can anyone tell me the justification for putting Samuel Bankman-fried in prison for 25 years but Trump gets a fine? Is it federal vs. state?

Professorozone@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 201 points –

Pretty much what the title says. I know he's a former president and has all of his supporters, but what's the official reason? Thanks.

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I understand what you’re saying but the logic is a little flawed.

Yes, they both committed fraud.

SBF defrauded the crypto community, his investors, and FTX users.

Trump defrauded lenders, property insurers, and various tax authorities (and via that tax fraud, the taxpayers of NY and possibly the USA.)

SBF was charged criminally and found guilty. I assure you, the civil cases are coming against SBF. And the plaintiffs will most likely win those civil cases.

Trump was charged civilly and found guilty. I assure you, the criminal cases are coming against Trump. And the plaintiffs will most likely lose those criminal cases.

That’s the true difference.

I assure you, the criminal cases are coming against Trump

Fucking when, after he becomes president again and pardons himself, or after he croaks from obesity and dementia?

President can't pardon state cases.

After all you've seen Trump get away with I can't believe that you still somehow think this little detail will matter. SCOTUS will create an exemption of some kind for him.

"White male Presidents over the age of 75 that wear predominantly red ties can pardon themselves at both the federal and state level."

He's not supposed to be able to do a lot of the shit he's getting away with. At this point I fully expect him to try to pardon himself, NY will say he can't do that, it'll go to the SC, who will say that he can.

As much as I'd like to believe that SCOTUS will honor separation between state and federal, I simply do not trust our current justices. I fully expect them to say, "Nah....it's totes cool for Trump, and only Trump, to commit crimes."

At some point people are just gonna start ignoring the SC completely. I can't find any polls specifically about legitimacy per se, but confidence in the court is already very low, and even Republicans aren't all that happy with it.

Do state cases stay state cases?

Could “someone” leak some evidence that would make the case a federal one, and then pardon himself?

technically he can but it would bring about a legitimate constitutional crisis if republicans look the other way since it would be the first time he openly acted against the constitution and received no push back for it.

the criminal cases are coming against Trump. And the plaintiffs will most likely lose those criminal cases.

Bank fraud seems relatively easy to charge him with. If you knowingly provide false info on a bank document, it's a federal crime. His signature on each loan application was a crime.

You can't tell the State of NY your building is worth $1 and tell the bank it's worth $3. These banks literally had a procedure for dealing with his constant lies on bank documents. Large banks are federally regulated and it's a federal crime to lie to them on your loan application.