As I’m certain you’ve heard, former President Donald Trump is headed to his first criminal court case on Monday.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly paying hush money to a former adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years.
And while none of us know how this trial will go, and while Trump could face prison time if he is convicted, I wanted to share one fact that we often forget.
The Trump myth that overshadows most narratives is something along these lines:
Trump is invincible.
Trump is above the law.
Nothing ever happens to Trump.
And this was a belief that was mostly built up and cemented when he was a confident billionaire in the ’90s, who could push around smaller vendors and suppliers who couldn’t afford two to three years of court costs to fight him over money owed.
But let’s be very clear.
This is all a myth.
Trump has a less-than-stellar record when it comes to serious court cases when he’s not able to push around a weaker opponent in court.
And he has a history of losing — and often LOSING BADLY — for the past decade inside the halls of American courtrooms.
I’m sharing, and adding to, something that Paul Butler said a few weeks ago.
Butler, who’s a law professor, former prosecutor, and legal analyst for NBC News, reminded folks that Trump is only good at delaying. That’s the only effective tool and strategy that he’s employed the past ten years.
And once he’s used that tactic to its full extent and has no other moves, he often loses.
Let me share some examples.
In 2019, Trump’s foundation — the Trump Foundation — lost a court case and was ordered to pay $2 million to charities. He was also ordered to shut it down.
In 2022, the Trump Organization was found guilty on 17 counts of tax fraud. As a result of that lawsuit, a judge installed a third-party monitor to oversee aspects of the Trump Organization’s business.
In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll. Trump was fined $5 million.
In 2023, Trump settled with his former fixer and attorney Michael Cohen, who claimed he was owed unpaid legal fees in excess of $1.9 million. Initially, Cohen sued Trump for fees owed. Trump counter-sued and claimed Cohen violated attorney-client confidentiality agreements through Cohen’s book, media appearances, and podcast discussions. The former president was seeking $500 million in damages. This case was settled “satisfactorily” to all parties. We’ll call this one a tie.
In 2023, Trump lost a lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, which the court called “completely frivolous." Trump was fined nearly $1 million.
In 2024, a federal judge ordered Donald Trump to pay another $83.3 million to E Jean Carroll.
In 2024, Trump lost a massive case against his company and was fined with a staggering $450 million verdict. He is currently attempting to appeal this. (It’s probably worth noting, as well, that ex-Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg has been sentenced to 5 months for perjury. This is Weisselberg second time in jail.)
In 2024, Trump lost a court case (and the appeal) against retired British spy Christopher Steele. He was ordered to pay $382,000 in that case for legal fees.
In 2024, Trump lost his lawsuit against The New York Times. He was ordered to pay almost $400,000 in legal fees.
None of this is a guarantee of what will happen in this upcoming court trial, but I just want to make sure we dispel the myth that Trump is invincible, above the law, or beyond consequences.
The facts say otherwise. And they say so quite convincingly.
And if I were Trump going into this weekend with Monday looming in my thoughts, I’d be a very worried man.
All posts are free, so feel free to share.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written 12 of them: a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational self-help book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan. You can find all of these books on Amazon.
Is USA the only western country who allows a person to be a presidential candidate with so many court charges felonies? I want to think yes, and that Spain wouldn’t allow it. Although we have our own internal politics, messy. Lol.
Thank you! I sometimes fall into a funk thinking he will not face justice. Now I wonder if he ever pays the fines. I am in team Never Trump.