Intro
In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses the RICO prosecution against Donald Trump in Georgia and the implications it has for the former president. He explores the charges, the use of the RICO statute, and the double standards in the application of the law. Ben also covers other current events and topics, including inflation, the mistreatment of women in Afghanistan, and rising crime rates in California.
Main Takeaways
Trump’s RICO Indictment in Georgia
- The Georgia RICO prosecution against Donald Trump is the largest legal barrier he faces, as it is a state-level case he cannot pardon himself from if convicted.
- The indictment against Trump is a long, sprawling 98-page narrative story about his attempts to intervene in the 2020 election, but it does not answer the key question of whether he engaged in a criminal enterprise.
- Georgia’s RICO statute is modeled on the 1970 RICO Act, designed to go after the mafia, and is broader in some respects than the federal version.
- Willis’s indictment against Trump represents the most ambitious and sweeping case brought up against a former president and is likely to pose unprecedented legal challenges for both Trump and the prosecutors.
- Willis faces some challenges, including seeking a trial date within the next six months, which is unlikely to happen, and the possibility of Trump seeking to move the case to federal court.
The Use of RICO and Double Standards
- The Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was designed to go after criminal enterprises with plausible deniability.
- RICO allows individuals to be charged with crimes of anyone within their criminal enterprise.
- Fanny Willis is charging Trump with a RICO violation because it does not require specific intent to commit a crime, making it easier to prove.
- Donald Trump would not have had to have specific intent to corruptly overturn the election, as long as someone in his orbit knew.
- Partisan prosecutors shouldn’t decide who goes and who stays accountable for the law.
Double Standards in Politics
- The IRS scandal involved auditing and removing tax exemption for conservative groups leading up to the 2010 election.
- Rico violations were meant to stop Mafioso activity, but politicians are not held accountable for their criminal enterprises.
- Rico violations with regards to Donald Trump and the 2020 election fit better with the criminal violations committed by Hunter Biden and Joe Biden.
- Rules are not applied evenly, they are only applied to Donald Trump.
- The use of RICO to go after politicians should be applied evenly, not selectively.
Other Current Events and Topics
- Hillary Clinton is still making the rounds despite her alleged involvement in scandals such as taking bribes and destruction of classified information.
- Central banks in countries like China, India, and Australia are transitioning to digital currency, and the Federal Reserve is contemplating the same for the United States, which could allow the government to track every purchase made.
- More Americans are falling behind on their credit card payments, and new credit card delinquencies have surpassed their pre-COVID levels.
- China’s economy is in bad shape, and if it goes down, it could lead to higher prices and lower supplies of goods, exacerbating the inflation problem in the US.
- Massachusetts has barred traditional values adoptive parents from adopting in their state.
Summary
Trump’s RICO Indictment and the Use of RICO
The Georgia RICO prosecution against Donald Trump is a significant legal challenge for the former president, as he cannot pardon himself if convicted at the state level. The indictment, although extensive, does not conclusively establish whether Trump engaged in a criminal enterprise. Georgia’s RICO statute, based on the federal RICO Act, provides broader grounds for prosecution. Fanny Willis’s ambitious case against Trump poses unprecedented legal challenges for both sides, including the possibility of moving the trial to federal court.
Double Standards in the Application of the Law
The use of the RICO statute highlights the double standards in politics, where politicians are not held accountable for their criminal enterprises. The selective application of the law, as seen in the IRS scandal and the differing treatment of Trump and the Bidens, raises concerns about partisan prosecutors determining accountability. The need for even-handedness and fair application of the law is crucial to maintaining trust in the justice system.
Other Current Events and Topics
Ben also discusses other current events, including Hillary Clinton’s continued presence despite alleged involvement in scandals, the transition to digital currency by central banks and its potential implications for privacy, rising credit card delinquencies in the US, the impact of China’s economic instability on inflation, and Massachusetts’ controversial adoption policies that discriminate against traditional values adoptive parents.
Conclusion
The RICO indictment against Trump in Georgia raises important questions about the selective application of the law and the need for even-handedness in holding politicians accountable. The double standards in politics and the justice system undermine trust and highlight the importance of informed voting and active participation in the political process. As current events continue to unfold, it is crucial to stay engaged and hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
