>

It's possible that Trump legitimately believed that everyone in politics was as corrupt as he is and also thought that him calling Raff was also no big deal.
Thank christ the recording of that call went public.
“I just want 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state”.
What do the words “which is one more than we have” actually mean?  I’ve never quite understood the logic. >

11,780 is one more vote than the 11,779 that they were behind in votes. >

I’m sure, but still…. >

I can't imagine a scenario where they had found a way to produce exactly 11,799 votes already and only needed  Raffensperger to provide 1 more. 
But, let's say this was the case, then I am sure that we would have seen those 11,799 votes introduced so that Georgia was sent into "hung" territory, and we would have had a replay of Florida 2000. >

They were behind almost 12000 votes.  In other parts of the conversation he suggests raff should just lie about the number.  Most of the conversation as i saw it was Trump trying to convince raff its not a big deal to "only" lie about 12000 votes, its not like he was asking for 1 million votes or something. Just a little lie, nbd. >

Correct. Here's a quote that backs up your statement -- Trump during the same convo:
“I just want to find 11,780 votes. So what are we going to do here, folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break.”
The "give me a break" is the tell that he thinks finding 11k votes shouldn't be hard. 
Problem is, Trumps mind operates in 1D and he's unable to calculate that those votes would have to come from Trump-friendly counties, making it much more difficult to come up with them (percentage-wise). >

Thanks for the quote!  
And really good point about the Trump friendly counties, his issue should not be with biden friendly Fulton, but some other place he actually did better in than Fulton.  But as you say, that's not what he fixated on, so he commits multiple felonies against a county that would not vote for him, ever.  What an idiot. >

Yeah, this buffoon has the IQ of an ice cube tray. Lucky for him, it helps keep him out of prison because his embarrassing levels of stupid make it difficult to interpret his actions as criminal, at a level beyond a reasonable doubt. >

They covered that pretty well in the jan 6th hearings.  He ignored many, many, many lawyers, relatives, etc telling him what he was doing was illegal. >

Here's hoping for a conviction and what amounts to a life sentence for him. >


Trump’s attorneys did not appear at the hearing on Tuesday, but released a statement noting Trump was never called to testify in the probe. “The grand jury compelled the testimony of dozens of other, often high-ranking, officials during the investigation, but never found it important to speak with the President,”

I know Trump gets bargain-basement lawyers, but even they must know how a grand jury works. Which makes this statement really, really sad. >


...but never found it important to speak with the President...  

...since they are familiar with his standard stalling tactics and could get the incriminating evidence needed from other sources. >

Sure, but the really funny part is that a grand jury is usually convened to indict someone, and you don't normally bring in the person they are requesting be indicted to give evidence to the grand jury. >

This jury's purpose wasn't to indict. Apparently, there is another type of grand jury that is more investigative in nature. This is that type of jury. >

It’s almost like they have a tape of him committing election interference. >

And they have tapes, cashed checks, and a confession for illegally paying off a porn star.
But micheal cohen went to prison for a one man conspiracy I guess. >


one man conspiracy 

Even though "Individual 1" mentioned in the case was obviously guilty as well. >

He was guilty, even in the court ruling. Trump was an "unindicted co-conspirator", which means he's guilty, but the court decided to not indict him. >

You just gave me an aneurysm on how wrong that is. 
A. He’s guilty by being labeled as an unindicted co-conspirator. No. That’s not how that works. 
B. Courts aren’t the one who decide to indict.
The prosecutor both labeled him and decided not to indict. The prosecutor has no power of declaring someone guilty. >

hasn't indicted & prosecuted him yet >

Paraphrasing Bill Maher; He tried a coup, the only consequences can’t be that it failed. >

My favorite part: 

“Many people, including lawyers for both sides, were knowingly on the line,” Trump wrote. “I was protesting a RIGGED & STOLEN Election.”

So, if you ever get arrested for robbing a bank, just remember that you were protesting HIGH banking fees. >

More like if you were protesting nonexistent high banking fees that you yourself invented for the sake of pressuring the bank into giving you a loan that you didn't qualify for. >


the bank into giving you a loan that you didn't qualify for.

"The bank didn't give me the loan that I didn't qualify for so I brought my gun and got the loan for myself."
The perfect bank robber defense. >

It’s looking all but certain Trump is getting indicted. Possibly as early as this week (although a few weeks is probably more likely). It's also possible we see the indictments in batches, but final charging decisions are not far off in any scenario.
I can hear a million “believe it when I see it” resonating through the Mueller investigation's ghost as I say this, but there really isn’t much to doubt at this point.
Trump is unequivocally, irrefutably the main target of this investigation. It began because of him, is centered on him, and involves multiple facets of criminality. There is smoking gun evidence not only in the Raffensperger call and efforts against other GA officials, but also through the fake elector scheme and Trump's lawyer - John Eastman.
The investigation has received testimony from 75 witnesses, including virtually every top Republican government official in Georgia, Lindsey Graham, Michael Flynn, and 4 of Trump's lawyers and advisers. Rudy Giuliani, the GA GOP leader, and 16 fake electors have been informed they are criminal targets that may face charges.
Fani Willis confirmed yesterday that the special grand jury has recommended multiple charges. She confirmed that they are serious felonies that carry lengthy sentences. And she confirmed she will be reaching a decision very soon.
Trump’s lawyers hilariously are citing the fact that Trump was not subpoenaed (only every single other person connected to him) as evidence he will be cleared, but that is NOT good for him. The main target of a multi-faceted criminal investigation (Willis is reportedly considering RICO charges, for example) is usually not subpoenaed.
There’s nothing to really stop her but herself at this point. Getting a return on an indictment is not particularly difficult at this stage. Only 12 of up to 23 grand jurors need to vote for it, and the bar is much, much lower than conviction in a trial jury.
Now if anyone wants to regress back to “believe it when I see it” and “justice is broken” and all that fun cynicism, you still have plenty of time:
Indictment is NOT “we got him!” Be prepared for a year, possibly years of proceedings. Arraignment, pre-trial, trial, sentencing, appeals. Endless things can still go wrong or go Trump’s way. There’s a long ways to go no matter what happens. >

He'll probably die before it's over. It's ridiculous that he's not in jail now. >

He'll flee the country as soon as charges are announced. We will never see Trump arraigned,  He'll retire to a place with excess and a stable internet connection where he can lob hate from afar and keep his cult rilled up without suffering any consequences other than never being able to set foot in the US again. >

Good luck pulling that off with a secret service detail. >

Some in that secret service detail are Trump loyalists so it's not impossible. >

Trump has had access to important intel.  Folks in the "US intelligence community" have absolutely dealt with similar scumbags when looking at the politics of other countries, thus likely have a good sense of who and what Trump is in terms of his psychology.  There must have been discussions on the problem that if Trump flees the US, he would need money, and selling intel would be one obvious way for him to do that.
I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall to hear these discussions. >

As long as it’s not written down. I think any Intel he has in his memory would be so jarbled that whomever he’s giving it to would end up making some really bad mistakes. >

Trump still has top secret documents that haven’t been returned. >

Dozens of empty classified folders indicate that's true. >

A take I’d like to see explored is that the most likely defense: He truly believe he won is invalid as a defense for soliciting fraud because earlier in the call Trump states unequivocally that he believes 11,780 votes is not the true number. Outlets never cover this point. 
Arguably, if trump didn’t believe it was fraudulent, there’s no crime. But he literally says, “I believe I won by over a million, but I’m not asking for that.”  It in no way helps that he’s asking for fewer votes. He’s asking for a number he states he believes is inaccurate. >


Willis’ investigation is separate from a federal probe of Trump’s attempts to stay in power despite losing the 2020 election, which is now being led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Smith is also investigating whether Trump broke the law by bringing highly sensitive government documents marked classified to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.

I know that at this point certain people are not even going to read this or even care about it, but can you imagine if just one of these things was against Clinton, Obama or even Biden? 
I often wonder how certain Republicans went from decent to completely brainwashed and delusional. I get that Fox News is likely responsible but like...you have a brain that works. Wtf happened? >

What happened is that they have realized that most people tend to have left leaning views in general whether they know it or not and the Republican Party has nothing to offer when it comes to governance. They’ve most likely projected that in some years ahead, their party as it was known would be moribund. This crazy shit is their Hail Mary to stay relevant and in power, even if it means disavowing democracy itself. >

It's this. Their policies are just factually unpopular among the USA in general, and outright despised within the majority of the younger generations. They're floundering and dying, and are forced to embrace the kooks because without their votes - they'd never win another election ever.
Don't let them tell you it's just a fringe element or not representative of the party as a whole. It's exactly who they are and pander to now... >

Yeah the house committees have those people all over the place. It’s not a minor segment of the party. >

Just watch. The moment charges are announced a flood of GOP candidates will announce their run for 2024. >

This ^ >

He's about to learn something about GSU educated prosecutors. The term "bulldog" gets thrown around a lot, but when it comes from the heart... >

I didn't say anyone was specifically noteworthy, but the law school is well known for turning out fairly ferocious prosecutors; its the cheapest law school in Georgia and right in downtown Atlanta. It had a reputation for focusing on "real world" practice instead of the ivory tower or gilded spoon settings of the more prestigious law schools. Its students graduate with a hatchet in hand, ready to chop some wood, not lobby politicians or run daddy's firm. >

As always, wake me up when he is actually punished for ANYTHING. We were all told Mueller was coming for him with handcuffs years ago and like everything else Trump related nothing ever happened. 
He always has a loyalist judge,prosecutor or someone on the inside to kill any trail. >

I'll believe it when I see it. For god's sake will someone in our government wake up and apply the law to politicians who break it!? >

I'm tired on Justice Edging >

Charge him or STFU >

My guess is we will know within 2 weeks. >

I imagine it was probably serious. From what I've read, in Georgia grand juries are empaneled every two months, with the most recent one being empaneled this month and the next one being in March. If Fani Willis is saying the decisions are coming very soon, I imagine she's probably already presenting evidence to the currently empaneled grand jury, so "within two weeks" seems like a reasonable timeline to have at least a first round of indictments. IANAL though, so I'm just speculating based on information I read from prosecutors and such explaining the situation. >

I think the next strongest case outside of Georgia is the one before the obstruction concerning top secret documents that needed a search warrant.That is the one in New York  where Michael Cohen was convicted over the Stormy Daniels payments and Trump was allegedly " Individual 1" who had committed one of the same crimes that Michael Cohen got convicted for. >

He just needs to “find” like 12 jury votes.