What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[crazy canuck]

From the NYTimes

The Securities and Exchange Commission this week dropped civil enforcement cases that could have led to penalties totaling hundreds of millions of dollars against three men who were previously granted clemency by President Trump.

The cases had been brought before Mr. Trump took office this year. Each involved people who later allied themselves with him as they pursued pardons for white-collar frauds that, according to juries in criminal cases, cheated victims out of huge sums.

Devon Archer, who was convicted in connection with a scheme targeting pension funds and a Native American tribal entity, was ordered to pay nearly $60 million in forfeiture and restitution.

Trevor Milton was found guilty of lying about the supposed technical achievements of his electric truck maker Nikola. Prosecutors recommended that he pay more than $660 million back to shareholders.

Carlos Watson, who was convicted of defrauding investors in his digital media company Ozy Media, was assessed penalties of nearly $97 million.

All were spared prison time and criminal restitution payments when Mr. Trump granted pardons to Mr. Archer and Mr. Milton and commutations to Mr. Watson and Ozy.

And now, the S.E.C. action means that they will not have to pay any civil penalties, nor will they face restrictions that the commission had sought on their ability to work in securities-related positions.

The dismissals of the civil cases further underscore how Mr. Trump has used the levers of power to help affluent allies who have found themselves crosswise with the federal government he now leads.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

I think I need to seriously look into one of those services that will help me demonstrate my eligibility for Irish citizenship...

[Valmy]

I think I need to seriously look into one of those services that will help me demonstrate my eligibility for Irish citizenship...

Admirable. I just feel like there is no escape. If the United States becomes a fully reactionary state in the hands of a handful of corrupt oligarchs, there will be nowhere to go to escape it.

[The Minsky Moment]

Years ago, I brought in a witness to the SEC that ultimately led to the prosecution of Archer and others for the Ogala fraud.  That was a truly massive fraud that involved not just outright theft of millions from the tribe but also fraud on investors in funds which were made to buy the bonds. 

The scheme is described here: https://www.narf.org/nill/bulletins/federal/documents/us_v_archer.html#:~:text=This%20case%20concerns%20a%20scheme,offerings%20worth%20approximately%20%2460%20million.

The SEC enforcement attorney that was involved in that case left for private practice just this week.  She was one of the top enforcement people in the agency.  There is little for those people to do now.

Totally fitting for Trump.  Respect from one master grifter than another. 

[Iormlund]

Non Americans who want to visit the USA may also be well advised to be cautious in their speech.

I speak Spanish, so I'm not crossing the Pond again unless my employer arranges for a lawyer on speed dial.

[Iormlund]

I think I need to seriously look into one of those services that will help me demonstrate my eligibility for Irish citizenship...

Admirable. I just feel like there is no escape. If the United States becomes a fully reactionary state in the hands of a handful of corrupt oligarchs, there will be nowhere to go to escape it.

While the effects (eg. economic) will be felt everywhere, the reach of the cool new Brownshirts can only go so far.

I would have started looking into exile since January if I were in your shoes.

[celedhring]

Non Americans who want to visit the USA may also be well advised to be cautious in their speech.

I speak Spanish, so I'm not crossing the Pond again unless my employer arranges for a lawyer on speed dial.

I mean, even when I was over there the common advice from Columbia was "don't do ANYTHING that might draw any kind of attention to you" - although there was still quite a bit of lingering post-9/11 paranoia at the time.

A Spanish friend of mine got a visit from DHS because he looked (dark complexion and beard) and acted (worked long hours in his garage which he used as a film studio) suspicious, and got ratted out by a neighbor.

[Tonitrus]

Although I note that the Baron probably is hosting this on an American server, and so the servants of the  Dear Leader have all our posts anyway.

Monoriu has probably fed it all to the PRC as well.

[crazy canuck]

Good point

[garbon]

Good point

Especially given he had an all access pass.

[Josquius]

Taiwan to be pushed under the bus too.
Hurrah.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/18/trump-taiwan-arms-sales-military-aid/

[Savonarola]

Cancel culture seems to only apply to moderate left, like Colbert and Kimmel.

Next on the list is probably Jon Stewart and John Oliver.

Seth Meyers seems to be next on Trump's list, he's mentioned him a couple times.

Oliver and Stewart are on cable television, which isn't licensed in the United States.  Meyers (as well as Kimmel) are (were) on broadcast television which has to be licensed through the Federal Communications Commission.  In order to maintain your license  there are certain things you can't say on the air.  As we've just seen with Kimmel that can be interpreted broadly.  Even Ted Cruz has compared the FCC's behavior to mob tactics.

[Tonitrus]

...are on cable television, which isn't licensed in the United States. 

Don't give the FCC ideas...

[The Minsky Moment]

No it absolutely cannot be interpreted broadly, because the 1st Amendment forbids that. 

[The Minsky Moment]

In related news, the judge in Trump's defamation law suit vs the NYT dismissed the case sua sponte, on the grounds that it does not contain a short and plain statement of the claims.  Gave leave to refile using no more than 40 pages.

I've seen this kind of thing happen before, but only with parties not represented by counsel.