Homan will virtually actually by no means see any penalties for accepting this obvious bribe, and whereas he owes the most important debt to Trump’s DOJ, which reportedly killed the investigation, he also needs to ship the Supreme Courtroom a thank-you be aware. He couldn’t have achieved it with out them.
In every other administration, this is able to be a five-alarm hearth. However in Trump’s White Home, it’s simply run-of-the-mill corruption. The White Home straight-up denied that Homan took the $50,000, with White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt doing her typical “you fools, you rubes, how dare you!” act for reporters, sneering, “Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 that you’re referring to, so you should get your facts straight.”
Positive, besides that’s not precisely what Homan himself is saying.
For no matter purpose—hubris? stupidity? feeling bulletproof?—Homan isn’t denying it. He’s simply saying that there’s no downside, man.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters on the White Home on July 7.
“Look, I did nothing criminal. I did nothing illegal,” Homan mentioned. “It’s hit piece after hit piece after hit piece and I’m glad the FBI and DOJ came out and said, you know, said that nothing illegal happened, no criminal activity.”
Homan is technically appropriate. Trump’s corruption-fueled DOJ and FBI apparently did certainly kill the investigation, so Homan clearly owes loads to Trump and his extraordinarily laissez-faire perspective towards corruption.
Nevertheless, the investigation into Homan’s actions possible wouldn’t have stalled out lengthy sufficient to await Trump’s reelection if it weren’t for somewhat Supreme Courtroom ditty from 2016, McDonnell v. U.S.
In McDonnell, a bribery case involving former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, the Supreme Courtroom considerably narrowed what counts as an “official act” for functions of federal bribery statutes. Now an official act has to contain some kind of formal train of governmental energy on one thing particular that’s pending earlier than that public official.
So, right here’s the issue. It’s possible that one of many causes the investigation into Homan stalled out in the course of the Biden administration is that Homan wasn’t but a public official on the time, as Trump had not but been reelected. And underneath the narrowed McDonnell definition of “official acts,” the DOJ might need needed to sit on its arms and wait and see if Homan dedicated an “official act” of bribery.
In fact, when Trump received the 2024 election, it grew to become clear that Homan, along with his distinctive model of thuggish xenophobia, would have a spot within the administration—and subsequently the chance to behave on no matter that $50,000 was imagined to pay for.
The DOJ had continued to watch Homan even after Trump’s election and was contemplating a number of felony fees, however then, underneath Trump’s DOJ, the entire thing simply received shut down. In a neat little circle of corruption, it seems to be like Emil Bove helped with this effort, and Bove is now untouchable because of his lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court docket choose.
Now, disgrace the place disgrace is due: McDonnell was a unanimous resolution, in order that half can’t be laid solely on the ft of the conservative justices. Then again, the unbelievable present of immunity the right-wing jurists bestowed on Trump is solely their fault.
As a result of right here’s the factor. If not for that immunity resolution, Trump may not have gotten again into workplace. However even when he had managed to, absent that cloak of safety, he possible couldn’t be as emboldened in his disregard for the regulation or any penalties. And actually, what actual hurt can come to anybody in Trump’s orbit now? Trump’s immune, he’s the president, and he can simply shut down investigations or, failing that, pardon everybody.
Thanks, Chief Justice John Roberts!
