I really, really don't care if you hate Donald Trump, think he is a threat to democracy, or honestly believe that he wanted to overthrow the US government (if you believe that you have been successfully brainwashed and need a deprogrammer, but whatever...). 

Even if all that describes you, I think you are a browshirt if you approve of the lawfare being used against the former president. 

Whatever fantasy you hallucinate, it's impossible to not see that none of the lawsuits, investigations, or prosecutions being used to cripple Trump is anything but a distortion of our legal system in order to achieve a political goal. 

The latest verdict--the outrageous fine imposed on Trump for harming literally nobody--is beyond absurd. It is outrageous--worthy of any third-world dictatorship in which El Jefe wants to cripple a political opponent without enduring the PR nightmare of outright executing him. 

...Of course, Gov. Hochul is suggesting that you have nothing to fear from such confiscatory actions unless you are Trump in New York. However, if the only protection in New York is the discretion of figures like James, few businesses would relish the future.

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 19, 2024

Even the post-verdict spin by the Governor of New York, who is desperately trying to convince businessmen not to flee the state after Trump's legal lynching, is that nobody has to worry because legal outrages like this will only happen to REALLY BAD MEN like Trump. Nobody else has to worry about being targeted, so calm down. 

'I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because they’re very different than Donald Trump and his behavior,' Hochul responded.

New York Attorney General Letitia James ran for office promising to "get" Trump, and for the moment, she has succeeded. But in doing so she has also proved that the legal system is being used--openly and explicitly--to harm opponents of the regime. If you play ball with them, they will be good to you. If you oppose them, you are screwed. 

Jonathan Turley is appalled by the decision. 

Oscar Wilde wrote that “moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” Justice Arthur Engoron took that line to heart with his absurd imposition of $455 million in fines and interest against Donald Trump and his corporation.

It succeeded wonderfully with New Yorkers, who celebrated the verdict like a popular public execution. It also worked wonderfully to make it difficult to appeal.

Much of the criticism of the decision focused on the unprecedented use of the law and the excessive size of the fine. The New York statute has been on the books for decades and has always been something of an anomaly in not requiring an actual victim or loss to justify disgorgement or fines.

Even the New York Times agreed that it could not find a single case in history where this statute was used against an individual or a company that did not commit a criminal offense, go bankrupt, or leave financial victims. 

The supposed victims of Trump's perfidy testified in his defense, each of whom said they wanted to do business with him again as it is very profitable for them. They no longer will be able to, as Trump is barred from doing business in New York for three years. 

After the absurd civil verdict, posting this video again of Kevin O’Leary

Mr Wonderful explains, to CNN of all platforms:

NO ONE lost money!

Trump negotiated with sophisticated banks, just like EVERY real estate developer

A complete sham. A witch hunt.pic.twitter.com/O2RPUxqErQ

— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) February 19, 2024

Trump haters are celebrating because they have been successfully chipping away at Trump's wealth and hampering his presidential campaign. So far, over the past few months, the New York courts have extorted about half a billion dollars from Trump, and the Left is celebrating. 

These people are, in my judgment, the scum of the Earth. Whatever claims they have to protecting democracy are exposed as lies, because they are tearing up the rule of law in order to get their way. They haven't thrown Trump in jail yet, but they are working on it because, well, they hate him. Whatever lies they tell themselves when they look in the mirror, the real reflection they see is of a corrupt tyrant who aspires to be Xi Jinping. 

He disgorged hundreds of millions in a case where not one dollar was lost by anyone. Indeed, the “victims” wanted to get more business from Trump and are now being prevented from doing so by Engoron.

There is also an added inequity to Engoron’s decision.

Under New York law, Trump cannot appeal this ruling without depositing the full amount, including interest, in a court account. Even for Trump, $455 million is hard to come by. Likewise, a bond would require a company to guarantee payment for a defendant who has been barred from doing business in New York and is facing the need to liquidate much of his portfolio.

Nothing succeeds like excess for judges like Engoron. By imposing this astronomical figure, he can make it difficult or impossible for a defendant to appeal, absent declaring bankruptcy or selling off assets at distress prices. 

The judge is doing his best to ensure that Trump will be unable to even appeal, because he will have to liquidate his assets to do so. Even if he wins on appeal, as seems likely, he will be financially ruined. 

And that, of course, is the point. Which is why Judge Engoron smirked so uncontrollably as he imposed a fine that shocks the conscience. 

It's OK, though, because he is "saving democracy" or something. He just vindicated the rule of law, right? 

I've scraped smelly stuff off the soles of my shoe that stink less than this verdict. And every single person involved knows how corrupt they are acting, and feels virtuous for using these means because Trump is Orange. 

The ecstasy expressed by many in the city reinforced the image of a thrill-kill chase around the island of Manhattan, like a corporate version of “Lord of the Flies.”

Watching the celebrations probably caused many executives to check time shares in Florida. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has rushed to assure businesses that there is “nothing to worry about” after the corporate public execution of Trump and his company.

The biggest reason that Trump is locked in as the Republican nominee is precisely because his enemies are proving everything Trump says about the Swamp is true and then some. Whatever critiques you might throw at Trump, he never used his power as president to destroy his political opponents--the hallmark of tyrants. 

If you aren't appalled at what is being done here, I don't know what to say. You have lost your moral compass. Or you never were a good person to begin with. 

Trump may not be an Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn by a long shot, but he is being treated with no more justice than he was. 

Without the rule of law, our country is already done.