In Your Face, America
The judge gave Paul Manafort a slap on the wrist, sending the message that if you’re rich and white and male, you can pretty much get away with anything in this country. The judge said that Paul has led a blameless life. Um, blameless life? He was found guilty on 8 out of 18 counts and is awaiting sentencing for a completely different trial next week!
Manafort showed up in court in a wheel chair and green inmate jumper. He begged for mercy. He didn’t apologize. Didn’t admit guilt. Wasn’t remorseful. Never mentioned any offenses. No humility — just talk about humiliation (just look at my hair!)
Judge Ellis sentenced him to 47 months instead of 24 years. Trim off 9 moths for time already served and Manafort goes back to his cell for about 3 years unless the judge next week slaps his other wrist and Trump pardons him.
It’s a rich white man’s world.
Paul Manafort is the poster child for rich white male privilege. Crystal Mason, a black woman, who mistakenly cast a ballot in a local election got 5 years. Rastafarian Patrick Beadle got 8 years for weed possession and trafficking (he bought it in Oregon where it was legal and took it to Mississippi where it is not,) and Monica Lewinsky was threatened with 27 years for filing a false affidavit to try and keep an affair private.
“Life for selling marijuana. 4 years for selling your country.” — Andy Slavitt
“Paul Manafort getting such little jail time for such serious crimes lays out for the world how it’s almost impossible for rich people to go to jail for the same amount of time as someone who is lower income. In our current broken system, ‘justice’ isn’t blind. It’s bought.” — Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
“The term ‘white collar’ is always an allusion to wealth and whiteness. The implication that the crimes of those who wear ‘white collars’ is morally superior to poor criminals is one of many myths of white supremacy that would be laughable were it not rooted in systemic violence.” — Bree Newsome Bass
“This Manafort sentence suggests that the wealthy and the powerful do better in court than many other defendants do, and I think it is an attack on the legitimacy of the criminal justice system” -Barbara McQuade, former US attorney
We live in a world where Brett Kavanaugh and Paul Manafort are regarded as victims, Trump is still president and they’re all pretty much invincible. In your face, America.
“The statement by Paul Manafort’s lawyer after an already lenient sentence — repeating the President’s mantra of no collusion — was no accident. It was a deliberate appeal for a pardon. One injustice must not follow another.” Congressman Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff just introduced legislation to forbid presidents from using pardon power to obstruct justice to cover up crimes involving himself, his family or his associates.
Republican hypocrite fun fact: The Republicans have no comment on the Paul Manafort sentencing because they’re counting on the same preferential biased treatment.
“It’s a club, and you ain’t in it! The table is tilted, the game is rigged, and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care.” — George Carlin
In your face, America.
“For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit” ― Noam Chomsky
Rod Rosenstein, the outgoing deputy attorney general, closed a speech with, “Finally, in the spirit of promoting a culture of integrity, I want to leave you with the wisdom of this ancient proverb: if you desire to know a person’s character, consider his friends.”
The Daily Crime Reports are being published as “quarterly reports” (three month groups) as part of “The Treason Chronicles” on Amazon for Kindle. To purchase one or more quarters, click here.
