RIGGING

Ten years ago that title word brought to mind sailboats. The rigging on a sailboat is, to the likes of me, a complicated set of devices with names that confuse: we are talking headsails, shrouds, spreaders, cross trees, and the like.

But in the age of Trump "rigging" has taken on a new meaning. Trump-world rigging is the process that takes place before and during any election that he has not won. It is his standard practice to accuse the other electoral candidate of rigging the election, even before the votes are cast and counted, and then if and when he loses, he claims that election was “rigged," and despite the numbers, he actually won.  Facts have nothing to do with the matter.

Now we learn that even the election he won was, in fact, “rigged” — by Trump. A New York jury has found that Trump unlawfully interfered with the election by making an undeclared campaign contribution and then violated state law by covering it up with fraudulent book entries. Trump has thus become the first former president in the history of the United States to be convicted of a felony.

In the judgment of this non-objective observer, there was no doubt of Trump's guilt from the git-go. His denial of the encounter with Stormy Daniels was unpersuasive. In fact, he never denied it in court, he never looked at the jury and said "I didn't do it" because he didn't dare testify for fear of being shredded on cross-examination, resulting in a possible indictment for perjury and an enhanced sentence after conviction in the case on trial. The trial evidence makes it clear that the so-called "hush money" case was really about unlawful interference with the 2016 presidential election process. That was Trump’s concern, not any difficulty with Melania. (He was not worried about losing Melania because “Who wouldn’t want me?)  His conviction demonstrates conclusively that the election was rigged.

It is also clear that Trump would not, and now has not accepted the guilty verdict, Indeed, he is using it as a political weapon to demolish yet another constitutional timber in our democracy: the rule of law. He has been found guilty of contempt of court 10 times because of his unlawful criticism of the jury, the witnesses, the prosecutors, the judge’s family, etc. Of course, he has his MAGA supporters coming forward to declare that he should not have been indicted in the first place, this is all a Biden stunt, and the New York citizenry hates him. The Republican politicians who have come down to the courthouse and spoken on his behalf, including the Speaker of the House (two steps away from the presidency) are a disgrace.

If you want an example of the absurdity of the MAGA complaints I have a beauty: last night we were glued to the television, watching the interviews on MSNBC. Overwhelmed with curiosity I switched to Fox where an anchor was interviewing a reporter who really knew little or nothing about the trial and its consequences. The anchor nevertheless reported on a comment that he thought proved the counterfeit nature of the conviction. The proof, he said, lay in the fact that “all 12" of the jurors voted for conviction. That, he thought, demonstrated the certainty that the entire process was “rigged.”

It ain't over yet. There will be an appeal which doubtless will result in affirmance. But before the appeal there will be a sentencing now set for July 11, but likely to be adjourned when the defendant files a meritless motion for a directed verdict of acquittal.

What will the sentence be? What will the prosecution ask for and what will the judge do? The range of theoretical possibilities is enormous. It runs from probation to 20 years in prison. Given the standard factors considered by sentencing judges, i.e. remorse, acceptance of guilt via plea, etc., I predict this judge is likely to sentence Trump to a minimum stay in Rikers Island, or at least home confinement wearing an ankle bracelet. When you put together his lack of remorse, his courtroom conduct, his 10 convictions of criminal contempt, the likelihood of incarceration is significant.

Trump’s filing of an appeal will not automatically stay the sentence. His lawyers will have to seek an order from the trial judge or an appellate judge and in doing so they need to point to significant error and make a case for the likelihood of reversal. It is hard to see any judge finding that here, though Trump's active pursuit of the presidency will, no doubt have an unforeseeable influence on any decision about a stay.

Happily, the defense has not yet found a way to put this case before Mr. Justice Alito, who, no doubt, doesn't give a shit about the Constitution and will stretch any law or rule in order to overcome a Trump conviction. Maybe Trump will fly an upside down American flag outside his window at Trump Tower?

Result, there is now a fourth leg to the Biden electoral pitch to those who are wavering. The first leg, I believe, is Trump's support of the Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade, the second leg is his rejection of family, marriage vows, Stormy, Karen MacDougal, etc, the third is his pattern of lying and threatening violence any time the tide seems to be flowing against him, (the Constitution be damned,) and for the fourth leg, we now have 34 felony convictions.

Oh yeah, and when he loses in November, he’s got three other felony cases waiting for him. But if he wins in November, all the eggs will be scrambled..

Conclusion:

If we can keep our Constitution despite the likes of Trump, Alito, etal, Trump’s next hotel room will not have private bath, and his pajamas won’t be silk

A bientot.

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