Prosecutors in the Bob Menendez case are seeking a 15 year sentence. If he survives the ordeal, he’d get out when he’s in his 80s. I’d rather see the bribe-taking scumbag get a longer sentence with less of a chance to get out. He’ll be sentenced in 3 weeks— and then appeal.
Tracey Tully and Benjamin Weiser reported that “The prosecutors said the substantial sentences, combined with significant financial penalties would ‘provide just punishment for this extraordinary abuse of power and betrayal of the public trust, and to deter others from ever engaging in similar conduct. Menendez’s conduct may be the most serious for which a U.S. senator has been convicted in the history of the Republic,’ the prosecutors told the judge. ‘Very few senators have even been convicted of any criminal offense, and of those, most of the senators engaging in bribery accepted amounts that are a fraction of what Menendez reaped, even adjusting for inflation.’… He was found guilty of trying to meddle in state and federal criminal prosecutions and acting as an agent of a foreign government during a yearslong bribery scheme that involved officials in Egypt and Qatar.”
It wasn’t part of the case, but— more than any other U.S. politician, Menendez was responsible for the systematic destruction of civil life in Cuba and for the enabling of Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people. It won’t happen but if there was justice, ten life sentences would be tacked onto the 15 years.
Of course, balanced Justice would also be meted out for Donald Trump a little differently. He got the merest gentle slap on the wrist for his felonies though his life of criminality surely calls for the death penalty. Instead, he’s already fund-raising off yesterday’s rebuke by Judge Merchan.
Charlie Sykes noted that “As expected, Trump raged at the decision, and there will be appeals. But today— Jan. 10, 2025— gave us something that has so far been elusive: Trump has, however small it seems, finally been held accountable for his crimes. Unlike lesser mortals, he will avoid jail time, though. That’s yet another sign that in some respects Trump still remains above the law… Even though this may have been the least of Trump’s crimes, it was not a trivial matter. His attorney, Michael Cohen, went to prison for his role in arranging the payments. And, as Cohen later explained, the payoffs were not designed to cover up a personal scandal but were made ‘for the principal purpose of influencing the election.’ Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts, including ‘two counts of illegal campaign contributions related to payments to women.’ Cohen served more than a year in prison and a year and a half in home confinement. Trump himself faced as many as four years for his own felony convictions. But, unlike, Cohen, Trump will not serve a day.”
Even so, Merchan repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of Trump’s crimes. His conduct, wrote Merchan last week, was “premediated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world.”
And the judge pushed back on the reckless rhetoric of Trump’s lawyers (some of whom are about to assume key positions in the Department of Justice).
“Counsel has resorted to language, indeed rhetoric, that has no place in legal pleadings” he wrote. “For example, countless times in their Motion to Dismiss, counsel accuses the prosecution and this Court of engaging in ‘unlawful’ and ‘unconstitutional’ conduct.”
Merchan also noted Trump’s overt contempt for the judicial process. “Indeed, Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole.”
But Merchan defied the Trumpian attempts to bully and intimidate the court. “Dangerous rhetoric is not a welcome form of argument and will have no impact on how the Court renders this or any other Decision,” Merchan wrote.
On Friday, Merchan rendered his verdict on the first convicted felon ever elected to the presidency of the United States.
If you think this was a rebuke or holding him accountable, you're delusional. This was the judge waving the white flag on his knees while he bitched a little.
That's what all non-nazis are now reduced to... prostrating themselves before their fuhrer even while grumbling sotto voce.
And all other charades of "justice" have been summarily dropped ... one supposes so as not to be mistaken as even TRYING to do anything about the orange is the new black guy.
He hasn't even been coronated by chief "justice" roberts yet, and we're all bowing to his absolute power.
Yep. I'd say the reich is forming up quite nicely. Wouldn't you?