(๐ข) The meme to end all memes: the Top 100 reasons not to support Donald Trump... in one image.
Iโm a NYT-bestselling Trump biographer, and this is the culmination of what I learned over a decade.
What do you thinkโany chance we could get this to 50K RETWEETS by Election Day?
In case you were wondering, this previous tweet was informed by GPT4:
Here are some areas where Trump has faced allegations that could be tied to federal statutes:
Obstruction of Justice: This could potentially violate several federal statutes, including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. ยง 1503 (Omnibus clause of the obstruction of justice), which covers efforts to obstruct or impede the due administration of justice. The Mueller Report detailed several instances where Trump's actions were scrutinized under this lens, particularly in the context of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Campaign Finance Violations: Accusations around the payment made to Stormy Daniels, which was alleged to have been done to influence the 2016 presidential election outcome, could potentially fall under violations of 52 U.S.C. ยง 30101 et seq., which pertains to election campaign finance laws. Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleaded guilty to charges related to this, stating he made the payment at Trump's direction.
Impeachment Charges: The specific federal codes are not directly applicable in impeachment charges since impeachment is a political process. However, the articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress (first impeachment) and incitement of insurrection (second impeachment) suggest actions that, outside the impeachment context, could be scrutinized under various federal laws related to official conduct, sedition, and conspiracy against the United States.
Violations of the Espionage Act: Regarding the handling of classified documents, allegations could potentially fall under 18 U.S.C. ยง 793 or ยง 798, which deal with the unlawful removal, storage, or transmission of classified information under the Espionage Act.
The Hatch Act: While Trump himself, as President, was not subject to the provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. ยง 7323), there have been accusations that his administration violated this act, which restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. The specific accusations against Trump would be more about creating an environment where such violations could occur rather than direct violations he himself committed.
The Emoluments Clause: Though not a federal code, accusations that Trump violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) suggest he might have benefited financially from foreign governments during his presidency, which, while not directly tied to a specific federal statute, poses constitutional concerns.
Additionally, GPT4 brought attention to the civil cases Trump has faced:
Trump University Lawsuit: Class-action lawsuits alleging fraud, under various state fraud statutes.
Trump settled for $25 million in 2016, without admission of wrongdoing.
Trump Foundation Lawsuit: New York Attorney General lawsuit alleging misuse of charitable funds for personal, business, and political purposes, under New York's not-for-profit corporation law. Settlement in 2019; Trump paid $2 million in damages, and the foundation was dissolved.
Defamation by E. Jean Carroll: Defamation lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, alleging Trump defamed her when he denied her accusation of sexual assault.
Defamation is a tort claim. Multiple trials have established his actions of sexual assault and ordered payment of damages in the tens of millions of dollars.
Trump SoHo Condominium Litigation: Class-action lawsuit alleging fraud and deceptive practices regarding the sales of units in Trump SoHo, under various fraud and consumer protection laws. Settlement in 2011, with terms undisclosed.
Lawsuits over Non-Payment of Workers: Multiple lawsuits and legal actions alleging non-payment for services rendered to Trump's companies, under State labor and contract laws, with various outcomes, including settlements and judgments against Trump's companies.
Lawsuits Related to Trump National Golf Club and Other Properties: Various lawsuits including disputes over membership fees, property disputes, and zoning issues, with Contract law, property law, and local zoning ordinances, resulting in settlements and legal rulings both for and against Trump entities.
Fraud Allegations Against The Trump Organization: New York Attorney General's lawsuit alleging financial fraud by artificially inflating and deflating the value of assets on financial statements, under fraud and business law statutes. Currently pending, with an outcome estimated to be over half a billion dollars in penalties and a loss of complete New York States business rights.