Like many, my initial outrage in hearing about Trump’s ‘settlement’ with the IRS was about his slush fund being used to pay big money to people convicted, not just by plea deals but in court in full blown trials of crimes. Felonies. It was bad enough they were part of that ‘day one’ blanket pardon for Jan. 6 insurrectionists but the thought of PAYING people, felons who got due process is vile. Still, initially I thought about mostly folks who’s names few of us know.
In the back of my mind I wondered if some more colorful characters would make news trying to get a payout. Bannon perhaps? I have to confess that until today hearing bits of news here and there Mike Lindell and George Santos never crossed my mind. However both are of course saying hell yes they are going to ask for a payout! I still think Trump himself is waiting to a) increase the size of the slush fund and b) help himself to a big payout from it. That will make one helluva ‘weapon of mass distraction’ for him in the foreseeable future. Anyway all this is bad in a way Shakespeare couldn’t put into words. But, as The New Republic reports it’s even worse. Their headline “The Worst People You Know Are Applying To Trump’s Slush Fund” is both blunt and accurate. It’s an article worth your time if you want to know details but let’s start with basics:
The DOJ launched its $1.8 billion slush fund earlier this week, offering compensation to virtually any right-winger who felt targeted by the previous presidential administration. To no one’s surprise, the free-for-all has already attracted quite a crowd, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and former Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio.
Yes, it sucks to think of asshat clowns like Lindell and Santos getting taxpayer money but Tarrio and people like HIM? Some of the commentary from pundits has included mentions of the payouts helping Trump turn the Proud Boys (Tarrio wasn’t the only one convicted) and Oath Keepers into a quasi taxpayer funded Trump private army. ‘Coming to a Polling Place near you?’ I’d be stunned if the outlines of a plan (and not just the typical Trump ‘outlines’ – but actual real planning) have been in the works. Blanche didn’t suddenly pull this slush fund out of his butt this week!
For the moment, Tarrio is claiming he’s ‘not greedy’ and will only seek two to five million from the slush fund. Why am I convinced he’ll wind up with far more? Well, moving on the linked article points out some disturbing news:
Hundreds of other pardoned January 6ers are also in the queue, including a sex offender who bear-sprayed cops and a convicted child molester who told his victims he would give them money from the slush fund in exchange for their silence.
At least one pardoned riot participant is seeking $30 million in restitution for the alleged governmental weaponization.
It’s not like Democrats didn’t see a stunt like this coming. Back in January California Senator Alex Padilla introduced the “No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act.” Since the GOP controls the Senate it hasn’t gone anywhere but it’s sitting there. Perhaps that’s why Thune panicked and sent everyone home early for the Memorial Day recess. It could have been dusted off and at least sent to committee. Put a pin in that because I suspect Sen. Padilla might talk about it during the recess. He can also, now that he has an actual policy on the table from Trump tweak it to specifically block this. Word is an awful lot of GOPers in both the Senate and House aren’t liking what this will mean for them in November. That’s especially true after Blanche dropped a second Trump Turd into the punchbowl with forever tax amnesty for Trump, his entire family and apparently and friends he designates.
Still, the most troubling aspect of this is that some very bad people out there who love them some Trumpiness and love sticking it to liberals even more will be emboldened. Trump isn’t just saying he’ll give them a free pass via a pardon for committing crimes including violence on his behalf – he’s making it clear he’ll reward them. With taxpayer dollars! WHAT THE F**K?
No wonder pundits who cover Capitol Hill were saying this afternoon that Republicans were literally fleeing them trying to get out of town without having a reporter stick a camera in their face! I’m sure they are hoping like hell this will all settle down in the days ahead. That some other matter will come up and this all just gets put on the back burner. Let’s hope they’re wrong – just like they were with abortion and the Dobbs decision.
In the meantime, I’ll nurse a new fantasy. It will be a small, live press gaggle where a journalist in a strong, clear voice asks something like: Regarding the new payout to J6 criminals why should taxpayers foot the bill? YOU have made several times the size of the payout fund since retaking office. You’ve always talked about being really, really rich. You’ve also made billions, in fact at least several times the amount in your new fund since taking office the second time. If you feel so strongly why don’t YOU create a foundation to compensate these people from your own money?
I know, no one has the guts. I do have a rather unrealistic fantasy life. Maybe I should, instead of trying to use it for the common good just be like most guys and think about sex. Nah. If I can get Karma to turn a fantasy of mine into reality I want it to be something that does some real good! For now I’m thinking that those who, if this atrocity actually pays out money who accept their blood money it will come with strings attached. They might THINK of it as payment for ‘services rendered’ but ten bucks says there will be a rider in the statement outlining their payout that will compel them to render future “services.”
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Denis, this was absolutely terrifying, and absolutely true.
Proud Boys and Oathkeepers do NOT deserve a payout. Nor does *any* J6 rioter. I don’t want to be paying them for what they did!
This makes me want to scream, including that damn bulshizzle slush fund. That is an incredibly blatant grift. And how about Blanche arranging pardons for the entire Trump family so that they can never be dragged into court?
My blood pressure hates me for screaming about everything we arewatchingg Trump do and can’t stop.