Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(153,746 posts)
Mon Feb 13, 2023, 01:11 PM Feb 2023

A misdemeanor for Trump sounds crazy, right? Let's explore why, and why not.

Deadline WhiteHouse has a legal blog that I am enjoying. I tend to agree that even a misdemeanor conviction for TFG could be useful.



https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/pomerantz-book-trump-charges-rcna69481?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma&taid=63e7fdca79b5c900010dd86b&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Charging Donald Trump with a misdemeanor would be totally insane, right?....

So while it’s unlikely, given the myriad federal and state probes into the former president, that his criminal fate will come down to a misdemeanor or nothing, it’s worth thinking about why we might be inclined to disregard anything called a misdemeanor as insufficient. I think that inclination is misplaced, for two reasons — one philosophical and one practical.

First, if Trump isn’t above the law, then no charge is too small for him, especially the sort of charge that people around the country face every day. If a misdemeanor winds up being the crime, or one of the crimes, he’s guilty of, then so be it, just as it would be for the rest of us.

Second, the practical difference between misdemeanor and felony charges can be smaller than one might think, as the hush money situation illustrates. The felony charge of falsifying business records in the first degree sounds quite serious — and any criminal charge is serious — but it’s the lowest level felony in New York, called an “E” felony, which, like the misdemeanor charge, can result in relatively brief incarceration. So the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony, at least for falsifying business records in connection with the hush money, could be minimal when it comes to potential incarceration.

And, again, I don’t expect Trump’s nationwide criminal exposure to come down to a misdemeanor or nothing, but it’s worth understanding why the idea is less absurd than it sounds at first blush, if the point is to treat Trump like the rest of us.
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A misdemeanor for Trump sounds crazy, right? Let's explore why, and why not. (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Feb 2023 OP
I was shocked when I heard Joyce Vance cilla4progress Feb 2023 #1
We are being let down gently. :( Irish_Dem Feb 2023 #2
trump doesn't commit misdemeanors Bayard Feb 2023 #3
A misdemeanor, B.S. if the Doj cannot get a "Felony" republianmushroom Feb 2023 #4
If he gets charged with a misdemeanor... Takket Feb 2023 #5
Rubbish. Xoan Feb 2023 #6

republianmushroom

(17,196 posts)
4. A misdemeanor, B.S. if the Doj cannot get a "Felony"
Mon Feb 13, 2023, 01:34 PM
Feb 2023

after more than 45 crimes committed by the orange A-O they are not trying.
Which would not be surprising, to me.
24 months and counting

Takket

(22,425 posts)
5. If he gets charged with a misdemeanor...
Mon Feb 13, 2023, 01:37 PM
Feb 2023

Then I’m going to start scamming people tomorrow until I get rich. If a life of luxury illgotten is only punished by a misdemeanor, I could live with that trade off.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A misdemeanor for Trump s...