'Conundrum': SCOTUS conservatives face 'brutal dilemma' in choosing Trump or this favored doctrine

[NYC Liberal]

7. Nail on the head.

Yes, their decisions may align with his politics because, well, they are conservative, but I haven't seen any indication that they are loyal to or inclined to help him personally. They did nothing to help him overturn the election in 2020.

TFG would go full-on dictator and try in some way to control or even eliminate them

This is precisely why I think they will rule against him.

I think the worst case scenario is, depending on when they rule, they may punt it and say a conviction is required. But that brings up a whole new potential crisis, which is that he is convicted between election day and inauguration. Or he's sworn in while the jury is still deliberating and is convicted after taking office (an unlikely but possible scenario where he couldn't withdraw the case when he's president again). Not necessarily a constitutional crisis because the 20th Amendment covers a president-elect being disqualified, but still would not be good for the country.