Getting Courted

Ever since the verdict finding Trump guilty of 34 counts on his felony conviction, we’ve heard from both sides how unprecedented this is.  (Actually, of course, we’ve been hearing about that since four indictments came down on him.)  And in one way, that’s correct – no former president in U.S. history has been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of a felony, not to mention 34 felonies.  All of which has been grist for MAGOP officials and acolytes in their mournful, heart-wrenching cry of it having been a “sham trial.” (TM) MAGOP.

Aside from facts, evidence and reality, there’s also been a major piece of the puzzle missing from the argument.  And it’s that there is absolutely nothing “unprecedented” about Trump being in court, or even had courts rule against him.  In fact, in some ways, the opposite is true – it would be unprecedented if Trump wasn’t in court.

And not, that is not being hyperbolic.

As I wrote a few months back, in over the past 40 years, Trump has been sued over 4,000 times.  To put that in perspective, it means he averages being sued 100 times a year, every single year for almost half a century – or twice a week!  Every week.  For more than 40 years.

(The most notable early lawsuit was in 1973.  That was when he and his father were sued by the U.S. Justice Department for racial discrimination over not renting apartments to black people.  They settled out of court.  Quite a sordid beginning.)

But even if you want to dismiss 40 years of being in court as a defendant as “That’s just old news” (or, as some people would call it, “history’), there also current events.  After all –

In recent years (or in some cases, recent months), Trump has been found liable by two juries for defamation and what the judge wrote was the equivalence of rape.  And found guilty for business fraud, his company fined $464 million.  And had his charity foundation shut down for a “shocking patten of illegality.”  And paid $25 million in a settlement with those who sued his now-defunct Trump University for duping them.

So, it’s like it should come as an “unprecedented” shock to anyone that Trump was convicted unanimously beyond all reasonable doubt on 34 counts of fraud.  Or to put the decision another way, by a vote of 408-0.

Even ignoring that the trial was handled purely legally, with a full defense and his lawyers agreeing with the selection of jurors, and cross-examining all the witnesses against them – two of the most damning (Trump friends and associates David Pecker and Hope Hicks) who never even had their veracity challenged by Trump’s lawyers – and getting to respond to all the legal documents and other evidence presented, and the right to testify in his own defense if he chose to, which he didn’t that was also his right, there was nothing even remotely “sham” about Trump being taken to court.

Nor is it a “unprecedented” and therefore a “sham” for him to be found guilty.  That’s how the U.S. system of justice works.  And it worked.

There is a legal principle known as “pattern or practice” where the actions of the defendant are shown to have occurred repeatedly to the degree that they have become systematic.

Being taken to court is a Trump birthright. And has been twice a week, every week for over 40 years. 

Having his guilt repeatedly adjudicated in court has now become standard.

Election fraud, business fraud, defamation, liability for rape, shutting down his charity, settling for his defunct “university.  And none of this even includes all those around him he insulates himself with to take the fall for him and end up guilty, bankrupt or in prison.  Rudy Guiliani, Steve Bannon, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Peter Navarro, George Papadopoulos, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, and Sydney Powell so far.  Watch this space.  That’s all a separate matter.  Just the surrounding part of his world.

Trump’s life is a pattern or practice of conning and defrauding his individual victims and the general public.

There is absolutely nothing “sham” about Trump’s Manhattan trial or the verdict.  And absolutely nothing unprecedented about him being in court.  However much his MAGOP enablers want to cry it out loud.  It is who Trump is and has always been.

The only thing sham about Trump is and has always been Trump.