'From Russia with Lev'

@#4 ... why the deafening silence ...

If i may proffer an answer to that question based upon my experience here ...

Likely for the same reason why I see [crickets] to the many questions I ask on this most august discussion site.

The folk to whom I direct such questions cannot answer them.

Did I catch them in a lie?

My guess would be "yes."

But I do not know that for sure.

@#7 ... The difference between 2020 and 2024 is that Trump's mental depravity has become worse ...

I am not convinced of "depravity."

Degradation? Yeah I'd agree with that.

But my current opinion is that fmr Pres Trump's depravity has not gotten worse.

However the apparent degradation of his mental facilities that I may see seem to be emphasizing the depravity that likely has always existed within him.

Stated from another angle...

I'd proffer that fmr Pres Trump's rant four days ago in NY ( drudge.com ) is not an indication that his mental depravity has gotten worse.

To my view, it is just another example of that mental depravity that may have always been there, but is only surfacing more frequently nowadays.

@#9 ... You have to wonder how many others in Trump's orbit have broken laws to make Trump happy? ...

What Trump allies have faced criminal charges? (August 2023)
www.reuters.com

... Here is a look at some of the Trump aides and allies who have faced criminal prosecution.

STEVE BANNON
Trump's former campaign and White House strategist was convicted in 2022 of contempt of Congress. Bannon was charged after defying a demand to appear before a U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack by Trump supporters seeking to prevent Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory. Bannon, who has appealed, has yet to be sentenced. ...

ROGER STONE
Trump's longtime friend and adviser was convicted in 2019 of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Trump commuted his sentence the day before Stone, a veteran Republican political operative, was due to report to prison to serve a sentence of three years and four months. Trump subsequently pardoned Stone.

ALLEN WEISSELBERG
The former chief financial officer at Trump's real estate company served more than three months in jail for helping to engineer a wide-ranging tax fraud. Weisselberg pleaded guilty in 2022 and served as a star witness in the Trump Organization's criminal trial on tax fraud charges. The company was convicted but Trump himself was not charged.

PETER NAVARRO
The former Trump White House adviser was charged with contempt of Congress after refusing to provide testimony to the House panel investigating the Capitol attack. Navarro, who has pleaded not guilty, has yet to face trial. Two other close Trump associates, Mark Meadows and Daniel Scavino, did not face similar criminal charges despite a House vote recommending them.

MICHAEL COHEN
Trump's former personal lawyer and "fixer" was sentenced to a three-year prison term after pleading guilty in 2018 for his role in making illegal hush money payments before the 2016 election to two women ...Cohen also pleaded guilty that year to lying to Congress about negotiations concerning a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow, a project that never materialized. Cohen has become a fierce critic of Trump. ....

[continued in a new comment because of a 4000 character restriction per comment.]

[continued from prior comment]

MICHAEL FLYNN
The retired U.S. Army lieutenant general served as Trump's national security adviser for less than a month in 2017. Flynn, who also previously served as head of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, pleaded guilty that year to lying to the FBI about his interactions with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the weeks before Trump took office, then tried to withdraw that plea. Trump pardoned him in 2020.

PAUL MANAFORT
Trump's former campaign chairman was found guilty in 2018 of fraud and pleaded guilty to money laundering and lobbying violations related to his work as a political consultant for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians. Manafort was sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison but was pardoned by Trump in December 2020.

Manafort also faced fraud charges in state court in New York but they were dismissed in 2019 by a judge who concluded that the charges violated Manafort's protection against "double jeopardy" - being prosecuted twice for the same conduct.

RICK GATES
Manafort's former business partner, who was also deputy chairman of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, pleaded guilty in 2018 to conspiracy and lying to investigators in the Russia campaign probe. Gates was sentenced in 2019 to 45 days in jail. He testified as a prosecution witness in Manafort's trial.

ELLIOT BROIDY
The former Trump fundraiser pleaded guilty in 2020 to violating foreign lobbying laws by attempting to influence Trump's administration on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests. Trump pardoned Broidy.

JAN. 6 PROSECUTIONS
More than 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack. ...

@#9 ... You have to wonder how many others in Trump's orbit have broken laws to make Trump happy?

Yeah, that list seemed to exceed the maximum message size of this most august site.

To my eyes, that says something significant. ...