Trump Administration Felonies

[James48]

I think we should have a forum just to record and keep track of Trump Administration felonies- so that we don’t forget them as they happen. I’ll start-

[James48]

1. 18 USC 201

Last week Trump tweeted that If Federal Employees, who are now getting Social Security payroll taxes suspended from their paychecks- if they want that money forgiven, they have to vote for him for re-election.

That’s an attempt to bribe a federal officer. That’s a 15-year felony, plus a fine of 3 times the amount offered in the bribe. Any law-abiding Attorney General would prosecute that. Barr won’t. But it should be on the record for prosecution when Trump leaves office.

From https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/09/omb-fails-offer-new-info-payroll-tax-deferral-memo/168458/

“ When we win I, as your President, will totally forgive ALL deferred payroll taxes with money from the General Fund,” he wrote. “Sleepy Joe Biden will do the opposite, he will raise your taxes and DESTROY our Country!”- Donald J Trump, Sept 10, 2020.

In a statement Friday, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who is among a group of lawmakers pushing for the administration to make the tax deferral optional, accused Trump of trying to “bribe” federal workers.

“The president’s mandatory payroll tax deferrals shows disrespect for America’s military and civil service, and Trump is making it clear that this is intended as a form of political blackmail,” Beyer said. “Trump’s openly corrupt message is, ‘Vote for me and I will pay you, otherwise your paychecks will decrease in January.’ This is corruption as public policy, and both the Constitution and the law make it clear that Trump cannot do what he says.”

[Karadeniz]

2. Thanks...I hadn't noticed that one.

[James48]

3. 18 USC Sec. 595

§595. Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or Territorial Governments
(Multiple counts)


Viewpoint: We Need an Investigation of Hatch Act Crimes at the Republican National Convention

It is not enough for the Office of Special Counsel to investigate civil violations of the law.

KATHLEEN CLARK | SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 08:00 AM ET
HATCH ACT
2020 ELECTION
Http://govexec.com


While it is normal for speakers at a party’s national convention to advocate for their presidential candidate, it was unprecedented when federal officials invoked official authority in their partisan political advocacy at the Republican National Convention last month. By doing so, these officials violated the federal Hatch Act. As members of Congress and others have urged, the Office of Special Counsel, the agency that enforces the civil Hatch Act, has opened an investigation.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows scoffed at these allegations, arguing that, “Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares” about the Hatch Act. It would have been more accurate if Meadows had said, “Nobody inside the Trump White House really cares” about the law. More than a dozen senior administration officials have violated the Hatch Act, and some aides reportedly take pride in violating it. Last year, despite the Special Counsel’s plea that failure to punish would “send a message” that federal employees need not abide by the law, President Trump refused to punish an aide who committed repeated violations.

It is not enough for the Office of Special Counsel to investigate civil violations of the Hatch Act, particularly in light of President Trump’s defiance of that office’s past findings. The Hatch Act also has criminal provisions. While its civil provisions exempt the President and Vice President, the criminal provisions have no such exemption. The Justice Department needs to investigate the criminal violations that took place at the RNC.

More:
https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2020/09/viewpoint-we-need-investigation-hatch-act-crimes-republican-national-convention/168662/

[jslsingleton]

4. 18 USC 201 (Bribery)

Historical context:
2016
U.S. President Barack Obama signs initial agreement to the TPP / Trans-Pacific Partnership strengthening trade relationships with 11 other non-Chinese nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam) to reduce their dependence on Chinese trade and bring their interests closer to ours.
2017
On Jan. 23 (three days into office), U.S. President Donald Trump *withdraws* the US from the TPP, collapsing it and strengthening China's economic position at the cost of America's and the other TPP members'. Economists are mystified by this decision.
2020
With investigation of his tax records, it is revealed that Trump had held a secret Chinese bank account through a Trump shell company in China -- and in 2017 that company received a $17.5 million influx of cash (more than all it received the previous five years), whereupon Trump himself withdrew $15.1 million from its capital fund. That year his Chinese income totaled about $25 million; and his multi-year taxes to China were $188,000. (You may recall he had paid only $750 to the US in each of 2016 and 2017... just one reason he had kept his tax returns hidden not only from public view but also from Congressional oversight.)
(Source: www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/us/trump-taxes-china.html )

18 U.S. Code § 201 - Bribery of public officials and witnesses [excerpted]:
(b) Whoever— ...
(2) being a public official or person selected to be a public official, directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for:
(A) being influenced in the performance of any official act; ...
shall be fined under this title or not more than three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than fifteen years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

[James48]

5. 18 USC 592

18 U.S. Code § 592.Troops at polls

Whoever, being an officer of the Army or Navy, or other person in the civil, military, or naval service of the United States, orders, brings, keeps, or has under his authority or control any troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held, unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and be disqualified from holding any office of honor, profit, or trust under the United States.

This section shall not prevent any officer or member of the armed forces of the United States from exercising the right of suffrage in any election district to which he may belong, if otherwise qualified according to the laws of the State in which he offers to vote.



18 U.S. Code § 593.Interference by armed forces

Whoever, being an officer or member of the Armed Forces of the United States, prescribes or fixes or attempts to prescribe or fix, whether by proclamation, order or otherwise, the qualifications of voters at any election in any State; or

Whoever, being such officer or member, prevents or attempts to prevent by force, threat, intimidation, advice or otherwise any qualified voter of any State from fully exercising the right of suffrage at any general or special election; or

Whoever, being such officer or member, orders or compels or attempts to compel any election officer in any State to receive a vote from a person not legally qualified to vote; or

Whoever, being such officer or member, imposes or attempts to impose any regulations for conducting any general or special election in a State, different from those prescribed by law; or

Whoever, being such officer or member, interferes in any manner with an election officer’s discharge of his duties—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and disqualified from holding any office of honor, profit or trust under the United States.

This section shall not prevent any officer or member of the Armed Forces from exercising the right of suffrage in any district to which he may belong, if otherwise qualified according to the laws of the State of such district.


18 U.S. Code § 594.Intimidation of voters

Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


Just remember that if the President orders troops to the polls, that's a felony right there. Somebody better tell him, because I don't think he knows.