Trump loves to play the victim -- NY appeals court bailout shows he's the most coddled person alive

[marmar]

Trump loves to play the victim — NY appeals court bailout shows he's the most coddled person alive
There appears to be no end of breaks for a spoiled rich boy who has never done a decent thing in his 77 years

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED MARCH 26, 2024 6:00AM (EDT)


(Salon) As anyone who listens to him can attest, Donald Trump may be the most self-pitying person on planet Earth. Pretty much all the man does is whine and cry about how he's the victim of an imaginary "witch hunt." In reality, his list of transgressions is staggering. If he were any other person, he would have been sentenced to prison many times over with no real hope of release: Sexual assault. Decades of fraud. Attempted extortation of a foreign leader. Stealing classified documents. Flagrant acceptance of what very much looks like bribes. Attempting to overthrow democracy. Inciting a violent riot that got people killed. I'm sure readers can list a dozen more, but let's get to the point: It's absolutely bananas that Trump isn't in prison yet.

....(snip)....

And yet, simply because he was born a white guy with inherited wealth, the world conspires to endlessly provide Trump with all the breaks. Not only is this spoiled brat shielded from the consequences of his actions, but his privilege continues to catapult him into a world of luxury and flattery, even as all he does is leave a trail of ruin in his wake.

The latest "are you kidding me" example: On Monday, right before Trump finally got the tiniest taste of the justice he deserves for committing decades of criminal fraud in New York, he got bailed out by the state's appeals court. The judgment against Trump was nearly half a billion, due to a court case that demonstrated he wouldn't have two nickels to rub together but for his lifetime of fraud. In order to appeal the case, Trump had to first put up the full amount as a bond, which is standard. So Trump went on Truth Social to petulantly claim he had $500 million in cash (even though his legal filings said otherwise). Then in a stunningly undeserved act of mercy, the appeals court reduced the amount of his bond to $175 million and gave Trump 10 more days to find a benefactor to pay it for him.

....(snip)....

Trump's entire life has been defined by the willingness of other people to coddle the rich white boy. Right now, that's manifesting in legal leniency, as most prosecutors and judges have hesitated to show Trump even 1/100th of the justice that would face anyone else who acts like him. This is most obvious, of course, when looking at the attempted coup and the Capitol riot. Over 1,200 people have faced federal charges for Jan. 6, but Attorney General Merrick Garland dragged his feet for years on charging Trump. Yes, Garland eventually hired special prosecutor Jack Smith, and he brought charges, but it's looking like it's way too late to get the trial done by the election. ...............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/loves-to-play-the-victim--ny-appeals-bailout-shows-hes-the-most-coddled-person-alive/

[jimfields33]

1. I'm still surprised mainly due to the makeup of the court. No MAGA or even repug judges on the decision.

You’d think a few at least would have decent.

[MichMan]

14. Perhaps they were just following the law and precedent

Not every judicial decision is based on ideological grounds.

[jimfields33]

17. Maybe that's it.

[Torchlight]

19. lol

[rpannier]

25. Maybe

And perhaps maybe they saw someone from their social class and had more sympathy than they would ordinarily have
Not like that hasn't happened many times in the American Legal System
I've lived overseas for more than two decades and the U.S. is the only democracy I know of where "Aflluenza" is actually a successful form of defense

[TheRickles]

4. Thank you. Best summary I've seen. And welcome to DU!

[agingdem]

10. I agree

Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2024, 12:01 PM - Edit history (2)

instead of going nuts at the appellate court for reducing the bond, the state of New York gets $175 million dollars right now..and the MSM can now obsess over Trump's dirty Depends..

the way I see it is this...the Trump brand is garbage...his billionaire/real estate genius persona is a sham...he's a punchline on Wall Street and in the inner sanctum of the uber-rich...reputable bond underwriters have slammed their doors in his face, he's desperate for cash and some of his go-to taps have dried up, the RNC is nearly bust/rallies canceled...and Barbara Jones, a retired judge and former organized crime prosecutor, is managing the Trump Organization...

so what if Trump's bond was reduced...so what if he has ten more days to scrounge a bond...he's a loser...ok, I'll take it...

[angrychair]

18. Because it's not just this specific time

Trump has, repeatedly, over many decades, always managed to walk between the raindrops of the American justice system.
Fast forward to the Mueller Report and his belief that Trump committed crimes and could have been charged but the statute of limitations ran out on the two obstruction of justice charges. Plus there was very likely more to be uncovered but Mueller's scope was very narrow and a Trump controlled DOJ has no inclination to explore that possibility.
Even now, under a Biden DOJ, Garland seems to be treating him with kit gloves and the courts appear to give him every possible break they can.
Way more than the average person. I mean I bet the family of Kalief Browder wish he got breaks like that, instead he was sent to Rikers for 3 years without a trial.

[agingdem]

22. Bill Barr co-opted the Mueller investigation

ordering Mueller to close shop…. Trump’s attempted coup/the attack on the Capitol/the document theft...all without precedent in the history of the United States, consequently the DOJ had to go deep into the weeds to find laws applicable to the crimes…and that took time…prosecuting the rioters was easy..Trump, a former president.. not so easy

But I will say this…his zombie base may love him but he has done himself no favors since leaving office..visibly unhinged, spouting Nazi garbage, rigged election whine on a never-ending loop, threatening prosecutors and judges, throwing tantrums in court, inciting his followers to “protest” (with anemic results) ....but it is Letitia James who shattered the Trump brand, exposing Trump’s decades long trail of fraud and corruption…I agree the justice system has swathed him in batting but that was expected...he is not like everyone else, regardless of the "everyone equal under the law" banner...

Trump is running to stay out of prison but I think he knows he’s going to lose in November and when that happens, he’s going to trial…

[angrychair]

23. I hope so

Though I'm not convinced he will ever be in an actual criminal trial in front of a jury.
While it's impossible for normal people, it is possible for someone like TFG to delay the process and stir up so much chaos that a judge just declares a mistrial and the process has to start all over again...if at all.

If I were a betting man and had money I'd bet that even two years from now we will still be waiting on the classified documents trial to start.

[agingdem]

24. I want Trump housed

in a facility for the criminally insane for the rest of his loathsome life but that's never going to happen...if he goes to prison...great...but I want Trump off the stage, irrelevant..not even a "get this"...I want him spat on and shunned...a footnote in an obscure history book...and years from now a movie, documenting the Trump atrocities, Jared and his Saudi payout, babies in cages, affairs, sexual assaults, tax fraud, foreign government payoffs, stolen classified documents, channeling Hitler, his love affair with dictators, overt racism/anti-semitism, the plot to overturn a fair election, storming the Capitol, threatening/judges, prosecutors and their families, trials and convictions..a lesson in DON'T FUCK WITH THE UNITED STATES...Netflix would be nice..

[Ray Bruns]

3. And this is the most infuriating part.

“Trump's entire life has been defined by the willingness of other people to coddle the rich white boy”

[Lonestarblue]

9. It could be simply a matter of judges identifying with and favoring someone of their own class--successful white male.

If you have never read Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste, it is well worth a read as it goes beyond race to explore ways we look at people.

[GP6971]

13. Welcome to DU!!

[karin_sj]

5. Spot on

It's beyond infuriating

[meow2u3]

6. Trump has conned the authorities his entire life with his victim scam

And now is no exception. He's conned the appeals court into reducing his appeal bond just because of his sob story.
When will the courts catch onto him? His victim schtick is nothing but a ruse to get his way.

[moniss]

7. Just like at Mur-Ugh-Ghastly

with his being able to claim he is an "employee" of the club and so a clause allowing a "living quarters" for an employee fits him.

[AllaN01Bear]

8. why r they bending over backwards for this jerk?

[nolabear]

15. Remember that old Bugs Bunny cartoon

with the king screaming “Where’s my hassenpfeffer!” That’s who he’s always reminded me of. A blubbery, spoiled, entitled heir to something he has no real right or ability to own.

[dlk]

16. The appeals court should have given their reasons for reducing the bond to avoid the appearance of favoritism

It wouldn't have been difficult.

[republianmushroom]

21. No, not difficult, but embarrassing explaining that he is "donald trump".

Equal justice for all, or, no man is above the law, is getting to be more embarrassing to explain.

[republianmushroom]

20. And equal justice for all, unless your name is trump.

Then you get special treatment by the courts and the DOJ.
The name is trump, donald trump.
38 months and counting (including foot dragging)

[SouthernDem4ever]

26. These damn liberal courts need to quit letting these crooks off the hook

[brooklynite]

28. Trump hasn't been bailed out...

He always had the right to appeal, and he's still liable for the full penalty.