BMATHJun 17, 2023
Pwnallthethings

In the past week, a lot of supporters for former President Trump have argued that the current administration has violated the norm against prosecuting former presidents.

The problem? That norm doesn't actually exist.

So I decided to dismantle it properly. Apart from anything else, criminal investigations of former presidents is probably a lot more common than you think:

https://www.pwnallthethings.com/p/there-is-no-norm-against-prosecuting

There is No Norm against Prosecuting Former Presidents in the United States

In the past week, many supporters of former President Trump have made an argument in his defense that his indictment violates the norm against prosecuting former presidents. There is no such norm, and there never was.PwnAllTheThings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

PwnAllTheThings
Jun 17, 2023 at 5:39pmWeb
Show threadreiteratorJun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings the number of “norms” trump has violated would fill volumes, but by all means let’s follow all the “norms” his supporters want to observe...
Show threadLaureJun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings be reasonable all you want but that won’t sway people drowning in the alt news universe of channels. Tracking and transparently countering that will help. Ignoring or ridiculing that loose and directly connected radio/tv/website/social behemoth won’t undermine this mass agitprop machine.
Show threadJohn BreenJun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings A "norm" is sort of like requiring an approval for a PR branch merge into main, being required, but you can decide to ignore that rule.
It let's people avoid the question "Is it an enforceable rule, or not ? Who decides ?"
Show threadxs4me2Jun 17, 2023

@Pwnallthethings

Nobody is above the law…

Show threadChris ConwayJun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings
There is a very strong norm against former presidents committing federal felonies.
Show threadJudith PakosinskiJun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings
This is a brilliant essay. It’s unfortunate that the people who really need to read it won’t.
Show threadWizard Bear (💉x8 + 😷)Jun 17, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Excellent and thorough article. TY so much for doing this. The references and detail are terrific. Sadly, it's unlikely to sway the ultra-MAGA right. They seem to believe that only Dems can be prosecuted and don't believe that no one is above the law.
Show threadsimonbpJun 18, 2023

@Pwnallthethings Good, you mentioned U.S. Grant, the only President arrested for speeding (on a horse).

He would totally have gotten a DUI, if that was a thing.

Show threadTJJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Pretty sure there is a norm involved here... of former Presidents not committing felonies, not lying to the FBI, and not nicking the nation's nuclear war plans and hiding them in his bathroom.
Show threadJeff EnderwickJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings thank you
Show threadJeff EnderwickJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings so well written.
Show threadPēteris KrišjānisJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings of course they did. They don't care that norm does not exist. They don't care also that you dismantled properly. For them, he is untouchable, period. Attacking him is attacking them. It is at emotional level. Nothing to do with laws, politics.
Show threadMatthew CloverJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Excellent analysis. Thank you very much for taking the time to put this together!
Show threadcowvinJun 18, 2023
@Pwnallthethings Thank you for writing this!