Aug.03

electoral-vote.com

Dem 51

   

GOP 49

Takeaways from Trump's Indictment

Many media outlets have published lists of takeaways from Jack Smith's indictment of Donald Trump. Here are a few samples:

• This wasn't about politics because it gives Trump massive PR and the opportunity for grift
• Trump was looking at the Insurrection Act to arrest protesters if he tried to stay on after Jan. 20
• The indictment gives Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) another chance to show his cowardice
• If Trump's actions weren't a crime, then nothing is a crime
• The indictment vindicates the Jan. 6 Select Committee
• The judge assigned to the case has experience dealing with Trump
• Jack Smith didn't charge Trump with campaign fraud
• From Trump's orbit, an amazing description of the disinfo
• This is what history is going to ask
• Why Trump's many charges are Jack Smith's logistical nightmare
• The principles of prosecution behind Trump's indictment
• Pence's strongest indictment reaction yet
• ADL blasts the Trump campaign's wanton Nazi reference
• Assign this indictment in your book club
• America's January 6 heroes reflect on a historic day
• There are Christians applauding this indictment
• This is the most significant legal case of our lifetimes
• Will this time be different for Trump's poll numbers?
• Trump exploited 'violence and chaos at the Capitol': indictment
• Biden busy watching entirely different bomb go off right now (the Oppenheimer film)
• Missing from the indictment: Trump's fundraising scam
• The quote of the night
• What we know about judge assigned to the case
• Garland breaks silence: Smith 'followed the facts and the law'

And this is only the first half of the list. Each of the above headlines is described in detail in the article linked to above. We get the impression that MSNBC does not like Trump very much, but we could be wrong.

• The indictment portrays an attack on American democracy
• Trump was placed at the center of the conspiracy
• Trump didn't do it alone
• Indictments have only strengthened Trump's hold on the Republican Party

• Trump knew the "Big Lie" was a Lie
• Six co-conspirators have been named, but not charged (yet)
• The conspirators worked to create the illusion of uncertainty
• The reaction from Republicans to the case was muted

• Trump knew he was spreading lies about 2020 election
• Trump allegedly organized fake electors
• Trump "exploited" January 6 attack on US Capitol
• New details about Trump efforts to strongarm Pence
• The investigation is ongoing

• There were three conspiracies
• There were six co-conspirators
• The conspiracies involved seven states
• Trump attempted to contact six senators and a congressman during the riot
• Trump had a right to lie about the election

• Trump and his co-conspirators tried to bully officials into changing election results
• Trump and his crew had slates of fake electors prepare fake certificates in seven states
• Trump tried to use the DoJ to bully state legislatures into sending the fake certificates
• Trump tried to use the attack on the Capitol to stay in power

• Trump knew he lost and just lied about it
• Pence took notes in real time
• Even into the night of Jan. 6 Trump was trying to block the certification
• Some of the fake electors may have been duped into signing certificates
• There were six co-conspirators
• Trump's legal bills are mounting

• There were six co-conspirators
• New revelations centered on Jeffrey Clark, Pat Philbin, and Mike Pence
• One of the laws used was devised to fight the KKK
• Another law was used against Paul Manafort
• Smith omitted Trump's Jan. 6 rally, plans to seize voting machines, possible use of the army, and contacts with extremists

Now a couple of voices from abroad.

• Trump faces four charges
• He was determined to remain in power
• There are six unindicted co-conspirators
• Smith wants a speedy trial
• The indictment won't disqualify Trump from office
• The indictment follows the path laid out by the Jan. 6 Select Committee

• Trump is accused of a wide-ranging conspiracy
• He had six co-conspirators
• Trump knew his claims of election fraud were lies
• Trump may have a free-speech defense

A couple of things stand out here. It was all about trying to stay in power. There are six co-conspirators (which probably means more indictments later). Trump knew he lost and he lied about everything anyway. The fake electors scheme is probably important for multiple reasons. Needless to say, analysis of the indictment is going to go on for days. (V)