(Jun 9, 2023 01:50 AM)Charlie Sheen Wrote:  They found documents all over the place that Biden has had for decades. They found documents Pence had. Nothing happens. Now they indict Trump for the very same thing. I don't know all of the details and how the forfeiture of documents process works. All I see is that 3 different people were found committing the same "crime" and only 1 is indicted over it.


Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-president-trump-says-has-been-indicted

Quote:The indictment further accuses Trump of improperly showing off these documents — to writers working on a book and to an ally in a political action committee.

In these conversations, federal authorities say, Trump explicitly stated that he knew he shouldn't be showing these documents, a potentially incriminating detail authorities will use in court.

One of those conversations was allegedly recorded.

(Jun 9, 2023 11:24 PM)The Pact Wrote:  I think the FBI and the justice department are going to use Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to actually stop him running. It's the only thing they can use I think? They are bringing in the Espionage Act and they have more than one audio tape. The FBI have been able to use a certain type of legal exception to get Trump's confidential meetings with his lawyer because on page 33 it is claimed that he told his lawyer to destroy evidence and there is a claim that he told his lawyer to pretend he didn't have documents that he did that included US defense material---- that is one of the allegations. In order to stop him running he has to be convicted of being some kind of traitor not simply convicted of a crime. There's a recording of him saying that he could have declassified certain documents while president, but he didn't, and there are documents about defense in there. They have 37 or 38 counts they are indicting him on.

I have heard some reporters say 37 and some say 38?

(Jun 12, 2023 09:15 PM)Itachi Uchiha Wrote:  Agree with everything said, certain people are claiming “Trump can declassify with his mind” which sure that’s a power that he held. But he doesn’t own those documents, “declassify” doesn’t also include automatic ownership. Those documents still belong to the government, as a civilian Trump had no right to them, he lied to investigators, lied to his lawyer, lied to his employees about these documents.

(Jun 13, 2023 06:50 AM)The Pact Wrote:  Do you think he just didn't want Biden to have them? The problem with "he can declassify them with his mind," is they have an audio tape with him allegedly saying they were still classified so the people with him shouldn't see them and he could no longer declassify them. And that they should look at them form a distance because they shouldn't really be looking at them. But I think we're still waiting to hear this audio tape?

(Jun 13, 2023 08:35 AM)Itachi Uchiha Wrote:  I honestly doubt it had anything to do with Biden. One of the speculation is he just liked having them to brag, others are far more malicious i.e selling them to foreign adversaries.

It doesn’t matter if he can declassify, once Biden was president he could re-classify anything with his mind as well.
https://youtu.be/7KRceywz-rU

(Jun 13, 2023 09:43 PM)Rionxee Wrote:  I'm speaking from an impartial lens.

When a former sitting president is indicted in more charges than one can keep up with it seems that there is an issue. We have time and time again seen that presidents have engaged in behavior that would be considered illegal and illicit an indictment. Many presidents have engaged in immoral conduct whilst in office but have often been brushed off and forgotten. Many presidents have even breached the Presidential Records Act of 1978 but they have no been charged as prosecutors have exercised their own discretion. Donald may not have been a perfect president but by far he is not the only one who has faults. Yes, some of what he did is potentially egregious if found guilty but if the truth came to light about other former presidents it would be considered egregious as well. I find that there is an issue with how the law is levied and that we are seeing a first-hand account of a misuse of the justice system.

It is impressive that many do not see an issue with this since there has been a very large leeway with how the presidential records act is enforced as evident with previous administrations. There are also further problems with these indictments as it threatens the equality of future candidates and their status within the law. Indicting a former president raises questions about the precedent it sets for future leaders. If a precedent is established that former presidents can be indicted, it may influence the behavior and decision-making of future presidents, potentially leading to a culture of legal scrutiny and constant investigations.

Perhaps the worst part of this is the optics of our government and the legitimacy of executive rule. Indicting a former president can impact the public's perception of the office of the presidency and the legitimacy of the political system. It may erode trust in democratic institutions and lead to increased skepticism and cynicism among the general public.

(Jun 14, 2023 09:24 PM)The Pact Wrote:  It's my understanding that he could not. It's my understanding that once he was no longer president that he could no longer declassify them and that there is an audio recording where he says, "I can't declassify these now. They're still classified and top secret so you'll have to look at them from a distance." I don't think this audio has been released yet? But they're claiming that proves intent. And when I said "about Biden" I mean more.....about "not winning," you know?

(Jun 13, 2023 09:43 PM)Rionxee Wrote:  I'm speaking from an impartial lens.


Perhaps the worst part of this is the optics of our government It may erode trust in democratic institutions and lead to increased skepticism and cynicism among the general public.