fishonjazz
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We already all know this but: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...1&cvid=bb737df96396498da2f91418e8e60b0f&ei=74
“Trump‘s apparent limitless resources demonstrate the financial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney who is now a law professor at the University of Michigan. “A well-funded defendant has the luxury of pursuing every defense possible, even taking a flyer on obviously frivolous motions, whereas a defendant represented by a public defender or a low-cost lawyer lack that opportunity because the lawyers are overworked and underpaid.”
Nearly all criminal defendants plead guilty rather than fight charges at trial. But Trump's fundraising of tens of millions of dollars has paid lawyers to argue all the way to the Supreme Court that charges in his federal election interference case should be dismissed.
“Everyone is intended to be afforded equal justice, however, the reality is you receive as much justice as you can afford," said Tim Parlatore, a lawyer who represented Trump during the early phases of the classified documents and election interference investigations.
A federal judge in Florida dismissed 40 charges related to hoarding classified documents after leaving the White House, thanks to Trump's deep pockets funding motions making novel arguments. Those could be reinstated by a higher court, but the process will be lengthy and the outcome uncertain.
Trials are pending on accusations of election interference with four federal counts in Washington and 10 state counts in Georgia, but the Supreme Court ordered a review that could throw out charges in those cases and possibly vacate his convictions.
“Sometimes the defendant has to make that horrible choice like: ‘I can only afford to file one motion.' Which one are we going to file?” Parlatore said.
Nearly 90% of federal criminal defendants − 64,139 out of 71,887 − pleaded guilty last year, according to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, which tracks federal cases. About 2% of defendants − 1,564 − were convicted at trial. Most of the rest of the cases were dismissed with a relative handful acquitted at trial.
Trump, in addition to being a self-proclaimed billionaire, has tapped his supporters to pay his legal fees through his Save America political action committee and presidential campaign committee.
Trump's Save America political action committee spent more than $70 million on “legal consulting” from Trump’s leaving office in January 2021 through June 30, according to Federal Election Committee records.
Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, an advocacy group for transparency in campaign funding, said if Trump is as rich as he claims, he should be paying for his own legal defense because contributing to his legal defense would be “a hell of a way to buy influence with a person.”
“While this may be all legal, it’s wrong and it basically stinks,” said Wertheimer
In summary, its good to be rich when you are charged with a crime. Which everyone already knew. But its most advantageous when charged with a crime to be rich and also to have others paying your legal bills for you and to also have judges and even supreme court justices who you have appointed involved in your criminal cases. But dont be fooled. Trump is the victim here. He is always the victim.
“Trump‘s apparent limitless resources demonstrate the financial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney who is now a law professor at the University of Michigan. “A well-funded defendant has the luxury of pursuing every defense possible, even taking a flyer on obviously frivolous motions, whereas a defendant represented by a public defender or a low-cost lawyer lack that opportunity because the lawyers are overworked and underpaid.”
Nearly all criminal defendants plead guilty rather than fight charges at trial. But Trump's fundraising of tens of millions of dollars has paid lawyers to argue all the way to the Supreme Court that charges in his federal election interference case should be dismissed.
“Everyone is intended to be afforded equal justice, however, the reality is you receive as much justice as you can afford," said Tim Parlatore, a lawyer who represented Trump during the early phases of the classified documents and election interference investigations.
A federal judge in Florida dismissed 40 charges related to hoarding classified documents after leaving the White House, thanks to Trump's deep pockets funding motions making novel arguments. Those could be reinstated by a higher court, but the process will be lengthy and the outcome uncertain.
Trials are pending on accusations of election interference with four federal counts in Washington and 10 state counts in Georgia, but the Supreme Court ordered a review that could throw out charges in those cases and possibly vacate his convictions.
“Sometimes the defendant has to make that horrible choice like: ‘I can only afford to file one motion.' Which one are we going to file?” Parlatore said.
Nearly 90% of federal criminal defendants − 64,139 out of 71,887 − pleaded guilty last year, according to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, which tracks federal cases. About 2% of defendants − 1,564 − were convicted at trial. Most of the rest of the cases were dismissed with a relative handful acquitted at trial.
Trump, in addition to being a self-proclaimed billionaire, has tapped his supporters to pay his legal fees through his Save America political action committee and presidential campaign committee.
Trump's Save America political action committee spent more than $70 million on “legal consulting” from Trump’s leaving office in January 2021 through June 30, according to Federal Election Committee records.
Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, an advocacy group for transparency in campaign funding, said if Trump is as rich as he claims, he should be paying for his own legal defense because contributing to his legal defense would be “a hell of a way to buy influence with a person.”
“While this may be all legal, it’s wrong and it basically stinks,” said Wertheimer
In summary, its good to be rich when you are charged with a crime. Which everyone already knew. But its most advantageous when charged with a crime to be rich and also to have others paying your legal bills for you and to also have judges and even supreme court justices who you have appointed involved in your criminal cases. But dont be fooled. Trump is the victim here. He is always the victim.
