92 Comments

Phew. Don’t know if we should laugh at how theater of the absurd this is, or spread a wider net. But I do know we need similar standards applied to Supreme Court justices. The sooner the better.

Expand full comment

How about both. Balance. Seeing the absurdity keeps us aware of what IS normal

Expand full comment

Agree entirely

Expand full comment

And ex-presidents.

Expand full comment

Why does this looks so familiar?! A public officer taking foreign money and involved in fraud.... If Adams is convicted AND brought to justice, would that finally establish a precedent for bringing other big name politicians to justice, or is it to be assumed that Adams' conviction (and others) would be reversed as well? It's hard to focus on this with the storm hitting Florida and Georgia right now. But I keep wondering when justice will be served. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date! I'm looking forward to hearing more details in Jack Smith's "brief". Meanwhile, I'm wishing everyone a safe night tonight.

Expand full comment

You mean like Joe and Hunter Biden? The Clintons?

Of course not.

Expand full comment

How much are you getting paid to be so delulu? I read your 2 minutes reads. What a waste of my time.

Expand full comment

Well, certainly Trump never took any foreign money........

Expand full comment

LOL! Neither did Young Man Jared and his charming wife (the one whose father wished he could date her).

Expand full comment

My heart goes out to the people in hurricane Helene’s path.

Mayor Eric Adams indictment seems quite extensive.

If only Thomas and Alito could be charged for some of the same things. IMO that would be justice served.

It seems Jack Smith is on a fast track. I feel confident even if everything is redacted that he will do a thorough job and leave no stone unturned.

Expand full comment

Agree. Alito and Thomas. Why not them?

Expand full comment

They will probably have to endure impeachment before anything happens, if at all.

Expand full comment

Not to worry as Gov. DeSantis has several pallets-full of paper towels to toss at water-logged Floridians.

Expand full comment

Ms. Vance earns our respect every day with her skillful analyses.

Expand full comment

"That’s what we are entitled to expect from DOJ as citizens in a rule of law country. Honor, hard work, decency, and fidelity to the law."

Imagine if all of us acted with honor, hard work, decency, and fidelity to the law. Bliss.

Expand full comment

Fidelity to the law? Like letting the statue of limitations pass on Hunter Biden? Offering him a sweetheart deal? Blocking investigations into Joe Biden?

You are delusional

Expand full comment

The Troll allegedly "James A" has been twice reported to Substack Inc for violations under the Platform's 2024 Terms as construed by Substack Inc's choice law but, all rights have been reserved whether Troll is paid or not paid by 3rd parties knowingly or unknowingly.

Expand full comment

Oh my god, james, so you didn't get the job?

Expand full comment

Where did these people come from? So many every day. Are we trapped in a Rod Serling episode?

Expand full comment
founding

1 miracle-none of them are Illinois politicians.

Expand full comment

"These people" have always been with us. Illinois is not the only state that has elected politicians that enjoyed graft and corruption. The difference is that we are beginning to see attempts to bring them to justice. Two steps forward and one step back, but slowly...

Expand full comment

I'll make a new list

Expand full comment

Maybe we are. That's as good an explanation as any!

Expand full comment

🎶 Gonna change my way of thinking

make myself a new set of rules. 🎶

Expand full comment

Oh, boy, just what we needed heading into a presidential election of massive magnitude. I just have one thing to say in response, because it looks like he is guilty as sin, what is the difference between his wrongdoings and of those on the Supreme Court: Alito, Thomas for certain? I would like there to be equal justice for the handouts they've received to curry favor on items before the court. I yield back my time.

Expand full comment

“Williams said that his office was ‘not focused on right or left. Only on right or wrong.’ ‘That,’ Williams said, ‘is our duty, and we will fulfill it.’” Really, is that too much to ask? Apparently for some in the judiciary and law enforcement it is. These are sad days for justice, but eventually right will prevail over wrong.

Expand full comment

What gets me about “Mr Mayor” is he seemed to take pride in his corruption and didn’t seem to really go to much trouble to hide it. His should be an interesting case to watch.

As for Mr Smith’s giant revised indictment, I was really looking forward to seeing what was in it. Oh well…….balloon popped until another day.

The hurricane is ripping up Florida and heading north toward my part of N.C. It looks very much like the “frozen hurricane” that dropped a blizzard there in ‘93; same path. Too much rain in the mountains can do a lot of damage as well. I hope everyone in its path can find themselves safe afterward.

Expand full comment

Professor Vance is always a salient source of all things legal in Defendant Trump Land. My go-to investigators on the ground reporting on Politico are the dynamic Politico duo of Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney. Free & easy to sign up for anything Josh & the redhead's work product.

At 9/26 at 6:27 PM Eastern our Politico guys confirmed that Jack Smith's Team had filed their Brief well before the 5 PM Deadline.✔️ Jack's "Brief" is actually a "Proffer" a powerful evidentiary tool when used by a capable Judge. ✔️And, this immunity bust case has one In Judge Chutkan.☑️

Recall that SCOTUS instructed the Trial Court to take a detailed look at that proffered evidence. DONE. The Defendants Reply is due 10/17. Judge Chutkan makes the decision about when & how much of the Brief will be available to all of us in the cheap seats but, mama said , 'all good things come to those that wait'

Expand full comment
founding

Stay safe.

Expand full comment

SCOTUS sure seems to enabling white collar criminals who happen to have public jobs. If anything, sentencing ought to be more severe since not only would someone convicted of a crime like bribery be sentenced for the crime, but an extra "betrayal of public trust" sentence should be added. It's shameful that "pubic service" is becoming shorthand for "few consequences" these days.

Expand full comment

I don't understand how these positions think they can get away with being criminals! Trump is a felon yet he gets to run for the highest office in the World!! Crazy!!

Expand full comment
Sep 27·edited Sep 27

It's amazing how Adams is in trouble for the same transgressions that Thomas and Alito have put over on our country for decades and gotten away with Scott Free. Certainly we should tip our hats to Roberts who has made clear to one and all that there are indeed two systems of justice in our land.

Expand full comment

Helene has really kicked up her heels slaying Florida, in some cases, with 140 mph winds! That is very scary! Scarier is the corruption that is unveiled on a daily basis, whether it be Democrat or Republican. Integrity in public office seems not to matter to some people. It’s shameful that on the day Adams gets indicted, Rudy gets disbarred from NY. I mean, you couldn’t write this in a movie!

Expand full comment

Power may open doors, but only integrity can keep them open

Expand full comment

What I don't understand are the people who didn't report him from fear of losing their jobs. What about the people who could and may lose their lives because of a faulty building. Also thinking of the people in FL and other Southern states.

Expand full comment

First hopes of safety for all in Helene’s path. The outer bands were wide and soaking.

Perhaps, @Marilyn Lemons, they who knew also benefited, or just didn’t want to lose their jobs (Turkey’s consulate; Mayoral staff who traveled with.) In the industry in which I work, lots of gifts including luxury trips are justified: your group might bring a conference to our destination, or use the services of those providing tickets to a sold out concert. Many who take bribes or benefit second hand from them believe they are entitled to receive: “I work hard & an underpaid” is an often used rationalization. It becomes acceptable.

Ethics policies, sworn oaths don’t do enough.

Expand full comment

I'm thinking that fire fighters fearing to lose their jobs are not people who would benefit from going along with something that's wrong. They could find themselves rescuing people from a building that collapsed without the help of two Saudi planes, and suffering health consequences as a result. The only benefit I see is keeping their jobs, but it's very sad that people cave in to inappropriate pressure.

Expand full comment

Those who ignore the wrong doings are just as guilty as those committing the original crime. It is sad that we need laws to make them accountable also.

Expand full comment

Thanks Joyce. Yes, thinking of people in FloRida tonight with the threat of Helene. Thanks for the analysis. So disappointing when public officials misuse their position of public trust. Makes people more cynical about corruption in government. Long wait for justice.

Expand full comment