... The lesson that McQuade, a former federal prosecutor, draws in her book is that Corleone is demanding fealty. “What he’s saying is I’m going to do this thing for you but now you’re beholden to me.” And for Don Corleone, she says, read Donald Trump.

“Every time he does somebody a favour, whether it’s an appointment or something else, he expects there to be a quid pro quo.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/13/trump-don-corleone-book

#MafiaState #corruption #USThreats #USAggression #dictators #authoritarian #Godfather

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…despite #DOJ officials claiming the effort is dead.…, US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema issued a preliminary injunction blocking the fund…. She forcefully rejected the government’s arguments that the case was moot, citing #Trump’s praising of the idea & acting AG #ToddBlanche’s unwillingness to say under the penalty of perjury that the admin will not try to stand it up in the future.

#law #judiciary #criminal #fraud #theft #TaxpayersMoney #kleptocracy #MafiaState #Jan6 #SlushFund

“Every year they audit me, audit me, audit me,” #Trump said at a Republican primary debate in February 2016. “Nobody gets audited — I have friends that are very wealthy people. They never get audited. I get audited every year.” [cuz you keep committing #fraud, idiot]

Trump’s decision to not release his #tax returns in 2016 would eventually snowball into the audit #immunity unveiled last month by #ToddBlanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer.

#law #criminal #DOJ #theft #kleptocracy #MafiaState

#Trump has also sought to avoid public scrutiny of his #taxes. During his first run for office in 2016, he refused to release his tax returns, breaking a norm for presidential candidates. Trump said at the time he had to keep his returns private because he was subject to an #IRS audit — a perennial problem.

#law #criminal #fraud #DOJ #theft #kleptocracy #MafiaState

On that front, #Republican reaction has been much more muted, & #ToddBlanche said the #IRS audit shield would stay in place. A Democratic effort to cancel the audit protection failed on a voice vote.

The result is that an apparently unprecedented [& illegal] & enormously valuable public benefit for #Trump has, so far, flown under the radar in #Congress & passed into Trump’s hands without much protest from members of his own party.

#law #criminal #fraud #DOJ #theft #kleptocracy #MafiaState

Cassidy’s amendment to compensate the injured police officers was a pointed rebuke, as payouts from Trump’s #SlushFund could have potentially gone to Trump supporters who beat police & attacked the Capitol on #Jan6. Cassidy lost reelection last month after #Trump endorsed a primary opponent.

He said that, despite #ToddBlanche’s comments, the fund is still part of an active settlement and “absolutely can be used.”

#law #criminal #fraud #DOJ #theft #TaxpayersMoney #kleptocracy #MafiaState