The wheels of justice are super-probably turning

But hush money to a porn star? What of it?

Mr. TFG

A few days ago, we read that criminal charges against the former president (TFG) could be imminent, but I have learned to stop waiting by the phone for the actual event, and that even if charges are filed, the case won’t be a cakewalk.

(Turns out this particular potential charge involves paying hush money to Stormy Daniels, a former porn actress with whom TFG had sex in 2006. It’s ugly and tawdry and just one of the clouds on the former president’s legal horizon, but let’s stay focused, shall we? His fixer, Michael Cohen, who testified for three hours before the grand jury Monday, spent time in prison on federal campaign finance violations connected to the porn payment.)

Ms. Daniels

(For what it’s worth, unlike his former fixer, the former president will not do his civic duty and testify before a grand jury, following in the footsteps of so many of his former foot soldiers that this came as a complete non-surprise. CYA, y’all!)

(If you’ve lost the thread, in 2006, TFG, while married to his current wife-just-become-an-new-mother-of-TFG’s-son, loosed the marital bonds for a moment with Ms. Daniels. Here. Check the timeline of TFG’s marriages/affairs, if you’re lost.)

Here’s one thing this tells us about our American legal justice system, if you didn’t already know: When you are rich/powerful/dare-I-say-it-white, the wheels of justice can turn immensely slowly (check out this Australian take on that). In fact, the wheels can turn so slowly those wheels may appear to be not turning at all. That leaves us with an America where certain people who fear being shot over a broken tail light can watch their former president rev up for another run at free public housing, seemingly unfettered and unbothered by what would throw most people into the slammer, tout de suite.

Thus, while I wait for TFG to get his, I have trained myself to simply scan stories that use words like “signal” and “likely” or any other vague terms. From that latter link, to the New York Times:

The Manhattan district attorney’s office recently signaled to Donald J. Trump’s lawyers that he could face criminal charges for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn star, the strongest indication yet that prosecutors are nearing an indictment of the former president, according to four people with knowledge of the matter.

I am not questioning the journalism around this. I am questioning if this will really happen, and this isn’t simply about my distaste for the gutless wonder that is TFG. I want to see justice served. I know what I want to have happen, but that does not affect what could legally be accomplished in regard to this Most Flawed President Ever™ (a phrase that’s not actually trademarked, but should be).

Still, I want to believe. My thoughts — and prayers — are with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team. Go git ‘em. Make me a believer again.

Mr. Bragg