| deconstruction_of_the_nation__donald_trumps_hornet_nest_of_corruption.pdf |
The election of Donald Trump as President of the U.S. has been characterized as illegitimate because of Russia’s interference in the election. In fact, Trump’s election has uncovered a morass of treasonous, criminal, and corrupt activities. These activities are based on five distinct legs – Russian interference in an U.S. election; the hollowing out of the federal government; the Russian crime state; Trump corruption and conflicts of interest; and the planned ethnic cleansing and fascist overthrow of the American democracy. And, of course, some of Trump’s behavior is driven by an unstable personality.
Delineating these five areas is important for fully understanding the extent and depth of Trump’s evil morass. In some instances, the connections between areas may add to others’ venality. In some instances, the players in one area may help the players in another area. For example, Russian mobsters seemed to help bail Trump out of financial difficulties. In other instances, Trumps corruption and conflicts of interest may be undermining his efforts to hollow out government. Also, as more evidence is uncovered, it is important that we properly categorize it. Evidence of criminal wrong doing may not be evidence of treason.
Delineating these five areas is important for fully understanding the extent and depth of Trump’s evil morass. In some instances, the connections between areas may add to others’ venality. In some instances, the players in one area may help the players in another area. For example, Russian mobsters seemed to help bail Trump out of financial difficulties. In other instances, Trumps corruption and conflicts of interest may be undermining his efforts to hollow out government. Also, as more evidence is uncovered, it is important that we properly categorize it. Evidence of criminal wrong doing may not be evidence of treason.
The FBI and intelligence community are uncovering evidence daily about each of these five legs; and observers of Trump’s behavior become more convinced each day of his personality disorders. Much of the evidence and observations that are becoming known, however, is being conflated with Russian interference in the Presidential election rather than being assigned to one of the other legs. By mixing the evidence together it becomes very difficult to weigh the seriousness of the crimes and to see who the guilty parties are.
These areas interconnected by association key figures in each area by Trump or his associates with key figures in other areas. These interconnections are important because the absence of Trump or some of the other players from one area should not absolve them from being players in other areas.
And, the main point about the five areas of Trump’s mess is how it affects the nature of investigative process. Like all investigations this one has the tendency to expand into related areas, especially in high profile cases. Because of the national security connections this is being investigated by the intelligence agencies and they may be less prone to political control than agencies or parts of agencies focusing on law enforcement. Unfortunately, Attorney General Sessions has only recused himself the investigation of the Russian election interference. He remains in charge of the investigations being conducted of the other areas.
Still, as national security expert Malcolm Nance points out, because of the role of Russian intelligence in these two of these areas, and their connections to the other areas, these investigations are being carried out as an intelligence investigation or more precisely, spy hunt. Thus, many of the prohibitions and Constitutional protections that would normally apply have been removed by the Patriotic Act and practice.
If Democrats and Progressives are a forceful in connecting Trump’s mess to the Republican Party and in playing it up as the Republican Party was in connecting Benghazi to the Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party, then the American people will be able to recover their democracy. If they hesitate in pushing this investigation or rely on the media to explain it to the voters, then we almost certainly will wind up as a fascist state like Putin’s Russia or one of the other increasing number of fascist states.
And, the main point about the five areas of Trump’s mess is how it affects the nature of investigative process. Like all investigations this one has the tendency to expand into related areas, especially in high profile cases. Because of the national security connections this is being investigated by the intelligence agencies and they may be less prone to political control than agencies or parts of agencies focusing on law enforcement. Unfortunately, Attorney General Sessions has only recused himself the investigation of the Russian election interference. He remains in charge of the investigations being conducted of the other areas.
Still, as national security expert Malcolm Nance points out, because of the role of Russian intelligence in these two of these areas, and their connections to the other areas, these investigations are being carried out as an intelligence investigation or more precisely, spy hunt. Thus, many of the prohibitions and Constitutional protections that would normally apply have been removed by the Patriotic Act and practice.
If Democrats and Progressives are a forceful in connecting Trump’s mess to the Republican Party and in playing it up as the Republican Party was in connecting Benghazi to the Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party, then the American people will be able to recover their democracy. If they hesitate in pushing this investigation or rely on the media to explain it to the voters, then we almost certainly will wind up as a fascist state like Putin’s Russia or one of the other increasing number of fascist states.