And fuck the moronic, fear-riddled people.

    • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      That is the biggest and most obvious show of the corruption of the US American “justice” system. It was long known as the best “justice” money could buy, but this is open disregard of any legal principle.

      • slampisko@lemmy.world
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        1 hour ago

        Well it’s still the best justice money can buy, just in a twisted, sinister kind of way and with a big emphasis on the money part

  • Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    I told my wife 4 years ago when these charges came in “If this becomes more than a slap on the wrist I will be amazed”, I am not amazed.

  • blazera@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Lot of good that decrying’ll do now.

    Democrats are done, elect a progressive party

  • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

    The charges, including election interference

    🤡

    Election interference is legal if you do it so well you win.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    I’m actually kinda OK with this considering the circumstances.

    With the republican’s capture of the presidency, congress, and the SCOTUS, there’s no way he’s going to suffer a day for his charges if the court pursued them.

    The main problem was not sentencing him quickly when they had the chance. That’s the major fuckup.

    Anyway, the dismissed charges are without prejudice. Which offers the opportunity (assuming trump survives his presidency, we don’t end up with a de facto republican dictatorship, etc) that he can be sentenced after his presidency.

    But we all know how the courts love sentencing rich old white dudes.

    • asteriskeverything@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      I see it as a white flag. It’s not gonna happen now, and it isn’t going to happen later either. This battle they lost and that’s that.

      Democrats need to start worrying less about Trump the person and more about the potential ramifications we will face in the near and farther future. It seems Democrats have a 5 year plan and Republicans have a 50 year plan, that’s why they keep gaining power and favor.

    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      How so. Legally he can’t take office according to the constitution. And thereby his charges in Georgia and NY would hit him still, as Vance couldn’t pardon state charges. But yeah, we knew this would happen

  • Rapidcreek@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    "President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run, still liable for everything he did while in office, didn’t get away with anything yet – yet.”

    — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), on February 13, 2021, arguing against the need to impeach Donald Trump.

  • morgan423@lemmy.world
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    10 hours ago

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

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

    • snooggums@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      then reopen this the minute he’s out.

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

        • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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          10 hours ago

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

          • EldritchFeminity
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            8 hours ago

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

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

      • morgan423@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        Nothing for the Federal stuff, I guess.

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

        • bamboo
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          5 hours ago

          They can’t arrest a husband and wife for the same crime 😉

        • Nougat@fedia.io
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          9 hours ago

          Oh yes you can.

          Ford’s pardon of Nixon states:

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

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