Monday night, “The Beat with Ari Melber” on MSNBC rolled out another set of intriguing videos from “A Storm Foretold,” a Danish documentary that follows Donald Trump’s close aide and friend Roger Stone, both during the election and through the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Stone is an intriguing character in Trump’s plot to overthrow democracy, especially as he’s closely connected with the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. He maintained a group chat called “Friends of Stone,” in which many now-convicted insurrection leaders — recently found guilty of leading the Capitol riot, often under severe “seditious conspiracy” charges — kept in communication.

The documentary isn’t available in the U.S. and the tapes have not been turned over to American law enforcement, because director Christoffer Guldbrandsen feels it violates journalistic ethics to do so. (Don’t be hard on the guy, who was so devoted to this project that he ended up having a heart attack from the stress.) Last week, Melber’s show released a video showing Stone detailing the fake electors scheme to his lackeys on November 5, 2020 — before the major news networks called the election. That proves, yet again, that the coup plan predates the election and was not, as Trump apologists claim, merely a reaction to a “sincere” belief that the election was stolen.

  • gregorum@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    In recent days, there’s been rising discussion of how the Constitution should, in theory, block Trump from being eligible to run for president again. Multiple legal scholars have pointed out that the 14th Amendment bars people from running who have violated an oath of office previously, “either through overt insurrection or by giving aid or comfort to the Constitution’s enemies.” Notably, the Constitution does not require a formal court conviction on insurrection charges.

    By any reasonable measure, of course, this applies to Trump. Even if he insulated himself from direct communication with people convicted of sedition, it’s indisputable that he gave aid and comfort, and continues to do so by championing them and promising them pardons. But, of course, the law is not a button you push that automatically turns the clear language on paper into enforcement in real life. Without a mechanism to enforce the law or the political will to enact it, Trump is coasting straight towards a spot on a ballot he should, by law, be barred from having.

    sigh

    • pingveno@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      One problem that I see. Who is the source of truth on whether he was part of a rebellion or insurrection? The 14th amendment is skinny on details as to what qualifies and process for making that determination.

      • _Sc00ter@lemmy.ml
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        11 months ago

        rebellion or insurrection

        Thats decided by who won. And since trump didn’t win, it’s an insurrection. Had he taken office, it’d be a rebellion.

        History is written by the victor