How Donald Trump is escaping accountability

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     May 20, 2024 As we enter the final days of Donald Trump's hush-money trial, it's worth noting that it's [something of a miracle]( that it has happened at all. No, not because Trump is a super innocent-looking man with an impeccable legal record. Far from it. But recall that as recently as last summer, it appeared that Trump would face four criminal trials before the November election. Today, it looks like the New York state hush-money case will be the only one to reach a jury before November—and possibly ever. How did we get here? How does the former president seem to escape accountability at every turn? As Pema writes, [there is a lot of blame to go around for this](. But no one deserves more blame—or credit—than Donald Trump himself. That's because it was Trump who rigged the courts during his first term, installing the very judges who have helped push off the federal cases against him. Perhaps the most glaring example is Trump's classified documents case, where the facts are shocking and experts say the evidence is "airtight": And yet Trump has evaded trial in the strongest case against him due exclusively to the judge overseeing the case. For two years now, federal Judge Aileen Cannon has repeatedly shocked the legal community with unprecedented orders that have flouted the law, delayed proceedings, and protected Trump. The ex-president was lucky that Cannon got assigned this case—but he also helped make his own luck by putting her on the bench. When Trump nominated Cannon in 2020, her signature qualifications were her youth (she was 39) and membership in the conservative Federalist Society. Read more on [what this could preview]( should Trump win in November. —Inae Oh Advertisement [SOCAP24]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [How Trump Judges Are Helping Him Escape Accountability and Return to Power]( The ex-president has eluded prosecutions, thanks to his first-term rigging of the courts. BY PEMA LEVY SPONSORED CONTENT BY SOCAP   Enter the SOCAP24 Ticket Giveaway Enter for a chance to win a free ticket to SOCAP24, the impact community's flagship event from October 28-30 in San Francisco! SOCAP is where changemakers from across the impact ecosystem convene to eliminate silos, spark collaboration, and accelerate the important work of individuals and organizations committed to global impact. The SOCAP24 theme, Going Deeper: Catalyzing Systems Change, encourages our community to critically examine our practices and challenge ourselves to delve deeper to achieve the change we seek. [Enter the giveaway for your chance to win!]( [Trending] [Under Glenn Youngkin, parole in Virginia has nearly vanished]( BY ISABELA DIAS   [Add Rubio to the list of GOP invertebrates who won’t say if they’d certify 2024 election results]( BY JULIANNE MCSHANE   [Shot by a civilian wielding a police gun]( BY CHRIS HACKER, CHAMPE BARTON, ALAIN STEPHENS, STEPHEN STOCK, AMY CORRAL, AND NICOLE VAP   [One of the world's healthiest coral reefs is hiding in a Gulf Coast oilfield]( BY JESSE NICHOLS Advertisement [SOCAP24]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [A mass shooter's mother explains how she's trying to stop the next tragedy]( Chin Rodger speaks out about the Isla Vista massacre, on this week's Reveal audio investigation. BY JEREMY SCHULMAN MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   How about something different? That’s how we’ve been thinking about things lately, because when it comes to democracy and journalism, two things we care deeply about, crisis has become [the new normal](, and it’s time to try doing something new. We merged with the Center for Investigative Reporting. It’s such a [strong pairing](, and it’s been inspiring. So instead of all the doom and gloom in the news these days, and thanks to a reader’s comment, we’re focusing on our real sense of optimism as we kick off our first big push [for the donations we need]( since taking that exciting, but also kind of scary, step forward. There’s more in “[Less Dreading, More Doing](,” but if you just want to feel the excitement like we do, here’s video correspondent Garrison Hayes in a video from late last year that we’re just now sharing widely. And here’s [a link to pitch in]( if you can. [Mother Jones Video!]( [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755