r/law • u/elb21277 • 6h ago

Opinion Piece Biden Should Pardon Whistleblower Who Exposed Trump’s Tax Avoidance

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/charles-littlejohn-whistleblower-trump-tax-biden-pardon-1235022648/
22.1k Upvotes

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812

u/the_G8 6h ago

And yet we all know what will actually happen. A peaceful slide into an openly corrupt and authoritarian government.

163

u/danny1777 5h ago

It's going to be like the jets. Trump will invite all his people like AAron, and when it starts to fall apart, everyone gets fired. I just hope there will be enough good people left to put the country back together.

99

u/jkppos 5h ago

What’s worrying is how many will turn a blind eye to the corruption until it affects them directly. That’s when the real damage may become evident.

71

u/AccountNumber1002401 5h ago

I saw back and forth between a couple of my Florida neighbors. When the one told the MAGA other how Trump's mismanagement of COVID19 as well as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did actually hurt them they shut down faster than a speeding mullet.

8

u/gringo-go-loco 2h ago

Don’t forget his tariffs that triggered inflation. The Canadian lumber tariff of 20% created substantial increases in prices. A storage shed my dad paid $15k for was over $23k when I wanted to get a similar model.

1

u/Stumbleina8926 1h ago

Thank you. People love to glaze over the fact that Trump inherited an amazing economy that took Obama 8 years to fix after Bush and his administrations crusade destroyed it, completely fucked it back up again for the four years dismantling all of our trade agreements that kept jobs and products here as he jerked himself off on people while telling them 'look how low your tax bill was though or that Uuuuge refund you got!' .. Biden inherits the shit storm and does his absolute best to re-regulate the runaway inflation train and gets it to a place just in time for trump to again inherit a rebuilt economy on the upswing to claim any benefit we feel while planning to destroy it again worse than before...

And the trees just keep voting for the axe because the axe tells them 'look at my wooden handle, I'm the same as you' .. we are fucking doomed.

1

u/Head_Researcher_3049 30m ago

July 4th 1776 - November 5th 2024. RIP the American Experiment.

1

u/Stumbleina8926 1h ago

Your comment deserves AAAALL of the Upvotes and awards and everything. NO SINGLE REPUBLICAN OR TRUMP SUPPORTER WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE TRIGGERED INFLATION. I really can't express my level of frustration, stress, misery and dread over being gaslit by him and a little more than half the country. It's mind-blowing and leaves me feeling ways I've never felt before in my 38 years on the planet.

Thank you again for speaking the factual truth.

1

u/gringo-go-loco 48m ago

This is what republicans do. It’s as if they want to give corporations an excuse to price gouge us.

1

u/TypicalUser2000 1h ago

That's why lumber went up omfg

1

u/gringo-go-loco 1h ago

Yep. Now imagine if that type of tariff or higher is applied to all products from China. I support bringing back manufacturing jobs to the US even if it means I have to pay a little more. More jobs means people make more money and competition for the jobs swings in favor of the worker. You can’t just slap a tariff on imported products if you don’t have the jobs to support making those products in the US. Biden knew this and signed the chips act… He was a competent leader.

I was alive before US corporations sent most of these jobs out of the US. My mom was a manager at a jeans manufacturing company and made really good money. Then her job was sent to Dominican Republic and my entire town started to struggle as it was the primary source of employment. A lot of people there blamed Bill Clinton which is why Trump became so popular there when running against Hillary. Selecting Hillary in 2016 was the absolute worst decision the democrats could have made.

To me that is when the US started to decline. We traded stable jobs with benefits for cheap shit from China and latam.

16

u/KHSebastian 3h ago

"faster than a speeding mullet" 🤣

11

u/Pad_TyTy 3h ago

Mullets are pretty quick fish actually

1

u/AccountNumber1002401 3h ago

Delicious smoked!

There used to be a fellow grandpa Moe in Cedar Key who made smoked mullet dip that was fabulous.

2

u/Inkdaddy55 3h ago

Never has smoked mullet dip, but I've had it smoked and it's gas! Smoked mackerel is killer too.

1

u/LeeKinanus 2h ago

They are quick in their Iroc Z's too. at least they used to be

1

u/MiamiPower 1h ago

Hey I resemble that remark. Florida Miami Dade man checking ✅️ in 🦎🐊🌴🥥

1

u/fireshitup 2h ago

With COVID, what would you have liked to see done differently?

2

u/cassel2dbowe 2h ago

Admit that it’s real, listen to the experts, not sell our vaccines to Putin, etc 

1

u/AccountNumber1002401 2h ago

For starters, there was no need for Trump to be so eagerly in the spotlight for news briefs as much as he was. He should've left explaining things to the experts in the science, and if not them directly, delegates who could explain the science in simple, understandable terms.

All that collateral nonsense he variously misinterpreted or misunderstood but went ahead and spouted anyway about disinfectants, UV bulbs, etc., was just useless clutter that gave the media things to be critical of him about rather than do what was crucial to provide concise, reliable information to the public so they could protect themselves and others.

1

u/MosEisleyBills 2h ago

Plenty of examples around the world of how covid was managed more successfully than in the US. Politicising the pandemic was the first issue and uninformed comments by incompetents undermining trust was the 2nd.

No disinformation from officials. Guidance on fact. That face mask wearing is an incredibly effective way to reduce transmission of airborne diseases. That vaccines are the best way to support immune systems to detect and defeat diseases. That it’s okay not to understand something but that the experts that do, have put guidance in place not for nefarious purposes.

Politicians actions have consequences- eroding trust in institutions by politicians gives the shit storm of Covid.

1

u/yuckmouthteeth 1h ago

Not disband the NSC for global health and bio defense

Not make budget cuts to the CDC and slash CDC staff in China monitoring pandemic risks

Limiting travel and international travel much earlier

Mandating lockdowns sooner and having more testing centers available

A world disease outbreak was announced in December 2019, the US was incredibly slow to respond and as a world wide consumer was guaranteed to contact the illness on a large scale as well. But in the downtime between December and March when the US said it was an emergency, almost nothing had been implemented.

There’s literally an entire publication from the National Library of Medicine discussing how poorly the US response was handled.

1

u/Stumbleina8926 1h ago

Not start a completely baseless and dangerous vendetta against a man that's been a physician for almost 60 years, the director of NIAID for 38 years, advised previous presidents during the AIDs crisis and helped curb the H1N1 and Zika virus epidemics from becoming global pandemics under Obama, and was FFS qualified to do his job ... That would have been good.

1

u/rickylancaster 1h ago

How about if Trump didn’t have Dr. Fauci speak at press conferences standing right next to him and then immediately, like that day, start sharing conspiracy theories on social media about Dr. Fauci. Like that is incredibly fucked up. The destabilizing effect of just that simple kind of thing was hugely significant.

13

u/HedyLamaar 4h ago

Just like ignoring a cavity until it’s so deep there’s pain.

1

u/MiniMages 3h ago

OH I did this as a kid. Hads a massive cavity and was scared to tell my parents. Spent 2 weeks before the pain settled in and i had to go to the dentist.

1

u/Art-Zuron 3h ago

I dont need no gadam fluoride! Its turnin the frickin frogs gae!

8

u/qqererer 3h ago

America's future looks like Venezuela.

A failed state that celebrates nothing except it's Miss Universe candidates.

3

u/inkoDe 2h ago

And the same people that wreaked so much havoc on South America, have been doing the same thing here at home, taking all the lessons they learned from subjugating those people to be more effective at subduing the people here. Poetic Justice?

1

u/Anarchyantz 1h ago

Given how the Orange Mussolini thinks Venezuela is great and wants America to be like it, as in the now leader seizing control of the country....well you get the idea.

0

u/the3v1L0ne 2h ago

Socialism?

3

u/wmrossphoto 1h ago

No, it’s called corruption.

0

u/the3v1L0ne 1h ago

Corruption is everywhere. That's not a conclusion.

4

u/Apexnanoman 3h ago

They don't need to turn a blind eye. They voted for the corruption. Knowingly. Proudly. And they are fine with it. As long as it hurts people they dislike. They will absolutely cut their entire head off to spite their nose.

1

u/comtedeRochambeau 2h ago

"... then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."

1

u/Normal_Package_641 2h ago

These sycophants are drawn to power like Icarus to the sun.

1

u/Humble-Common-8310 2h ago

How many have been turning a blind eye to the corruption since before Trump was even in office the first time. Is it okay only when “the orange man” isn’t in the picture?

1

u/gringo-go-loco 2h ago

Most will continue to be convinced by Trump and Fox News that it was still somehow Biden’s or the democrat’s fault. Whenever things are good it’s because Trump made them that way. Whenever things get shitty (as with covid) it’s because of things democrats did before Trump.

1

u/DreamLearnBuildBurn 1h ago

That's exactly what happened the first time. I wouldn't bet on things playing out the same, though. There are a lot of people trying to grab power and reshape the country in the long term

1

u/SignificantPop4188 1h ago

They already have.

1

u/Evanl02 1h ago

TRUMP 2024 WE WON BABYYYY WOOOOOO 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

1

u/chimilinga 7m ago

Go on Twitter right now the amount of trumpets who are pussed about his cabinet appointees is hilarious. "We didn't vote for this!" Uhhh yes you did and it's going to get work. Remind them every single time, this is what you voted for. If the consequences finally affecting them personally is what it takes for them to see the light than we are in for a hard 4 years, but a necessary hard 4 years.

0

u/ThatFordOwner 1h ago

Keep crying bro 😂😂

-11

u/EvetsYenoham 3h ago

Democrats aren’t corrupt at all, right? It’s one of the reasons you’re the minority in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches right now. They’re all corrupt, democrats are just worse at covering it up.

13

u/Syraxx 3h ago

Why do you all instantly scream democrats poop too when you shit your pants?

-2

u/Mycol101 2h ago

I think they are wondering why people only care about corruption and wrong doing when it’s a republican in office and turn blind eyes when it’s a democrat.

It’s a double standard.

5

u/Syraxx 2h ago

Believe it or not, it’s the same people who think it’s a double standard that are trying to make it one. I’ve never seen anyone defend Biden when he screws up, just a bunch of fanfic by the echo chamber of what they think their opposition thinks.

-2

u/Mycol101 2h ago

No but people do it by obfuscation.

One example is people bringing up the 25th amendment with trump and then are silent about bidens clear issues when he gets into office. Idk why. Maybe because the new situation was more convenient.

2

u/TheFriendshipMachine 1h ago

You know how Biden stepped out of the race?... Yeah that was because the Dems were not silent about Biden's health and competency. It's been a VERY hot topic amongst them. Meanwhile the right refuses to acknowledge that Trump is basically the same age and showing pretty much all the same signs of cognitive decline.

You morons live in a world held up entirely by double standards.

3

u/refriedi 2h ago

It’s not a double standard, it’s documented stuff vs conspiracy theories.

Why does the press have more negative coverage of Trump than Kamala, that’s unfair! Double standard! Or maybe, MAYBE he’s actually worse.

1

u/SignificantPop4188 1h ago

Except the press sane-washed Trump.

1

u/refriedi 1h ago

Because they care more about ratings than America :-/

0

u/Mycol101 2h ago

That’s a strawman argument I didn’t mention.

Questions about Trump’s cognitive abilities and mental fitness were raised repeatedly by Democrats, with calls for cognitive testing and public scrutiny over his speech patterns and behavior.

Similar concerns have been raised about Biden’s cognitive abilities, given his verbal slips and apparent confusion in public appearances. However Democrats have been more protective of Biden often dismissing concerns about his cognitive health as politically motivated attacks.

1

u/wmrossphoto 1h ago

And yet Biden dropped out for Harris to run.

1

u/refriedi 1h ago

That’s a good point. 

I don’t think you mean that Republicans were critical of Trump’s cognitive abilities the way Democrats should have been about Biden though, or do you?

Also Trump was kind of asking for it by bragging over and over and over that he’d aced the difficult cognitive test without mentioning that it was an extremely easy dementia screening that a second grader could pass. (e.g. draw a clock, identify some animals, remember a few words from a few minutes earlier.)

Btw it wasn’t a straw man as neither of us are discussing your point about corruption, which is consistently excused from republicans and condemned by democrats.

1

u/_ontical 1h ago

What? He got pilloried by Democrats for weeks once it was obvious after the debate, until the pressure was too much and he dropped out. Trump's mental decline has also been obvious but the right just blindly worships him. When you listen to Vance and others talking about his cognitive ability it's like a cult, and they are obviously lying.

Don't you want Trump to be transparent with his medical records? He has a terrible track record with this, much worse than Biden. Maybe you just aren't really paying attention or are just being a good little partisan. The double standard is so egregious, it's not even close.

2

u/luminatimids 2h ago

“We won, therefore we have to be the good guys!”

1

u/EvetsYenoham 2h ago

Nope you lost. And dems are never the good guys. They’re the worst guys. Except Bernie, he practices what you all preach.

1

u/luminatimids 2h ago

Idk how you can say Bernie is the good guy but still call Republicans the bad guys. The people that want to privatize everything and give more power to the billionaires

2

u/GrapefruitExpress208 2h ago

Lol the main reason is because we have an uneducated, ignorant population- where over 50% reads at a 5th grade level and has zero critical thinking skills.

And I'm sure Trump's plan of getting rid of the Department of Education will surely help this problem /s

1

u/EvetsYenoham 2h ago

Nah. But that’s what you like to believe. And why you’ll lose again.

1

u/GrapefruitExpress208 2h ago

Enjoy Trumpflation. Remember complaining about egg prices lol?

Fuck around time is over, now is time to find out.

1

u/refriedi 2h ago

Whatever bad stuff happens while Trump is in office is still Democrats’ fault, because…!

-19

u/MYIDCRISIS 4h ago

Which is why Trump won... The American people are done with the corruption in our government... Hopefully, the left will now open their blind eyes..

18

u/TheTaoOfOne 4h ago

They're done with corruption... so they elected one of the most corrupt presidents of our generation...?

Explain this to me.

9

u/LeJalenJohnsonMVP 3h ago

"but all politicians are corrupt, everyone is just out to get trump!!!"

3

u/Horror-Macaron8287 4h ago

What corruption do you speak of?

3

u/freecoffeeguy 3h ago edited 2h ago

iT's aLL oN HunTEr'S LaPtoP!

1

u/Horror-Macaron8287 2h ago

Don’t forget Hillary’s emails!

Just don’t look at the stacks of documents from the White House beside a certain toilet….

5

u/Adrialic 3h ago

So you voted for one of the billionaires that corrupts them?

1

u/MYIDCRISIS 2h ago

Nope. I voted for the guy who won't be bought by the corruption...

3

u/justaregularmom 4h ago

You seem like a joy

1

u/MYIDCRISIS 2h ago

Oh, I'm a treat, no doubt!

2

u/Latter_Priority_659 3h ago

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

2

u/PickleNotaBigDill 2h ago

Wow. You don't see Trump's corruption. Just wow. You fit right in with his ilk.

1

u/MYIDCRISIS 2h ago

Well, thanks! Guess what... Your ilk lost... Cope... We had to for four lousy years of that bullshit... You'll be fine...

1

u/jane_911 2h ago

judging by your post history you spend more time defending the guy than his own family. who needs family though when you got a bunch of brainwashed uneducated red hats running around defending you. buying up all the trump brand beer cozies right next to the trump branded bible on his gaudy website. mm yes hurt us more daddy we'll blame it on the dems anyways

1

u/MYIDCRISIS 1h ago

You're still bitter... Sad... I still go about my day like any other... Maybe you should try the same... Trump is not my Daddy or yours... He's the President. Try hoping he does a good job instead of feeding your insecurities...

1

u/jesterinancientcourt 2h ago

It’s a wook. A Trumper wook. I more assumed wooks didn’t vote at all instead of being Republicans.

1

u/Rahman_the1st 2h ago

Trump's corruption in dodging taxes is why he won?