Former President Donald Trump was indicted for an unprecedented third time on August 1, adding another set of serious federal charges to the mounting legal issues he faces.

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[–] 354 points 3 years ago (12 children)

Trump pushed the big lie that the election was stolen. Trump lost in the courts^[1] including the Supreme Court.^[2] Then he tried to pressure state officials.^[3] He tried to pressure Pence.^[4]

So what does Trump do after exhausting all nonviolent methods of overturning the election? He turns to his supporters and lights them up making inflammatory statements such as;

  • We are going to fight for the survival of the nation.

  • Now is not the time to retreat, its to fight harder.

  • We will never give in, never back down, never surrender.

  • We will fight like hell.

  • You have to get your people to fight.

He primed them for weeks.

State officials had started getting death threats weeks before the attempted insurrection following the general election.^[5] Trump saw first hand what violence was being created as his supporters rioted and vandalized black churches in Washington back in December.^[6]

Trump didn't stop his incitement after the initial violence, he got more specific. He told his supporters how, when, and where. He gave them 18 days notice inviting them to the rally telling them to be there, that it will be wild.^[7] And on the day of the insurrection Trump told his supporters to march on the Capitol and fight like hell.

Following the riot Trump continued to promote the big lie that had incited the insurrection. After the mob was dispersed, Trump praised and sympathized with the mob in a video he released, claiming once again that the election had been stolen.^[8] Then he praised the insurrection in a tweet after the mob had been dispersed. He told his mob to remember Jan. 6 forever. He said that he loved the insurrectionists and that the violent mob were special people.


  1. New York Times - Over 30 Trump Campaign Lawsuits Have Failed. Some Rulings Are Scathing.

  2. BBC - US Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed bid to overturn election

  3. USA Today - Trump is heard on audiotape pressuring Georgia secretary of state to 'find' votes to overturn Biden's win

  4. Politico - Trump pressures Pence to throw out election results — even though he can't

  5. NPR - 'Someone's Going To Get Killed': Georgia Republican Official Blasts GOP Silence On Election Threats

  6. Toronto Star - Black churches vandalized, four stabbed, dozens arrested at pro-Trump rallies in Washington

  7. New York Times - 'Be There. Will Be Wild!’: Trump All but Circled the Date: Inside Trump supporters’ online echo chambers, the chaos of Jan. 6 could be seen coming. People posted their plans to come to Washington — and showed the weapons they would carry.

  8. Wall Street Journal - Trump Tells Rioters, ‘I Know How You Feel,’ Draws Bipartisan Condemnation

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  • [–] 18 points 3 years ago

    My "favorite" but was when he heard that some of them had weapons that were denied access, and he angrily told his staff to let the weapons into the capital, because they weren't coming to hurt him.

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    [–] 177 points 3 years ago (12 children)

    When he is behind bars then I’ll celebrate. Until then. The battle for our democracy continues….

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  • [–] 71 points 3 years ago (12 children)

    Even after he is behind bars. Crazy as it sounds, he can run for President from prison.

    Not very effectively, but he can run.

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  • [–] 23 points 3 years ago (8 children)

    One presidential candidate got 3.4% (more than all 3rd party candidates in 2020 combined) of the vote (over 1million votes) as a third party candidate while in prison in 1920.

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    [–] 66 points 3 years ago (10 children)

    There are many who choose not to celebrate until the Orange One has had "actual repercussions".

    Me? Well...

    To each their own. 🥂🍻🍸🍷

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  • [–] 20 points 3 years ago (4 children)

    Yep, I get why some would be pessimistic after years of nothing happenning to the man, but this is kinda it. I mean, what else do people expect, no due process and straight to prison? This is the worst actual outcome for him right now, and possibly the best for America. I figure he could be considered a flight risk and be put in jail pending process, but I figure this would be a worst outcome for America, considering his deathcult. You're 2 fox news articles away from them claiming be died in jail and resurrected like Jesus.

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    [–] 62 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    What a dingdong he is. I hope he spends the rest of his life in jail.

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  • [–] 55 points 3 years ago (7 children)

    Nobody knows more about prison than me. I’m the best inmate they ever had. They love me here. I have the best cell, the best food, the best friends. I’m very popular. The guards respect me. They know I’m innocent. The fake news media and the crooked Democrats put me here. They’re very jealous of me. They’re losers. They’re afraid of me. They know I won the election by a lot. I’m still your president. I’ll be out soon. You’ll see. It’s going to be huge.

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  • [–] 23 points 3 years ago* (11 children)

    I know this is a common sentiment amongst a lot of people, but the reality is he will never see prison time before he dies of old age. He will do everything in his power to draw it out and when he can’t he will flee the country

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  • [–] 17 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    It was "common knowledge" that he wouldn't ever be charged too. The Senate and Mike Pence were pissed at him because he made them look weak. That's why no one is really defending him right now. He has so many charges that people are going to abandon him just so they don't have to answer questions about the cases.

    Remember the OJ trial? This is the former president in three courtrooms (and counting!). It's going to make him look so guilty.

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  • [–] 50 points 3 years ago
    [+] 40 points 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children)
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    [–] 33 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    What does it mean to be indicted?

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  • [–] 17 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    It means he's being charged with the crime by a grand jury, as opposed to a prosecutor. So he'll be going on trial to see if he gets convicted.

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  • [–] 20 points 3 years ago* (1 child)

    A little easier to understand the significance:

    A grand jury has ruled that the evidence presented is sufficient enough to warrant a trial to determine if a crime has been committed.

    Typically grand juries are either random citizens (selected via jury duty), or volunteers within the community, depending on the city rules. They are not elected positions, nor are any legal qualifications required. It's simply high level evidence, and descriptions of laws that may have been violated.

    It's not an indication of guilt, just that there's enough of a question that is worth holding a trial to determine guilt.

    Edit - at least, that's what a grand jury usually is. I wouldn't be surprised if federal charges on a former president requires more qualified grand jurors than the baker down the street, or retired carpenter with time to kill that comprises your typical grand jury

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  • [–] 28 points 3 years ago (11 children)

    yeah and only in our wonderful country this schmuck is allowed to run for office from jail. I thought you can't run for president after ur third indictment which he certainly has.

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    [–] 25 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I am so relieved that the special prosecutor is defending the rule of law with these indictments. If the Republicans (and not just Trump) got away with trying to overturn the election we could lose our democracy. We still can, but at least they are going to trial against this would-be tyrant and some of the people who helped him.

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    [–] 20 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    The next republican president or governor in states where he is convicted at state level will just pardon everything.

    The constitution, rule of law, and will of the people means nothing to people who just want power.

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