Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Philadelphia’s DA have warned troops they’ll face charges that Trump can’t save them from if they violate residents.

As Donald Trump floats expanding his authoritarian military crackdown to liberal-led cities beyond the nation’s capital, troops deployed to carry out his anti-democratic schemes might be at risk of prosecution themselves — and the pardon-happy president may not be able to save them.

Thus far, by my count, two Democrats in states that may find themselves targeted have vowed to spur local or state prosecutions — which couldn’t be overturned with a presidential pardon — for anyone who violate residents’ rights if and when the Trump administration expands its troop deployment.

  • leadore@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    That’s not how the Constitution and our legal system is supposed to work. The DOJ and FBI are supposed to be independent and enforce the law in a non-partisan manner and a POTUS is not supposed to be able to tell them who to arrest or give the appearance of indicating who they should arrest. Trump of course doesn’t respect any of that, but Biden was doing it the way it’s supposed to be and has always been done, and expecting law enforcement agencies to do the investigations and make any arrests (they actually did arrest many people, but not the ringleader). Had Biden ordered trump’s arrest all hell would have broken loose socially and courts would have ordered his release.

    So in reality Biden’s “biggest, most enduring mistake” was putting milquetoast Merrick Garland in charge of the DOJ. Garland was a namby-pamby little wimp who was so afraid of the appearance of partisanship that he piddled around and did nothing. The country waited around (because we had no power not to) saying hopefully, “he’s being very thorough so the case is sure to hold up in court” but in reality he was a useless piece of crap who didn’t do his job.

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      2 days ago

      Yeah, it’s not supposed to be the way it works, but the way it works is also supposed to be that an actual traitor isn’t supposed to become president, and then attempt a coup to remain Dictator-for-Life, and then just walk away with no consequences at all.

      Trump was, and remains, America’s biggest national security threat, and it was well within Biden’s powers to have him detained immediately after his inauguration, and detained at a military facility. Once his AG was approved, he could take over the case.

      And I agree with your assessment of Garland. This should be a lesson to all future Democratic presidents - MAGAs (there are no Republicans any more) cannot be trusted under any circumstances, and should never hold any positions of responsibility in government, at any level. Every single one is a traitor, a pedophile, and corrupt, and hates America.