Government Coup

[bae]

What's the story with the firearms charges Maduro was indicted with? (Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices)

It seems odd to charge a citizen and resident of a foreign nation for violating US weapons laws.

Could Australia indict JD Vance for possession of his AR-15, since that is contrary to Australian law?

[Alan]

What's the story with the firearms charges Maduro was indicted with? (Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices)

I think those charges were not meant to be stand-alone but rather as supporting charges to reinforce the narco-terrorism and conspiracy charge. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

[bae]

I think those charges were not meant to be stand-alone but rather as supporting charges to reinforce the narco-terrorism and conspiracy charge. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

Those charges seem absurd on the face of it, due to the jurisdictional issues. If I were on a jury, those spaghetti-against-the-wall charges wouldn't "reinforce" the prosecution's arguments, they would likely make me doubt any of the substantive charges.

[Rogar]

The New Yorker had an article by a Yale law professor who seemed to provide a non-bias discussion of the legality and how it differs from other historic interference and control by US presidents. I've forgotten the details of others, although G.W. was a feature player in the story and probably most of them were illegal or borderline. I don't know that any of them proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine or stolen oil as a vague justification. is Panama next to fall?

I could read the article without a paywall, but they seem to be picky about that these days.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and...uela-operation

[Tradd]

The New Yorker had an article by a Yale law professor who seemed to provide a non-bias discussion of the legality and how it differs from other historic interference and control by US presidents. I've forgotten the details of others, although G.W. was a feature player in the story and probably most of them were illegal or borderline. I don't know that any of them proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine or stolen oil as a vague justification. is Panama next to fall?

I could read the article without a paywall, but they seem to be picky about that these days.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and...uela-operation

The New Yorker is available via the Libby app from my library. I bet it's accessible via yours, too. You'll just have to wait for the next digital version of the print edition to come out, so later this week. That's how I read The New Yorker.

[bae]

Those charges seem absurd on the face of it, due to the jurisdictional issues. If I were on a jury, those spaghetti-against-the-wall charges wouldn't "reinforce" the prosecution's arguments, they would likely make me doubt any of the substantive charges.

My other thought is that perhaps the firearms charges hinge on the overall conspiracy charges. That is, say for the sake of argument he was engaged in a conspiracy to smuggle/market drugs in the USA, *and* any of his co-conspirators here in the USA were doing naughty firearms things. As a member of the conspiracy, even while sitting in Venezuela, he'd be on the hook for their firearms charges as well.

The trial should be interesting.

[frugal-one]

Hitler-trump is now talking about the next countries on his list for takeover…. Columbia and Greenland talked about today. Seems he is using the Hitler playbook taking countries one by one? He needs to be stopped or another world war?

[Tybee]

So saddening and alarming. Overwhelming, really.

[Rogar]

It sure takes the heat off the Epstein files and the Hegseth slaughter of boat survivors. Coincidentally.

[frugal-one]

It sure takes the heat off the Epstein files and the Hegseth slaughter of boat survivors. Coincidentally.

Hopefully, all his travesties and crimes come back to bite him!