…The answer to why powerful people in some other parts of the world face consequences, while in the #US they rarely do, is that #elite #impunity is now an American national project. We might need to reframe “American exceptionalism.” Instead of a New Deal, we have a Great Society for #WhiteCollar #crime, a New Frontier of executive lawbreaking, a No Rich Crook Left Behind. Most of us probably don’t even realize it.
#Trump has evaded punishment for #crimes both low (campaign-finance violations, for which he was #convicted, though he will serve no time thanks to his 2024 victory) & high (his attempted overthrow of the federal government in the aftermath of his #2020election loss, for which he was spared by #SCOTUS’ decision to grant him a kingly #immunity).
This is not just about #Trump; his #impunity is the product of a society that has worked hard to help the #rich & #powerful elude punishment for #criminal behavior.
Gerald #Ford pardoned his predecessor [ #Nixon] in the name of “healing,” but inadvertently set a precedent that executive lawbreaking was no #crime.