Our friends, Wendy and Richard Smith of Northbrook, IL, lost their son, Jeffrey. On January 6. Jeff was a Capitol policeman who suffered compensable psychiatric injury that led to his suicide. The thought of a slush fund to reward the felons pardoned by Trump makes me sick to my stomach in light of the pain it's caused our friends.
I think people are being distracted by the evil purpose of the Trump/IRS deal and the obscene money and they are missing another main objective: Part of the IRS deal is that they will never, ever place charges against Trump or virtually anyone he knows or deals with in regard to any criminal activity like tax cheating they may engage in involving the IRS. The slush fund may be nixed by Congress, that may be what Trump is counting on, but that part of the deal may stand. Don't know, just my thought, one I haven't heard anywhere
I've heard commentators talking about the immunity issue. I don't think it's legal -- It's an end run around the pardon power, it's corrupt, and the DOJ is operating under a massive conflict of interest. Again, however, there may be a problem with who has standing to challenge it.
A fellow on Joyce Vance's Substack called Blanche's insane proclamation a classic collusive settlement, which is an unethical and often fraudulent agreement where two or more opposing parties in a lawsuit secretly cooperate to deceive a third party, the court, or the public. Rather than representing a genuine dispute, these deals are manufactured to achieve an unfair financial or legal advantage.
That's what the Democrats are arguing in their brief. They've filed directly in the original bogus lawsuit so don't need standing as a litigant. They're also arguing that there is no "case or controversy," a constitutional requirement, also because of the collusion and lack of a real dispute.
When I see something like this that seems so blatantly obviously illegal on its face to most reasonable rational people, the only thing I keep thinking is that it's yet again another instance of creating controversy that will knock the Epstein files off the front pages. We must never forget the Epstein files and must continue to press for their unabridged unredacted release!
It occurs to me the same technique is being used regarding the "ballroom." Throw an obscene amount of money in front of people purporting it to the cost of the "ballroom," causing shock and horror, but what's underneath? I have literally not heard one single word about what they're putting in the basement
Please convey my support and condolences to your friends, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This just adds to their pain and suffering. It’s just the cruelest act and no parent should have to endure it.
The worst thing of all is that the Statute of Limitations probably won't have run until January 6, 2027 at the earliest for the S.O.B.'s who stormed the Capitol who seek compensation from the Judgment Fund in D.C. Lawsuits are almost certain to follow for anyone denied in a claim for compensation for "Weaponization."
Vicious vile despicable that half of the USA supported knowing he was thef fraud murderer who want to hang gua up. And who recommended bleach for a virus. America needs revolution from itself.
How did Michael Flynn convince anyone that he was maliciously prosecuted and get $1.1 million? That in itself is outrageous. There was nothing malicious about it. He’s a scumbag and should have been thrown in prison.
I'd love to see all the people manhandled/arrested by DT-47's ICE Brown Shirts apply for restitution from the $1.776 billion Bribe Fund. Also, if this bribe money is not only for services already rendered (Jan. 6 insurrection) but for future violence on behalf of the DT-47s, then the least requirement for those upcoming acts should be to dress the participants as Hessians (in keeping with the whole 250th America Curs'd anniversary thing, dontchooknow?).
We are just hopping, and hopping again, that democrats take control in the midterms. Please! I can't take this anymore!! Why aren't more people screaming? This is our country, and we are being robbed and cheated.
Some of us have screamed so much we’re hoarse. We, reasonable people, have to organize and VOTE for local elections as well as federal ones. It starts locally.
Thank you, Vickie. First I've heard of it. I have been baffled as to why there aren't demonstrations every month, every week. I'm in a continual state of anger
There *are* demonstrations every month and every week, in many places around the country, in small towns and in cities, sometimes just a few people, sometimes more, mostly on weekends. Many over the past winter have been in rain, snow and freezing winds, banners on highway overpasses or standing in lines along local roadways. They're just not on the scale of the No Kings protests; that would be an unreasonable expectation. Protests on that scale require a lot of organization.
The Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year so it will be a long weekend, a time when many of us will be free to come out and join the thousands of others who will show up. Maybe this time, following the most recent and increasingly abhorrent actions by the president, we'll surpass the 8 million count of the last No Kings protest.
So even if you're not reading about it or hearing about it, there are protests going on all over and very often.
Karen, apparently the planning for July 4th is ongoing. I was relying on information from my husband who was reading me an email he got about one in our central California city. I checked with http://mobilize.us and only saw events listed in California thus far. Sorry if I misled you and others. Keep checking with them though since organization is continuing.
And that ain't a real ballroom, it's a bunker with elevation, according to Trump, so high snipers have full view of DC. He's setting up to not leave office, and as usual, telling us in advance.
They shut down the government and are now stealing billions of taxpayer money. No services for taxpayers and all the tax money goes to one crime boss. Is anerica now happy with its choice, has orice of eggs gone down hasctemariffs he stole gone back to taxpayers
I can't think of anything this regime has done that is legal or ethical in any regard .... maybe I'm just overwhelmed. I'm keeping in mind that anything that has been done illegally can be undone at some point in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later
We can't undo the suffering of thousands of people that ICE has in detention, or the people sent to the gulag in El Salvador, or children that have died of measles, or the thousands of deaths because USAID was gutted, etc, etc
I second this opinion! I look forward to seeing your name on comments, Karen! They are intelligent insightful and on point! We're all tired, but I don't think any of us will give up. Our country is at stake.
I agree, my husband doesn’t, but why should we fund his scams, we pay it, his illegal wars, our bill, and EVERY OTHER whatever he sucking our tax payers moneys from, oh forgot the re-build of the airplane some prince gave him, thats our bill, millions & millions !
One step forward: not paying for the Palace addition! Ten steps backward: grift fund for which anyone can apply according to ACTING Atty Gen Blanche (DuBois who should be looking to depend on the kindness of strangers when Donny decides he’s done with him.) and the non-audits of the crime family business. Past only, I hope. But there is some positive outlook even before the Midterm elections. Those House and Senate representatives who were primaried by the great Oz, can now be more vocal in their disdain of him. What do they have to lose! Get the popcorn going.
Yes, some of those Republicans are already voting with the Democrats. Massie will be the one to watch since he’s got a lot of ammo from the Epstein files and the committee’s shadow hearings.
This is all so bad and in the last two days I read, "Into the Wood Chipper, by Nicholas Enrich. It is his account of how Doge wiped out USAID in its entirety and it is a chilling read to say the least. He was close to the top of the agency and the accounting of the dismantling of the agency made my read probably one of the fastest reads of my life. I recommend it because we are staring down the barrel of a gun that no one can disarm with infectious diseases. Now with this slush fund debacle we need to be relentless in our pursuit of our own justice, in whatever form that takes. If we don't stop this madness soon, we are doomed. This cannot stand, none of it. Write, vote, do whatever you can.
And now there’s Ebola in the Congo. How long before it arrives here? Trump also cut the budget for NIH grants, which means important research, including in infectious diseases, is not being done.
I'm thinking of the weaponization fund as a cover for Trump's self-dealing (Vance's defense of the fund is very instructive) and also a Federalist Society scheme to retain core MAGA support as MAGAs' cost of living rises.
Our friends, Wendy and Richard Smith of Northbrook, IL, lost their son, Jeffrey. On January 6. Jeff was a Capitol policeman who suffered compensable psychiatric injury that led to his suicide. The thought of a slush fund to reward the felons pardoned by Trump makes me sick to my stomach in light of the pain it's caused our friends.
Something to absolutely be remembered. I am so sorry for the Smiths.
My deep condolences to them. To everyone harmed by this mob.
I'm sure the pain and sorrow go very deep. Extremely sorry to learn about your friends' son. So beyond appalling
- Karen Cooper
Very sorry to hear. I completely agree.
I think people are being distracted by the evil purpose of the Trump/IRS deal and the obscene money and they are missing another main objective: Part of the IRS deal is that they will never, ever place charges against Trump or virtually anyone he knows or deals with in regard to any criminal activity like tax cheating they may engage in involving the IRS. The slush fund may be nixed by Congress, that may be what Trump is counting on, but that part of the deal may stand. Don't know, just my thought, one I haven't heard anywhere
- Karen Cooper
I've heard commentators talking about the immunity issue. I don't think it's legal -- It's an end run around the pardon power, it's corrupt, and the DOJ is operating under a massive conflict of interest. Again, however, there may be a problem with who has standing to challenge it.
That being said, what's being argued is that the entire case leading to the settlement agreement should be dismissed. Here is a summary of the argument in an amicus brief filed by House Democrats. https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-democrats-litigation-task-force-fights-to-block-trump-s-self-dealing-settlement-in-sham-10-billion-irs-lawsuit
A fellow on Joyce Vance's Substack called Blanche's insane proclamation a classic collusive settlement, which is an unethical and often fraudulent agreement where two or more opposing parties in a lawsuit secretly cooperate to deceive a third party, the court, or the public. Rather than representing a genuine dispute, these deals are manufactured to achieve an unfair financial or legal advantage.
It's illegal.
That's what the Democrats are arguing in their brief. They've filed directly in the original bogus lawsuit so don't need standing as a litigant. They're also arguing that there is no "case or controversy," a constitutional requirement, also because of the collusion and lack of a real dispute.
Well said!
- Karen
When I see something like this that seems so blatantly obviously illegal on its face to most reasonable rational people, the only thing I keep thinking is that it's yet again another instance of creating controversy that will knock the Epstein files off the front pages. We must never forget the Epstein files and must continue to press for their unabridged unredacted release!
Yes, it's got to be illegal, and it won't ultimately work, I believe
- Karen
I think you are right on the money
Thanks, Donald, I highly respect your opinions!
- Karen
Blushing
Nah, not called for.
It occurs to me the same technique is being used regarding the "ballroom." Throw an obscene amount of money in front of people purporting it to the cost of the "ballroom," causing shock and horror, but what's underneath? I have literally not heard one single word about what they're putting in the basement
- Karen
Trump told the press yesterday they are putting the roof all the way down to the basement, if that answers your question.
Read the Drey Dossier. She explains exactly what is underneath. Excellent work she does
It won't stand for long.
Makes it more personal for all of us, knowing what YOUR friends have suffered. The pain must be made even worse by this action. So angry!
Same here.
Please convey my support and condolences to your friends, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This just adds to their pain and suffering. It’s just the cruelest act and no parent should have to endure it.
The worst thing of all is that the Statute of Limitations probably won't have run until January 6, 2027 at the earliest for the S.O.B.'s who stormed the Capitol who seek compensation from the Judgment Fund in D.C. Lawsuits are almost certain to follow for anyone denied in a claim for compensation for "Weaponization."
I am so sorry to hear of your friends' loss and suffering.
Vicious vile despicable that half of the USA supported knowing he was thef fraud murderer who want to hang gua up. And who recommended bleach for a virus. America needs revolution from itself.
I’m so sorry for your friend’s loss. Thank you to Jeffrey for his service to our country.
Thank you
My deepest sympathy to the Smiths. And my deepest appreciation for his service to their son Jeffrey.
Hell is empty all the devils are here.
The Tempest.
We live in Topsy Turvy World.
So true.
How did Michael Flynn convince anyone that he was maliciously prosecuted and get $1.1 million? That in itself is outrageous. There was nothing malicious about it. He’s a scumbag and should have been thrown in prison.
Worse, he stated HE was guilty!
I'd love to see all the people manhandled/arrested by DT-47's ICE Brown Shirts apply for restitution from the $1.776 billion Bribe Fund. Also, if this bribe money is not only for services already rendered (Jan. 6 insurrection) but for future violence on behalf of the DT-47s, then the least requirement for those upcoming acts should be to dress the participants as Hessians (in keeping with the whole 250th America Curs'd anniversary thing, dontchooknow?).
Great idea! Swamp the process with those tossed in Alligator Alcatraz and elsewhere.
I believe there’s no process for the slush fund. It’s controlled by Trump alone.
Flood him with applications, starting with Epstein survivors first.
We are just hopping, and hopping again, that democrats take control in the midterms. Please! I can't take this anymore!! Why aren't more people screaming? This is our country, and we are being robbed and cheated.
Some of us have screamed so much we’re hoarse. We, reasonable people, have to organize and VOTE for local elections as well as federal ones. It starts locally.
July 4th is the next No Kings protests. Check with mobilize.us, your local Indivisible chapter, or your local resistance group for details near you.
Thank you, Vickie. First I've heard of it. I have been baffled as to why there aren't demonstrations every month, every week. I'm in a continual state of anger
- Karen Cooper
There *are* demonstrations every month and every week, in many places around the country, in small towns and in cities, sometimes just a few people, sometimes more, mostly on weekends. Many over the past winter have been in rain, snow and freezing winds, banners on highway overpasses or standing in lines along local roadways. They're just not on the scale of the No Kings protests; that would be an unreasonable expectation. Protests on that scale require a lot of organization.
On March 7, several thousand people repeated the march from Selma AL, beginning at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, to Montgomery AL. https://apnews.com/article/alabama-selma-bloody-sunday-anniversary-fced6bc2794576b8ed20b3ef1223155e
The Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year so it will be a long weekend, a time when many of us will be free to come out and join the thousands of others who will show up. Maybe this time, following the most recent and increasingly abhorrent actions by the president, we'll surpass the 8 million count of the last No Kings protest.
So even if you're not reading about it or hearing about it, there are protests going on all over and very often.
Karen, apparently the planning for July 4th is ongoing. I was relying on information from my husband who was reading me an email he got about one in our central California city. I checked with http://mobilize.us and only saw events listed in California thus far. Sorry if I misled you and others. Keep checking with them though since organization is continuing.
Hoping!
And that ain't a real ballroom, it's a bunker with elevation, according to Trump, so high snipers have full view of DC. He's setting up to not leave office, and as usual, telling us in advance.
Didn't hitler build something like that??
Yes, and you know what happened there in April 1945.
And committed suicide in it with Eva Braun.
I’ll guarantee he won’t get Melania to do it…
She’s looking forward to being a rich widow.
Joanne, B I N G O ! It is 100% obvious, as well as what predicted that he’d do!
So when he doesn't leave office we can leave him locked in the bunker and proceed with our lives under an elected president.
They shut down the government and are now stealing billions of taxpayer money. No services for taxpayers and all the tax money goes to one crime boss. Is anerica now happy with its choice, has orice of eggs gone down hasctemariffs he stole gone back to taxpayers
I can't think of anything this regime has done that is legal or ethical in any regard .... maybe I'm just overwhelmed. I'm keeping in mind that anything that has been done illegally can be undone at some point in the future, hopefully sooner rather than later
- Karen Cooper
We can't undo the suffering of thousands of people that ICE has in detention, or the people sent to the gulag in El Salvador, or children that have died of measles, or the thousands of deaths because USAID was gutted, etc, etc
No, certainly not. I'm just talking law. Nothing can heal the permanent, deep wounds this regime has caused worldwide
- Karen
Please continue your thoughtful columns. We need you!!
I second this opinion! I look forward to seeing your name on comments, Karen! They are intelligent insightful and on point! We're all tired, but I don't think any of us will give up. Our country is at stake.
And now there is an outbreak of Ebola without the usual response available 🙀. Who is to needs any virologists ? It’s completely insane .
Everything he does shows his pursuit of stealing from and dismantling America. How can congress support the destruction of their country.
Too many Repugnants are afraid of standing up to Donny because they’re afraid of being primaried.
No, the republicans went over to putin en masse in 2017. They're not Americans any more.
I agree with ELLEN! I don't know what they are, but they are certainly unamerican!
Right. Then the country is doomed. Democrats afraid to prosecute. Republicans venal.
His board of peace is a slush fund to siphon money from treasury. Another month of this and america will be broke.
I wonder if Donny will get kickbacks from those who are awarded payouts from the fund.
There's a separate slush fund just for him. Unlimited. Totally confidential. Pure theft.
If there’s a chance trumps got a sniff of money making scam he will be on faster than fast!
“Rebellion is born when rulers forget they are meant to serve.” - Confucius
Out with every damn one of them.
Exceptionally crafted piece Lucian… boom!
So when mass layoffs begin and we don't have an income we won't be paying taxes to cover this grift
Some of us may withhold tax estimates and federal taxes until the”Grifter in Chief” and Co. are outta office! Jest sayin’
Actually there should be a tax revolt.
I agree, my husband doesn’t, but why should we fund his scams, we pay it, his illegal wars, our bill, and EVERY OTHER whatever he sucking our tax payers moneys from, oh forgot the re-build of the airplane some prince gave him, thats our bill, millions & millions !
Here is a simple question every Democratic candidate should ask their Republican opponent.
“Why did you not challenge the slush fund to pay January 6 convicted criminals a bonus for their attack on the Capitol?
Make them own the graft and grift. Every last one of them.
One step forward: not paying for the Palace addition! Ten steps backward: grift fund for which anyone can apply according to ACTING Atty Gen Blanche (DuBois who should be looking to depend on the kindness of strangers when Donny decides he’s done with him.) and the non-audits of the crime family business. Past only, I hope. But there is some positive outlook even before the Midterm elections. Those House and Senate representatives who were primaried by the great Oz, can now be more vocal in their disdain of him. What do they have to lose! Get the popcorn going.
Yes, some of those Republicans are already voting with the Democrats. Massie will be the one to watch since he’s got a lot of ammo from the Epstein files and the committee’s shadow hearings.
😆😝
This is all so bad and in the last two days I read, "Into the Wood Chipper, by Nicholas Enrich. It is his account of how Doge wiped out USAID in its entirety and it is a chilling read to say the least. He was close to the top of the agency and the accounting of the dismantling of the agency made my read probably one of the fastest reads of my life. I recommend it because we are staring down the barrel of a gun that no one can disarm with infectious diseases. Now with this slush fund debacle we need to be relentless in our pursuit of our own justice, in whatever form that takes. If we don't stop this madness soon, we are doomed. This cannot stand, none of it. Write, vote, do whatever you can.
And now there’s Ebola in the Congo. How long before it arrives here? Trump also cut the budget for NIH grants, which means important research, including in infectious diseases, is not being done.
We could have a new game: What cures will RFK suggest for Ebola? The mind boggles...
Probably drink the blood of the victim for herd immunity.
Appreciate you.
Let’s not kid ourselves.
This Gangster doesn’t give AF about winning (obvious…check what he’s doing), but he gives 3 big Fucks about not losing.
His play almost certainly is to disrupt (via many means….use your imagination), 25-30 Midterm Races, making them uncountable.
Then, the SITTING Congress calls those Elections (and/or they are “decided” by some Blanche-ian horseshit method).
There certainly will be violence, mayhem, etc.
I don’t know the result, but I absolutely know the military, and thugs, and Jan 6ers will do all they can to initiate chaos.
Let’s win.
I hope not. TACO and EPSTEIN.
Yes, let’s win this! 💪🏽💙
I'm thinking of the weaponization fund as a cover for Trump's self-dealing (Vance's defense of the fund is very instructive) and also a Federalist Society scheme to retain core MAGA support as MAGAs' cost of living rises.
Once again, the rest of us are following rules that gop shits on. Hopefully the Democrats will file a suit that can drag on for years and years.
And….more years!