Donald Trump's slush fund, "like breaking into Fort Knox and driving off with a truckload of bullion", editorial

Sun Sentinel: Slush fund is the biggest heist in history | Editorial

The man who boasted that he could get away with murder on Fifth Avenue is pulling off something just as brazen. 

The $1.8 billion slush fund from which corrupt Donald Trump intends to reward people who tried to steal the 2020, election for him is the biggest heist in our history. (Maine Writer- he will also grift that money to use against Republicans who he declares are "unloyal", because his use of the tax money would be unrestricted.)

It’s like breaking into Fort Knox and driving off with a truckload of bullion.

Todd Blanche, his obsequious unethical acting attorney general, also agreed to immunize America’s real-life Goldfinger, his entire family and their business from IRS audits, fines and penalties or prosecution for whatever tax violations they may have committed.

That corrupt bargain may save the Trumps $100 million, by some estimates. Al Capone’s ghost must be green with envy.

Trump was already by far the most corrupt American president. But his grifting had been largely at the expense of foreign governments and other interests.

No more. His “anti-weaponization fund” is a new frontier in graft, a direct theft from taxpayers. The most corrupt act in presidential history lacks even the pretense of the lawsuit that Trump withdrew when a federal judge saw it for a sham.

The Big Steal-  Trump deserves a third impeachment — another reason to elect a Democratic Congress in November — and one more indictment when his term ends, as this Big Steal has nothing to do with any official duty.

As for unethical Todd Blanche, he should be disbarred as fast as New York authorities can manage it. Trump is his former personal client as well as his present boss; there couldn’t be a more glaring conflict of interest for any lawyer.

Of note: Blanche’s Department of Justice is suing the District of Columbia Bar to thwart discipline of two other Trump stooges. And it proposes a regulation to suppress bar proceedings anywhere, against any present or former DOJ lawyer such as Blanche himself.

A federal court has, thankfully, already put a temporary hold on the fund until a June 12, hearing. The courts are Americans’ only hope of stopping this theft; Trump owns Congress through his control of MAGA voters who decide Republican primaries.

He’s been on a roll on that front, gloating over the defeat of such principled politicians as Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to remove him from office in 2021; Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who fought to publish the Epstein files; and Brad Raffensberger in Georgia, who as Secretary of State refused to “find” phony votes for Trump in 2021, and who just ran for governor.

The coup de grace: Texas- The climax came Tuesday in Texas with Senator John Cornyn’s defeat by criminal Ken Paxton, the sleazy state attorney general, a leading election denier for Trump who had been impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature over allegations of bribery and obstruction.

Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed. South Carolina’s GOP legislators deserve a special medal of courage for refusing to redistrict Jim Clyburn, a widely respected senior Black Democrat, out of his seat, too.

Belatedly, some GOP senators seem to have finally had it with Trump. They were shouting at Blanche behind closed doors last week when he refused to rule out payments to the hoodlums who tried to kill police officers protecting them on January 6, 2021.

Republican Thom Tillis, who is not running for re-election in North Carolina, called the slush fund “stupid on stilts.” He and others see the GOP losing the midterms on Trump’s account, as they should, for indulging him.

Scandals, incorporated- There’s no short list of Trump’s corruption scandals; more than 100 by one count. Some of the most glaring:

• Crippling the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to lay off the prediction markets and the cryptocurrency industry in which the Trumps are deeply involved;
• Easing AI chip sale restrictions for the United Arab Emirates after it invested 💲2 billion in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family crypto business;
• Accepting a 💲400 million luxury jet from Qatar, a foreign government, and promising to defend it from attacks (Yet, Trump did nothing when Qatar was attacked by Iran during the launch of the Trump world war of choice❗); and
• Pardoning Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, who had been in prison for serious banking law violations. The pardon lets him run Binance again and benefit the Trumps’ crypto business.

An honest president and a responsible Congress would put a quick stop to the corruption. (Where is Maine's Republican Senator Susan Collins❓) Repairing Trump’s vandalism of the economy, the treasury, almost every agency and institution of the government, our foreign relations and our national reputation and, not least, our national self-respect, will take much longer.

None of it — not even the slush fund — is as dangerous as the political legacy Trump has created by cultivating MAGA into a cancer on the Republican Party and on the country.

Trump saw and exploited a significant bloc of voters who do not care about democracy the way Americans are supposed to. They will still be there when Trump is gone, ready for the next man on horseback to point them in the direction of their bigotries and fears.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant.

Donald Trump slush fund is an evil reward to support convicted criminals and the money will be used to bribe GOP candidates

Slush fund is the biggest heist in history | Editorial

The evil Trump who boasted that he could get away with murder on Fifth Avenue is pulling off something just as brazen. 

Donald Trump intends to reward people who tried to steal the 2020, election for him is the biggest heist in our history.

It’s like breaking into Fort Knox and driving off with a truckload of bullion.

Todd Blanche, his obsequious acting attorney general, also agreed to immunize America’s real-life Goldfinger, his entire family and their business from IRS audits, fines and penalties or prosecution for whatever tax violations they may have committed.

That corrupt bargain may save the Trumps 💲100 million, by some estimates. Al Capone’s ghost must be green with envy.

DtRrump was already by far the most corrupt ❗American president. But his grifting had been largely at the expense of foreign governments and other interests.

But, no more. His “anti-weaponization (aka "slush")  fund” is a new frontier in graft, a direct theft from taxpayers. 

In fact, it is the most corrupt act in presidential history. It lacks even the pretense of the bogus lawsuit that Trump withdrew when a federal judge saw it for a sleazy sham.

The Big Steal: Trump definitely deserves a third impeachment — another reason to elect a Democratic Congress in November — and one more indictment when his term ends, as this Big Steal has nothing to do with any official duty.

As for Blanche, he should be disbarred ❗ as fast as New York authorities can manage it. Trump is his former personal client as well as his present boss; there couldn’t be a more glaring conflict of interest for any lawyer.

Of note: Blanche’s Department of Justice is suing the District of Columbia Bar to thwart discipline of two other Trump stooges. 

And it proposes a regulation to suppress bar proceedings anywhere, against any present or former DOJ lawyer such as Blanche himself.

A federal court has, thankfully, already put a temporary hold on the fund until a June 12, hearing. The courts are Americans’ only hope of stopping this theft; Trump owns Congress through his control of MAGA voters who decide Republican primaries.

He’s been on a roll on that front, gloating over the defeat of such principled politicians as Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to remove him from office in 2021; Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who fought to publish the Epstein files; and Brad Raffensperger in Georgia, who as Secretary of State refused to “find” phony votes for Trump in 2021, and who just ran for governor.

The coup de grace: Texas

The climax came Tuesday in Texas with Sen. John Cornyn’s defeat by the criminal Ken Paxton, the sleazy state attorney general, a leading election denier for Trump who had been impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature over allegations of bribery and obstruction.

Trump’s revenge tour also took down five Indiana state senators who had voted against the midterm gerrymandering to which Florida’s gutless Republicans have agreed. South Carolina’s GOP legislators deserve a special medal of courage for refusing to redistrict Jim Clyburn, a widely respected senior Black Democrat, out of his seat, too.

Belatedly, some GOP senators seem to have finally had it with Trump. They were shouting at Blanche behind closed doors last week when he refused to rule out payments to the hoodlums who tried to kill police officers protecting them on Jan. 6, 2021.

Republican Thom Tillis, who is not running for re-election in North Carolina, called the slush fund “stupid on stilts.” He and others see the GOP losing the midterms on Trump’s account, as they should, for indulging him.

Scandals, incorporated

There’s no short list of Trump’s corruption scandals; more than 100 by one count. Some of the most glaring:

• Crippling the Commodity Futures 
• Trading Commission to lay off the prediction markets 
• cryptocurrency industry in which the Trumps are deeply involved;
• Easing AI chip sale restrictions for the United Arab Emirates after it invested $2 billion in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family crypto business;
• Accepting a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar, a foreign government, and promising to defend it from attacks; and
• Pardoning Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, who had been in prison for serious banking law violations. The pardon lets him run Binance again and benefit the Trumps’ crypto business.

An honest president and a responsible Congress would put a quick stop to the corruption. Repairing Trump’s vandalism of the economy, the treasury, almost every agency and institution of the government, our foreign relations and our national reputation and, not least, our national self-respect, will take much longer.

None of it — not even the slush fund — is as dangerous as the political legacy Trump has created by cultivating MAGA into a cancer on the Republican Party and on the country.

Trump saw and exploited a significant bloc of voters who do not care about democracy the way Americans are supposed to. They will still be there when Trump is long gone, ready for the next man on horseback to point them in the direction of their bigotries and fears.

From the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board 

Donald Trump and maga Republicans are wrong to promote expensive and unpopular Trumpian narcissists' policies

News Analysis published in The New York Times by Luke Broadwater

Defiant After Bad Week, Trump Pushes Ahead on Politically Unpopular Ideas. Donald Trump continues to act like he’s politically all-powerful, even in the face of indications that he is not.

By pretty much any estimation, Donald Trump has had a very bad week.

New poll numbers show his approval rating has hit a second-term low. He is weighing whether to restart a bombing campaign in an unpopular war against Iran. Gas prices are high and inching higher heading into Memorial Day weekend. And his grip over Republican lawmakers is beginning to slip after he proposed a pair of deeply unpopular spending items, prompting an unusual revolt from the Senate.

When faced with such a backlash ahead of midterm elections, many politicians would pivot, redirecting their focus to issues they are on stronger footing with.

But Trump has decided to double down, presenting himself as politically all-powerful even in the face of indications that he is not.

Over the years, Trump has often appeared to have an air of invincibility. He survived assassination attempts and won re-election despite being under multiple criminal indictments. He has successfully exacted retribution on many a perceived enemy. Now, with less than three years left in office, he seems comfortable burning whatever political capital he has in order to leave his legacy, even if it drags his party down in the process.

Rather than abandoning his plan for a 💲1.8 billion fund to reward allies who claim they were persecuted by Democrats, Trump has defended the proposal, suggesting he could have used the taxpayer money to enrich himself.

“I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced Anti-Weaponization Fund to go forward. I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my Tax Returns and the equally illegal BREAK IN of Mar-a-Lago, for an absolute fortune,” the Trump wrote on his (fake❗) social media. “Instead, I am helping others, who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE!”

Trump's acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, also (unethically) attempted to defend the plan in a hostile meeting with Senate Republicans. 

Inside the room, Blanche came under withering questioning and criticism. Several Republicans spoke up to express worry that the fund would be used to provide money to people who had attacked police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and were later pardoned by Trump.

The meeting went so poorly for Blanche that party leaders scrapped planned votes on another of Trump’s top priorities: a 💲72 billion immigration crackdown measure lawmakers had planned to muscle through before Memorial Day.

“There’s a boiling point here,” said Sarah Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University. “Of course, the boiling over, it’s in part because Trump doubles down. He rarely admits that maybe he needs to backtrack a little.”

Trump was also undeterred when another unpopular policy position — using taxpayer money to help fund security for his 💲400 million luxury ballroom on White House grounds — was met with backlash on Capitol Hill.

He said that without the 💲1 billion, the “White House won’t be a very secure place.” He called for the firing of the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, a nonpartisan official who ruled that approving the money would violate Senate rules.

“The Republicans allow the Elizabeth MacDonoughs of the World to stay in power, and brutalize us,” Trump complained.

Another dynamic at play in the Trump White House is a lack of dissenting voices to some of Trump's most extreme ideas.

In Trump’s first term, some of the president’s most radical ideas were checked by aides like John F. Kelly, the Trump White House’s longest-serving chief of staff; Jim Mattis, who was. Trump’s first defense secretary; and Gary Cohn, an economic adviser.

But those men are long gone, and their positions have been filled mostly by people who are true Trumpzi cult believers.


Underscoring that point, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, this week defended the so-called weaponization fund, even as critics called it a “slush fund” that could give payouts to Jan. 6 rioters.

“So many lives destroyed, so many livelihoods ruined, so many people who were deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms as American citizens,” Mr. Miller said of the need for the fund, adding: “This settlement is just a small measure of the justice that they are owed.”

Trump seemed unconcerned about whether these ideas are popular with voters, and has lamented openly that Democrats are likely to gain ground in the midterm elections. He has been most animated when discussing how he exacts vengeance on Republicans who criticize him.





At a political rally Friday in Rockland County, N.Y., Mr. Trump boasted about the recent victories in Republican primaries in which challengers he backed took out incumbent lawmakers who had crossed him.

“We knocked out a bad senator from Louisiana,” Trump said to cheers. “We knocked out everybody,” he added.

Left unsaid was that Trump needed the votes of the Republicans he opposed.

Ms. Binder said she took Trump at his word when he argued last year that he had little further use for Congress, a suggestion that he could enact most of his agenda by circumventing lawmakers. She said that the president was thinking in larger terms about continuing to control the G.O.P. after his presidency, and what kind of legacy, historically and physically, he could leave behind. She pointed to his push to build a triumphal arch in Washington.

“He’s focused on the arch. I think he’s focused on his own personal legacy. He’s focused on vengeance,” she said. “He doesn’t have a legislative agenda, so does he really need a Republican Senate?”


Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.