The Powers of the Presidency

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Donald Trump sought to reoccupy the White House in the 2024 election for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the boost that holding the office again would give to his ego.  But in addition to using the presidency for self-glorification (like having a military parade march past the White House on his birthday), Trump and his family also knew that it offered an almost unlimited potential for personal profiteering, and this time the Trump Organization has been shameless in its pursuit of financial gain through the powers and connections of the office.  A recent expose in THE NEW YORKER magazine indicated that Trump and his family members have profited in the billions of dollars from his current stint in the White HousE, which is still just in its first year.

Being elected to the presidency again also short-circuited the glide path to prison that Trump was on prior to the election - with judgments, court dates, and convictions piling up.  As President much of his legal troubles evaporated from the court dockets and the news.

The presidency also presented Donald Trump with a clear shot at getting even with his perceived enemies, the people who tried to hold him accountable when he was without the protective cloak of  the Oval Office.  A return to power gave him a perch from atop "his" Justice Department to begin investigations of those who had investigated him and tried to hold him accountable for his criminal behaviors.  His Justice Department could also begin investigating former associates and employees who had shared too much information about Trump's past activities.  It was a great place from which to "get even."

This morning there are news stories on the internet stating that an FBI raid is currently underway at the Maryland home of John Bolton, Trump's former National Security Adviser.   Bolton has not been bashful in his criticisms of Trump since leaving office, and now apparently the FBI is invading his privacy in a search for classified government materials - presumably like those the FBI found stacked in a restroom at Mar-a-Lago during the four years between Trump's two terms in the White House;  

With Trump, the level of hypocrisy is often astounding.

The presidency also gave Trump a way to quickly reward his friends through things like tax breaks for the extremely wealthy - and presidential pardons for common criminals.  One of his first acts upon returning to power was to blanket pardon all of January 6th (2021) rioters, insurrectionists, and terrorists  who ransacked the Capitol and attacked police in an effort to keep Trump in office after he lost the 2020 election.

But Trump's pardon powers only extend to federal felons.  Yesterday he also tried to strong-arm the state government of Colorado into releasing a state prisoner.  Tina Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, was convicted in a jury trial in state court of opening state voting machines to unauthorized people in Trump's frantic 2020 search for more votes.

Peters was convicted of multiple felonies and was sentenced to nine years in prison.  So far Trump has not figured out a way to interfere in her case and free the state prisoner.  So now he has reverted to his fallback position of bullying.  In a post yesterday Trump said:

"FREE TINA PETERS, a brave and innocent Patriot who has been tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians, including the big Mail-in-Ballot supporting governor of the State.  Let Tina Peters out of jail RIGHT NOW.  She did nothing wrong except catching the Democrats cheat in the Election.  She is an old woman and very sick.   If she is not released, I am going to take harsh measures!!!"

The "old woman," Tina Peters, is sixty-nine.

Donald Trump is seventy-nine - and it is certainly showing.

I miss the old days when we had Presidents who wrote and spoke like adults, but, then again, I'm old, too!!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!!