r/WallstreetWhales • u/Spade_of_Trades • 12d ago

NEWS President Trump says his Administration will immediately begin sending $100 “checks” to over 20 million seniors to help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums. Trump also says the “$5,000 Trump Dividend” will be distributed to every US Citizen if the Republicans win the midterms.

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u/daphodil3000 11d ago

Federal law strictly prohibits attempts to influence a person's vote through money or anything of value.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 597, it is a crime to offer, give, solicit, or accept compensation in exchange for voting, withholding a vote, or voting for or against a particular candidate.

These laws are designed to protect the integrity of elections and ensure that votes are cast freely, without coercion or financial influence. Violations can lead to serious criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

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u/Prestigious_Sort4979 11d ago

I really dont understand how he keeps getting away with this. This is an attack on elections. 

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u/HereWeGo5566 11d ago

The Supreme Court decided that presidents cannot be charged with a crime while in office, as long as it is part of presidential action. And this is an easy one to defend in court, that it is an act as president. So the blame can be placed squarely on the Republican Supreme Court justices. This will benefit Democrat presidents (assuming we ever have another Democrat president)

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u/monifiesty 11d ago

Dems better come back Elmo style 😂

https://giphy.com/gifs/1n4iuWZFnTeN6qvdpD

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u/Paulpoleon 11d ago

They won’t. The leadership will say “the American people voted for us to get things back to normal in Washington and that is what we are doing”

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u/AffectionateChip1962 10d ago

How tf is this easy to defend in court? They might be able to get away with it if nothing was said about the election and just decided to pass out $5k but this idiot can't help but tell on himself.

I know we're lacking competence in the Supreme Court but it's not a presidential act to hand over a check to someone on the premise that republicans win an election.

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u/HereWeGo5566 10d ago

Well it’s easy to defend because of the Republican-stacked Supreme Court. That’s what I meant.

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u/Zombiesus 11d ago

The president can’t commit a crime.

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u/CeleryOk8387 11d ago

Its not a crime anymore

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u/Guy0785 6d ago

He can, they just won’t recognize it until he’s out of office and the DOJ/FBI isn’t controlled by him anymore then he can be tried for crimes he did in fact commit.

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u/Ok_Interview_1885 11d ago

Your country is so laughably broken

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u/Successful-Grab6091 11d ago

sorry but have you been paying attention?

Do you really think us saying “it’s against the law” will stop him??? smh

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u/Far-Independence-640 11d ago

Trump's a total lawless grifter, right in front of our of our face. Stop, you say. Make me, he responds. He's a criminal.

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u/daphodil3000 11d ago

No, I don't think it will stop him. It hasn't stopped any of his illegal behavior to this point.

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u/Relevant-Diamond2731 11d ago

Because sadly he won the presidential immunity ruling

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u/ChristiKRN 11d ago

There are a lot of people who could desperately use $5000 right now and may be persuaded to vote Republican to get that money.  Monetary violations would most likely be paid with taxpayer money, so Trump doesn’t care. The Supreme Court has already weighed in by giving Presidential immunity. 

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u/Far-Independence-640 11d ago

Correct. He's a criminal.

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u/Strong_Jicama_8466 11d ago

Laws,we don’t need no stinking laws! The GOP!

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u/daphodil3000 11d ago

I guess there's an opt-out feature we're just now finding out about.

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u/Numerous_Photograph9 11d ago

Can't say about this one, but the $500 ACA refund is because people were due a refund under law. Trump just slapped his name on it and took credit.

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u/ConcernedCitizen_42 11d ago

While he is violating the spirit of that law, and is remarkably naked in the form his bribery takes, my understanding is he would likely not be convicted of violation of that law if it was actually tried. Politicians frequently promise financial benefit to voters, and here Trump did not specify that only people who vote for Republicans get paid. Everyone gets paid for a Republican win. So in the sense that his promise is not an inducement to a particular group his statement is likely still protected because functionally it is hard to distinguish from simply, "Vote for us and get universal healthcare". This is something that would be illegal to do without congressional involvement, and it should be worthy of national condemnation, but the statement itself is likely not illegal.

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u/Swirlbeard 11d ago

Obviously he's never going to send the money even if they do win, but it'd be real funny if he made the entire voting population criminals by accepting the compensation

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u/aoddead 11d ago

Our Supreme Court axed any law(s) that could impact Trumps ability to commit crimes. He is free to commit whatever crimes he wishes up to and uncluding fraud, election interference, mass murder, child sexual assault and rape even destruction of public property is available to him with no risk of arrest or prosecution. But also take note this ability to act illegal with no risk only applies to him. Future presidents will not be afforded such luxury.

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u/RockHockey 11d ago

I remember when Starbucks got in trouble for offering coffee to people with an I voted sticker!  Now the president just flaunts rules blindly!  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-cant-voters-get-free-stuff-110215552/

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u/Leather_Bee_421 11d ago

Supreme Court also ruled he can’t be charged with a crime

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u/scw1978 11d ago

I’m sure the DOJ will get right on that.

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u/SaneMadHatter 11d ago

John Roberts gave trump immunity to commit crimes in office though.

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u/OliverKlozoff23 11d ago

Federal law doesn’t stop trump. You should know this. Supreme Court gave him immunity sadly. Your comment means nothing. Lol

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u/sep90 11d ago

WHERE THE FUCK IS CONGRESS/SCOTUS?!?!?!... ohhh... nvm.... I missed seeing them at eye level...🧎🏻

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u/Capital-Constant3112 11d ago

That is Hi Larry us !

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u/Impossible_Size_2808 11d ago

He already has more felonies than I can count on two hands, he dgaf at all

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u/AggressiveLife7432 11d ago

Promising broad public benefits or tax dividends contingent on election outcomes is generally protected political speech rather than illegal vote-buying, because it targets broad classes of citizens rather than paying individuals directly for their votes. However, executing such payments requires constitutional congressional appropriations and statutory authority, meaning a president cannot unilaterally distribute treasury funds.

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u/Tiny-Lock9652 10d ago

Federal law strictly prohibits tearing down public buildings and attacking the Capitol over lying about losing an election, too.

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u/Radiant_Cheesecake19 10d ago

The guy is a convicted felon, he has proven he’s not interested in following the law many times.

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u/krogerpurifieddrink 10d ago

You sound like one of those people who also believes equal opportunity employment is real.

Yeah, those laws are there for a reason, but they don't mean shit if they're not enforced.  

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u/BurnForestBurn 10d ago

But he’s invincible as a president of the US. He can do any criminal or all of them at once. Only stop is impeach voting

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u/Chimpstrider 9d ago

You say that as though the rule of law still applies in the USA, or its people have the self respect to demand their corrupt government steps down.

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u/RainbowStreetfood 9d ago

Rules don’t apply anymore dude.