My latest in PJ Media:
The U.S. Supreme Court voted Thursday to uphold a subpoena from a grand jury in New York for President Trump’s tax returns and related records. The president’s attorneys had argued that presidents are immune from criminal investigation while in office, but seven justices, including the Trump-appointed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, voted to deny this. And so now it is certain: whatever is found in Trump’s tax records, no matter how benign, no matter how innocuous, the president will be subjected to a criminal investigation. This is as certain as death, taxes, and Democrat rage.
The Court’s ruling may be entirely sound on legal grounds. But it assumes an America that is not rent by civil conflict, an America in which judges are still more interested in dispensing impartial justice rather than in using their position to advance their political agenda, an America in which the full weight of the political and media establishment is not bearing down on the president, determined to discredit and destroy him, and remove him from office.
That America no longer exists. The America we live in now is the America in which Michael Flynn was ferociously persecuted for years, bullied into pleading guilty to spurious charges, and on the brink of serving a long prison sentence, all as part of an elaborate effort to frame President Trump on equally spurious charges that would serve as grounds for his impeachment and removal. The America we live in now is the America in which Roger Stone is about to go to prison for the crime of supporting the president and being caught up in the same effort to frame him. The America we have is one in which numerous people, notably Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and a host of others are getting off scot-free for far more serious offenses than anything Flynn or Stone were even accused of doing, because they have the good fortune to be among the privileged classes, the reigning political elites.
In this atmosphere, only the most naïve and blinkered, or only those who are so much a part of the old system that they cannot or will not see how seriously it is breaking down, could possibly think that prosecutors in New York are going to treat Trump’s tax records fairly and impartially. Anyone who has been paying attention to the political scene ever since Lois Lerner, Obama’s director of the Exempt Organizations Unit of the Internal Revenue Service, used the IRS to harass and discriminate against conservative organizations, knows that the New York prosecutors are not out to administer justice, they are out to get Trump. And they know that with tax laws being as complicated as they are, and with Trump’s financial records being of necessity as voluminous as they must be, it will not be hard to establish the appearance of impropriety, even if they don’t find any instance of the president actually breaking the law.
The forthcoming Rating America’s Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster evaluates the presidents of the United States, from Washington to Trump, on the only basis upon which they ever should be evaluated: were they good for America and Americans? It discusses how Trump, unlike any other president in American history, faces an entrenched, anti-American, globalist, socialist cabal that is bent on destroying him for the crime of putting America first, and of extricating the United States from numerous aspects of the old international order established after World War II that have proven to be detrimental to American sovereignty and to the well-being of the American people.
There is more. Read the rest here.
CogitoErgoSum says
This is getting beyond the bounds of all human decency. The Democrats must be removed from all access to any kind of power in November. Their Party needs to be completely demolished and reassembled by some people who still believe in the freedom of the individual and not the tyranny of the collective. God, I hate socialism as much as I do Islam.
Wellington says
Most definitely seconded, CES.
The modern Democratic Party is, effectively, a traitor to America. Democrats of old like FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ, Scoop Jackson, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, et al. would no longer have any place in the Democratic Party of today, which is led by utterly foolish cowards like Pelosi and Schumer and who are pushed further and further left by twits like AOC. Omar and Schiff.
The Democratic Party needs to end. Yes, it’s this dire. There is no longer any excuse for anyone of sense and knowledge to remain a Democrat. And I assert this knowing full well that the Republican Party leaves much to be desired, but it has not gone over the political cliff. The Democratic Party has and the empty and senile Joe Biden serves as the “poster boy” of just how completely gutless, vacant and stupid the Democratic Party has become, which, as I have written before here at JW, needs to go the way of the Whig Party.
CogitoErgoSum says
Quite true, Wellington. I believe Biden has become a sort of “dummy” who is being manipulated by Bernie Sanders, AOC and the others on the extreme left of the Party. He no longer is capable of thinking on his own (if he ever could). The Democrats realized that a flat out Marxist like Sanders could not win but an empty shell of a man who could still walk and talk (barely) like kindly Old Joe just might be likable enough to win more votes than a grumpy Trump. I hope most of the American people can see this.
J Morgan says
I agree with all of that and I do hope that enough American people see what a doddering old puppet Joe is.
James Lincoln says
Wellington and CogitoErgoSum,
Excellent exchange, I agree 100%.
Brian Ozzy says
Spot-on as usual Wellington!
carpediadem says
I keep seeing nonLeftists say that this “needs” to be done and that “needs” to be done.
They have never done it. They have never done anything effective to either get normal people into govt or anything to protect and support Trump or America in the only way it would have mattered.
They are still not doing it.
CogitoErgoSum says
They (we in the USA) will have another chance in the Fall. It may be our last.
James Lincoln says
CogitoErgoSum says,
Agreed.
If Democrats win in the fall, they will work incessantly to change the demographics of the country – guaranteeing a lock-hold on their power.
Current illegals become instant Democratic voters, open borders importing even more Democratic voters, etc.
The United States could go the way of Venezuela in 20 years…
maria says
Yes I agree. Our worst enemies are muslims and communists.
How could Gorsuch and Kavanaugh go against president Trump
Greg says
Agree whole heartedly
Jule Bacal says
There is a big difference between ‘socialism’ and normal balanced PUBLIC, We the people, vs all private like the old landowner systems of 1200’s etc which ALWAYS lead to revolutions. I put emphasis on BALANCE. A healthy public does not mean ‘socialism’ and we have lost that. Repos have taken too much for ‘private interest profits’ and it seems even Government is now a private entity. That is one reason Trump was elected, just to get something different than Repo or neo Dem.
But Neo Dems are out of control and what I wonder is…..doesn’t the IRS go after people with taxes that do not add up? I am sure they do so if they have not said anything, what good would an ‘investigation’ do? IRS investigates their own thing so leave it to them.
Wellington says
I am completely against any politician’s tax returns being demanded by Congress, the media or the public at large, whether that of a Democrat or a Republican.
The proper domain for any politician’s tax returns, or that of any American citizen, lies with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If they find something wrong, so be it. If they don’t, so be it. Beyond this it should proceed no further.
This crap is not about Trump’s tax returns. This is just more of the effort to destroy Trump by any means necessary. Even a half-wit should realize this. Unfortunately, so many in Congress, and who hate Trump, don’t even qualify as “half-wits.” Ditto for several members on the Supreme Court—at least a few of whom, most especially Ruth Bader Ginsburg (loathsome woman), are effectively destroying the Constitution from within by way of a “judicial perspective.” What rot. Monumental rot.
America is in huge trouble right now and if America is in huge trouble, then the world at large is in huge trouble. One knows this or should know this. The present descent continues.
Terry Gain says
Wellington
Mr. Spencer says that the Supreme Court’s decision might be legally correct, With respect, how could it possibly be correct to allow the President to be investigated given that an investigation may result in an indictment. It seems to me as a foreign lawyer that the rule that the President cannot be indicted is well established, And it seems a sensible and rational rule or how else is the President to do his job.
It seems unlikely that President Trump will be indicted before November, however it seems very likely that he will be indicted in his next term and the issue of whether the indictment should be stayed will be appealed to the the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. All of this will distract the President and make him less effective.
It seems to me that Gorsuch and Kavanaugh wanted to demonstrate that they are not “Trump’s boys”. I think they are clearly wrong. In the end result, there are only two reliable conservatives on the Supreme Court.
It would have been interesting to see what President Trump could have accomplished if he was not under constant and vicious attack. His enemies say he is erratic, but who wouldn’t be – to some extent – given the onslaught of criticism and lack of support?
Wellington says
I don’t think it is even legally correct, Terry. But even assuming that it is, common sense should prevail and conclude that this is a political witch hunt (which actually might invalidate all of it being legally correct due to the separation of powers doctrine). Of course, Joe Biden and family’s tax records will never be examined, so add a double standard to the original travesty here.
Karen Dowden says
Well said. I hope the President’s lawyers bring this and other strong arguments. It is ludicrous what is taking place in the US and so many so-called intelligent people are so blind still. Hatred is really an extremely destructive force. I live in Trinidad and maybe 75% of the people her and in the region, including many of my own friends and family are like the Dems, Craziness. We can only offer serious prayers for LIGHT and LOVE and TRUTH.
James Lincoln says
Wellington says,
“America is in huge trouble right now and if America is in huge trouble, then the world at large is in huge trouble. One knows this or should know this. The present descent continues.”
You are, unfortunately correct.
Once one takes the time to figure out what is really going on in the world, it’s very depressing. I see young kids playing in the park and worry about their future. I don’t believe that they will live in the same America that I have enjoyed. But I always hope that I am very wrong.
I try to stay very well-informed, but also have some balance in my life. I still work/volunteer part-time, cross train six days a week, enjoy music, art, classic comedy, wonderful food and drink with family and friends, topped off with a classic film noir movie.
I’m also blessed to have a wonderful family who I love dearly, and I find some comfort in my Christian faith.
Best wishes my friend.
Wellington says
Thanks, James, for that heartfelt reply. Best wishes to you and yours too.
Marilyn Griffin says
Doesn’t this ruling open the door to get any citizen’s tax records, or for the democrats to use this Avenue to go after anyone they dislike?? Somehow, I had always thought our tax records were available only to the IRS. Silly me, I guess.
Wellington says
The short answer to your query is “yes.”
BTW, Obama when President already did this with conservative groups by way of having the IRS “investigating” them. I don’t think to this day even many conservatives realize how much of a political thug Obama really was.
Terry Gain says
I do. I’ve known who Obama is since I watched his June 4, 2009 speech in Cairo. He is a traitor. And he is the true disruptor, who is responsible for the creation of Marxist and Racist BLM, which is now the greatest threat to America
Wellington says
+1
Reziac says
Note who was his sec’y of State for the first six years, and consider who was really running the show.
Not that Obama is innocent, but I think most of the really bad crap came from Hillary; he merely was glad to let it happen.
We didn’t just dodge a bullet in 2016; we dodged a cannonball. And in 2020, what’s coming at is is a nuclear bomb. Vote accordingly.
#Trumpslide2020
Frank Anderson says
This could be informative. 18 United States Code Section 1503 and 1505 prohibit any corrupt endeavor [whether successful or not] to harass, oppress or intimidate a victim, witness or party as a federal felony (crime). 1503 applied to court proceedings. 1505 applied to administrative proceedings. In 1982 they were merged (re-codified) into Section 1512 by the Victims and Witnesses Protection Act, Court decisions have declared the same conduct is prohibited by both statutes, and that the recodification of 1982 did not make lawful any conduct that was unlawful under the earlier statutes.
Trump is a party in many federal lawsuits, is a party in many administrative proceedings and is also a party in many Congressional proceedings. If this tax probe is not a corrupt endeavor, what is?
Wellington says
Thank you for that, Frank.
Ah yes, the plot thickens. And the devil is once again in the details—America’s eventual fate might lie in such “details” being properly, accurately and sapiently figured out long term.
You know, Frank, on my top three “despise list” are Muslims aplenty, Western Leftists aplenty, and gutless and clueless people aplenty who assert they are conservatives when they are anything but—an unholy and always potentially destructive trinity to be sure.
Civilization hangs by a thin thread; it always has and probably always will. Never more than now.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that information, Frank.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
I sure help that your valuable information can be used by Pres. Trump’s attorneys.
Frank Anderson says
James. If anyone wants to see the complete argument, it is easy. I filed a 102 page Petition for Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court in official, proper booklet form. I typed every letter of that booklet, ran it on my Brother printer/scanner/fax, wore out a friend’s copier with his blessing, making the required 70 copies, and with a friend’s help bound them and cut them to size. There are many cases cited which cover the law on federal witness protection. I did for about 300 dollars what would have otherwise cost about 10,000 that I did not have.
One of the reasons for filing the Petition, knowing full well about 98 percent are rejected, was to create a permanent record of the corruption that destroyed my life for performing my duty to report the criminal conduct of people in charge of my corporate client. The second reason was to prepare the way for others to resist corruption without having to suffer the total ruin I did. I have published the equivalent of plans for a legal Hydrogen Bomb for those who report crime. The research has been “blessed” by a number of lawyers and tested a number of times in litigation.
I always wish you well and know we share that wish. Frank
Reziac says
Oh, my. Very interesting…..
Frank Anderson says
R. if you are interested in seeing for yourself, start with the United States Code Annotated, Title 18, Sections 1503 and 1505, MANY cases confirm my summaries. NONE dispute them. You can read the cases, as I did, to make certain the annotations are correctly stated.
Mo says
My God, these people will not stop! I’m not even the biggest Trump fan, but I’m sick of it!
Why would he even want to do another 4 years of this nightmare? If I was him, I’d be tempted to quit on the spot!
Paul Stein says
I totally agree. This worship of our President borders on insanity and the denegration of the Democratic Party alienates half the Country. Most Democrats long for the Centrist view of protecting our great Country’s security and borders, its people, the environment, the climate, and a true return of our economic greatness without the current drama, lying, hollow bluster, incompetence, and rampant legal corruption of our current administration. A house divided…you know the rest.
The tax issue, which our President has tried to hide for four years, will show once and for all if he is on the side of America or just for himself. What’s the big deal with full disclosure anyway? Don’t the Trump-worshippers want to rub his purported innocence in the snowflakey libtarded commies’ faces?
Terry Gain says
Paul Stein
Your comment fails to take into account the following facts.
1. Even if President Trump is indicted, his case will never come to trial so long as he is president because of the very sensible rule that sitting presidents may not be indicted,
2. The information before the grand jury, that is to say the tax returns, may not be released to the public. The grand jury proceedings are therefore political theatre.
3. After 8 years of Obama being treated as some sort of Messiah it is nothing short of hilarious for Democrat partisans to refer to Trump supporters as Trump worshipers.
4. Sensible people assess politicians based on their decisions rather than their personalitIes. President Trump’s decisions have been very good, especially his withdrawal from the insane Iran deal which provided Iran with $150 billion in sanctions relief and a clear and unfettered path to nuclear weapons once the deal expired.
5. Yes, President Trump lies but most of his lies are defensive and inconsequential. Barack Obama lied about Islam, Obamacare and racism in America. Obama’s lies have been devastating for America.
6. The purpose of the grand jury investigation initiated by a partisan Democrat prosecutor is exactly the same as the purpose of the Steele dossier, which as you know was paid for Hillary Clinton, someone who did commit crimes under the Public Records Act and The Espionage Act and someone who did collude with the Russians. She of course has not been prosecuted because the American judicial system has fallen on hard partisan times. FFS, Clinton destroyed emails under subpoena and faced no legal consequences for doing so. President Trump is being investigated in order to dirty him up and prevent him from being reelected.
James Lincoln says
Terry Gain says,
“Sensible people assess politicians based on their decisions rather than their personalitIes.”
Absolutely true, Terry.
Amazingly, a large percentage of people vote on emotion rather than policy. A very bright attorney asked me the other day whether or not I “liked” Pres. Trump. I stated that I did not know him personally and that I did not – on an emotional level – either “like” or “dislike” him.
I stated that I agreed with almost all of his policies.
The attorney was speechless – and quickly change the subject.
Paul Stein says
Thank you for your response, Terry. With your first two points, I agree. The whole tax return thing is simply a theatrical illustration of our current President’s potential…POTENTIAL…illegalities and corruption that will never see the light of day in his time in office. As you correctly state, “Yes, President Trump lies…” That is the issue. Do we really need a President who lies and lies often? Isn’t that a true fault of him? When the American public must be called upon ALL THE TIME to figure out what is real and what is a lie FROM THEIR PRESIDENT, isn’t that a major character flaw? That sort of consistently stupid behavior mustn’t be glossed over. It is a valid criticism. It keeps the American public in a constant state of uncertainty, and that breeds fear and hate of the unknown. We need so much better from our leader. Whatever one might think or say about Joe Biden, on anything, he always has been and will be honest. One plus.
Regarding the rest of what you stated. It is irrelevant to the discussion. It is a deflection of the point at hand by forcing one to gaze elsewhere. That doesn’t make our President’s issues any better. I agree that President Obama was mediocre at best, and I vehemently disagreed with his handling of the economic recovery as well as his relationship with Israel. And forget Hillary Clinton. She was unelectable from the start, but she was only Secretary of State, never the President.
The point is our current President! However much we may truly appreciate his handling of foreign affairs, especially with our one true ally in the Middle East on the front line of the Jihadi War, Israel, his negative issues are fair game for criticism.
gravenimage says
Good posts, Terry and James.
gravenimage says
Paul, this is not what Mo was saying.
And I don’t know anyone who worships Trump.
gravenimage says
Criminal Investigation of Trump Coming: Supreme Court Rules He Must Turn Over Tax Records
……………….
They never stop. I have never seen any American president harassed like this, nor ever read of it happening before my time. Glad Trump is mostly standing strong in the face of it.
Wellington says
The worst of it is, gravenimage, is that even though Trump has been harassed as no other President in history has (and over nothing), huge numbers of Americans foolishly don’t care even though this is undermining the office of the Presidency, democracy itself and the rule of law, so filled with animus for Trump as millions are.
This is deeply worrisome for the future of free government in America and goes beyond just Trump. Still, so many remain blind—and filled with hate. Stupid world.
gravenimage says
Grimly true.
Dapto says
How about getting Nazi Piglosi to make her tax returns public ?
Paul Stein says
She said she would once she sees the President’s.
mccode says
Those of us here are preaching to the choir — a cathartic exercise that helps, a bit, I hope.
Fully aware of the vile hypocrisy of the swamp creatures, Never-Trumpers, DemoCraps, BLM Marxists, complicit MSM, Islamic enablers, et. al., I am not in the least assured that our Republic will prevail and endure. I hope and pray to God that I’m wrong.
It seems to be a modern day rendition of Lord of the Rings with the Forces of Darkness heavily armed and arrayed against the peoples who can see the truth.
CogitoErgoSum says
Bilbo and Frodo are the smallest and most peace-loving characters in the Lord of the Rings story yet they are the greatest of all the heroes. They love their homes and families and friends and the simple things in life. They are not really interested in what goes on outside their Shire and they don’t really like going off on great adventures but will do what they must do if it is for the greater good of those they love. They show us how even the seemingly most insignificant of people can do great things if they possess courage, wisdom and a belief in their own goodness; a kind of goodness that cannot be turned ugly by greed or lust for power. Their story is timeless and so are their virtues. That is the simple truth the Dark Forces cannot withstand.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear, CogitoErgoSum!
Michael Chernick says
I follow Robert Spencer more faithfully than Donald Trump, but am dismayed at the attitude in the article, and the comments. Let’s go into this with our eyes open. There are things we do that have consequences much later in life; it is one of the three types of karma, the one where the arrow has left the bow and there is no stopping it. Donald also did his good work, but when he said he would be the greatest president he apparently did not make provision for the sacrifice that he would have to make to fulfill that vision. If one is not glorifying the Almighty, then he is glorifying himself, and we know how that can end, like Hitler in his last bunker. Donald is no Hitler, but egos are self destructive and he was granted his long wish to be rich. Now he has to pull a trick out of the hat, and it best be done with prayer bcz many of his supporters, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh included cannot abide with the destruction of our laws, IE criminal action by Stone; horribly unethical work in Mexico by Flynn, which most of you don’t appear to know about and which cost people their lives while he was peddling sophisticated surveillance equipment for murderers.
Terry Gain says
You think Stone, who is a 67 year old man who has asthma, should have gone to a Covid infected prison when thousands of dangerous criminals have been released from prison so that they don’t die therein? What is the matter with you? Are you as Trump deranged as Romney?
I express no opinion on Stone’s guilt or innocence, but he clearly didn’t get a fair trial. The jury foreperson was obviously biased against him and falsely swore that she could try the case impartially.
I think the Gestapo-like arrest of Stone, by itself, is sufficient basis to pardon him. I hope that President Trump pardons Stone as soon as he is reelected
David Grisez says
I am 69 years old. In my lifetime I have never seen such opposition, hatred and disrespect of a United States president as I have seen with President Donald Trump. This is all coming from the Democrat Party that will not accept a legitimately and constitutionally elected President of the United States who is not a member of the Democrat Party. This witch hunt against President Donald Trump needs to stop. The Russian collusion matter that dragged on, the Ukraine phone call, the House of Representatives impeachment effort, and now Donald Trumps taxes. It is like the Democrat party has gone insane.
Terry Gain says
Yes, it seems like the Democrat Party has gone insane. Because it has.
Dave-E says
The ruling actually didn’t enforce the subpoena “as is.” It simply said there was no blanket immunity from subpoenas, and sent the case back to the court of original jurisdiction where there are still plenty of roadblocks to a partisan prosecution that the President’s lawyers can argue. The case is still far from “he must turn over all his tax records.”
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
President Trump is a sad reminder of what can happen to any good American who loves their nation and her traditions. We live in a day and age where it is a crime to be patriotic or even say “all lives matter.” A woman was just shot, I believe in Indianapolis, for saying just that. What kind of nation and world are we living in that violent mobs can so control the narrative. This is deeply troubling. Society is sick with irrationality and misguided hate, fueled by leftist policies that favors anyone who hates America. Everything our President has done to better our nation has been twisted into something bad by the left’s fascist style of politics against him : How dare you want to “Make America Great”!!! How dare you want to protect our borders from drug dealers and terrorists and other criminal migrants! How dare you want to protect our founding principles and heritage that makes us the greatest nation on earth! It seems to me the only guiding principle of the left is that they have no principles, they’re like an intemperate wind that blows the stink wherever it wants to go. I don’t want to live in an America where “free speech” is outlawed, where anyone can come in even if they’re against us, and where violent and irrational mobs terrorize to destroy America. This whole ” abolish and defund the police” idea is irrational and insane, crime is epidemic already and will only get worse, obviously. They want to destroy America, the anarchists, Marxists, BLM, antifa, and muslims like Ilhan Omar who speak of “dismantling the whole system.” They thrive on chaos like this, they remind me of the barbarians that destroyed Rome. What started out as a protest against police for killing a serious criminal and drug peddler ended up a fascist attack on our nation’s laws, peace, and heritage. Floyd is literally portrayed as a haloed saint with wings while our patriotic President is called a Nazi and a criminal by the left. No nation can be great or safe when it’s controlled by filthy, unreasoned thinking such as this.
Even if I hated Trump personally I’d have no choice but to vote for him. He and his party are the only ones that want to protect our nation from the left’s self-loathing desire to destroy it. I love America too much to see it destroyed for a mob of malcontents fueled by race hate and anti American sentiments. It’s time for good Americans to renew their sense of patriotism, and to support those–past and present–who helped America become the greatest nation on earth.
mccode says
E vero, Agostino. Sono d’accordo.
Bravo.
gravenimage says
+1
Reziac says
No worries — so long as EVERY POLITICIAN IN FEDERAL OFFICE must do the same. Hey, let’s start with candidate Biden!
Betcha this witch hunt would evaporate overnight.
OLD GUY says
If we are going to look at Trump’s tax returns because he holds public office lets look at all elected officials tax returns. I’am fairly certain that Pelosi, Biden and Schumer will be the first in line to turn their tax returns over to the press.
Peter Dale says
John Durham is expected to file indictments this fall against some very important people. What better way to divert attention than to focus on Trump’s tax returns? As for keeping any details of this tax investigation confidential: good luck. We will find out what Trump’s enemies want us to find out no matter what the law says. As we all know, slip-ups and accidental releases of supposedly confidential documents happen all the time, whenever important and powerful politicians want these releases to happen.
Huh!?! says
Fine comments listed in this post. This is smoke and mirrors. A useless impeachment romp that tied up government. A useless Russia investigation that tied up the government. Now this. I used to be a democrat. The democratic party does not exist anymore.There might be a group of true believer democrats but they have no guts to stand by Uncle Sam. I pray constantly that Trump and the Republicans will gain and maintain control. I may not agree with all of the Republican Party platform but I will be able to worship in the church of my choice and economic development can take place. I don’t want to live in a socialist sharia hell hole.