Tuesday, August 16, 2022

The rule of law, failing or not?

In recent years, the rule of law has seemed weak when it comes to dealing with white collar crime. The problem seems to be especially acute for politicians and crimes related to politics. Although the DoJ now states that there is an ongoing criminal investigation(s) of the ex-president, that is no guarantee of any indictment, much less any conviction for anything. From the looks of things, practiced white collar criminals have figured effective ways to commit many or most crimes and evade laws.

The New York Times describes an example of the near impossibility of convicting criminals who know how to play the system. The NYT writes:
Trump Executive Nears Plea Deal With Manhattan Prosecutors

Allen H. Weisselberg, who was charged with participating in a tax scheme, will not cooperate with the district attorney’s investigation into Donald J. Trump.

If it becomes final, a plea deal for the executive, Allen H. Weisselberg, would bring prosecutors no closer to indicting the former president but would nonetheless brand one of his most trusted lieutenants a felon.

While Mr. Weisselberg, 75, is facing financial penalties as well as up to 15 years in prison if convicted by a jury, a plea deal would avoid a high-profile trial and spare him a lengthy sentence. Two people with knowledge of the matter said that Mr. Weisselberg was expected to receive a five-month jail term. With time credited for good behavior, he is likely to serve about 100 days.

Prosecutors have long hoped that they could persuade Mr. Weisselberg to testify against Mr. Trump, given his decades in the employ of the Trump family and his vast knowledge of the company and its business practices.

Mr. Trump and his company have long maintained that Mr. Weisselberg would have had to lie to implicate Mr. Trump. Still, his decision to plead guilty — and accept prison time — underscores the extent of his loyalty to a family that has employed him for nearly a
half-century. 
Even without Mr. Weisselberg’s cooperation, the prosecutors continued to build a case against Mr. Trump, focusing on whether he falsely inflated the value of his hotels, golf clubs and other assets.

But Mr. Vance had decided not to run for re-election, and after weeks of meetings about the case, Mr. Bragg developed concerns about the challenge of showing that Mr. Trump intended to break the law, a requirement for proving the charge under consideration.

Weisselberg faces up to 15 years in jail, but is going to serve maybe 1-2 years. That is a farce. It is nothing. Weisselberg appears to be on the verge of getting off with a scolding accompanied by some finger wagging. 

Naughty boy, naughty, naughty boy. 
Weisselberg's response: 
Blow it out your tailpipe, you wuss
I'm not gonna rat him out

There, the punishment fit his crime. Justice has been served for the criminal Weisselberg. For the rest of us? Arguably not so much, or not at all.

If that is how this turns out for Weisselberg, big effing deal. 

I argue that this is yet more evidence the rule of law is usually a farce for people like Weisselberg and his criminal, traitor boss. T**** is laughing in our faces and the law cannot do a damned thing about it. Well, at least the law has yet to do a damned thing about it, and it has had years and years to act.

Q: Is the rule of law failing or not?

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