Why Is It So Hard to Punish The Powerful? A Former U.S. Attorney Weighs In
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2022
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Jon is joined by Geoffrey Berman, a partner at partner at Fried Frank, a former U.S. Attorney from the Southern District of New York and author of the new book, “Holding the Line: Inside the Nation’s Preeminent US Attorney’s Office and Its Battle with the Trump Justice Department.” Berman also happens to be Jon’s neighbor growing up in New Jersey. They reminisce about the old neighborhood gossip and then dig into why Bill Barr tried to have Berman fired, why it’s so hard to nail down powerful guys like Trump, and whether better guardrails stand a chance of protecting our democracy going forward.
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A kid who steals $50 from a gas station cash register will spend more time in jail than a CEO who steals millions.
And the CEO who steals millions will be allowed to keep most of the money they stole. The Sacklers, who profited from killing and ruining the lives of countless people, were still allowed to keep billions in ill-gotten money and were never sent to prison for their crimes.
jeffrey skilling served 12 years.
bernie madoff was sentenced to 150 years and died in prison. His son also died in prison due to suicide.
While you're right that the system is unfair, the kid isn't going to get investigated by a US Attorney.
@@davidhill2020 No, the kid won't be investigated but taxpayers will foot the bill for the investigation (and maybe trial) of the CEO, who ends up getting the last laugh while the kid gets thrown into a hell run by some for profit scumbag, on the taxpayers' dime. FUBAR.
"CEO who steals millions." Maybe jon can give them an award at disneyland like he does neonazis.
When I was 18, my then-boyfriend & I got pulled over because my license plate light bulb was out. We would've just gotten a warning, but they ran both of our names & told him that his license was suspended for non-payment of child support & that, since he was driving at the time, he was under arrest for driving under suspension. He did 8 days in jail. The thing was that he didn't actually have any children. We were practically kids ourselves. It took us 2 years just to get a judge to realize that he genuinely had no children. There'd been a mix up between him & another gentleman who had the same name & a similar social security number.
When it was all said & done, we'd paid a small fortune in court fees & legal fees, he'd been to jail, & he'd lost a job that should've served as an important gateway into a career. None of those losses were ever repaid in any way & I can say definitively that my ex was never the same person again. I don't want to get into specifics, but it permanently altered him & it wasn't for the better.
Anyway, though, when we started telling people what had happened, we found out that a lot of people had also had very negative experiences with the justice system. This was especially true amongst people of color & some of their experiences were far worse. It's not uncommon in my blue-collar area to find people who feel they have been treated poorly by the courts &/or police.
Watching Trump & other wealthy people perpetually avoid punishment for their actual crimes is especially disgusting if you've seen the justice system approach innocent people with utter disrespect. Trump & others are afforded not just a more lenient system, but a more receptive & respectful system than the rest of the population. The mix-up itself wasn't nearly as damaging to my ex-boyfriend as how contemptuously he was treated. Nobody listened. The disdain was palpable.
Thank you for discussing this topic. We shouldn't have a less severe system of justice for the rich & powerful & I don't think the media realizes just how offensive it is to a lot of us when we see these already privileged people being afforded even more privilege.
Thank you for your story.
Indeed, the problem is not how they treat the powerful with reverence. That is just the insult, added to the injury that regular folks can’t get even a fair share of reasonable treatment.
Jails for profit, and federal subsidies for arrest quota only made it worse.
It’s stories like this that caused the French to invent the guillotine for their rich and famous…
Well said.
Yup. So true.
Recently my husband was told his license was suspended (it wasn't) which means our "proof of insurance" wasn't valid (it was). The judge offered 2 things, pay $450 court costs, the case will be deffered (he'll be innocent in a year as Long as he doesn't get in trouble and it doesn't go on your record) OR pay a lawyer atleast $1,000, plus court costs, and hope the prosecutor don't just use the BMV's mistake as State proof thus getting a guilty verdict.
They literally admitted his innocence but blackmailed us basically.
I don’t know how many times or ways that you could have asked him how to fix the problem of unequal justice. While I can admire his dedication, he sure doesn’t give any of us “normals” any hope that the problem will get fixed. I’ve paid attention to these things my whole life (I’m about your age) and it is just so depressing. His answers amount to, despite what he describes as the department’s talent and dedication, nothing will change. I’d like to know how the hell we are supposed to hold onto any hope. INNOCENT people still get sent to jail for life and death sentences while GUILTY rich and connected people hide their money all over the place and get away with everything. It’s feels WORSE to hear it from the horses mouth than being an observant person who has lived through your very good points. It’s not right Jon, but you are one in a billion (or several billions) who has actually been able to get justice for the 9-11 responders and our military. My fingers are crossed (effective, I know) that you’ll somehow find a way to move the needle on this as well.
BTW, It doesn’t seem to have hurt you at all, going to public school. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but from the minute republicans started tearing apart our public education system decades ago, to the day Trump said he loves stupid people and actually got elected, I’ve felt the end is coming. Without a good education and critical thinking skills……what is to become of us? I talked to a 24 year old at a call center the other day, and she’s already given up. She said she doesn’t vote, feels like she has no power and doesn’t expect to live much longer. She truly believes there is absolutely nothing she can do and is doomed. I suggested she watch “The 13th” on Netflix then get herself, her family and all of her friends to register and vote, before that doesn’t even matter any more.
That’s so sad to hear about that young person. But you know ‘we’ elders create this mess that the young people now have to endure. How did this happen? Who and what have we been voting?
Thank you, it is very disappointing to see that our government has been highjacked by terrorists! I myself have thought about unregistering to vote and I have been registered since 1979. I no longer recognize the country I grew up in, the country I love and was so proud of. There are insurrectionists that were voted into office and have positions on committees that are meant to be held for people that want to defend the country from enemies both foreign and domestic.
The fact that the department is full of "brilliant" and "talented" attorneys, he made it a point to say that multiple times, that means they've been fully aware of the inequality for decades. They know it's there, because they want it to be there, and that's the reason nobody has done anything about it.
@@ananthropomorphictalkinggo6641 You may be right. For decades our leaders have cut budgets and laid people off in the FDA, Education, IRS and many other departments that made us what we were. If the IRS has to decide whether to check 20 million of us hoping to get what they should, or use all of their agents working on one rich person for decades, having to bleed them dry in lawyer/accountant fees before they get one cent, what are they going to do? So now, the R's can say the IRS is coming for us...because they are....just not for the reasons they claim. It never matters who had the power in Washington. Republicans lie their butts off, make our lives worse, do whatever they want, then start screaming about some other BS before anyone has the chance to challenge them. They are a non-stop shit show, which is exhausting. When Democrats are in power, unlike the R's who stick together and push their agenda through, they "compromise" to get any little thing done.....all the while still somehow helping the same people the Republicans help....with a teeny tiny bit for the rest of us making it through. Not enough to make any real difference, just enough to say they tried and it's the best they could do. Did you see Barney Frank, who passed the Dodd-Frank law to keep banks from crashing, then repealed his own law right before retiring, then went to work for the bank that just went tit's up? Hmmmmm, what was he (as chairman of the House Financial Services committee) promised to betray himself and all of us? He ought to be tarred and feathered. There are good people working in Washington, like Bernie, Elizabeth, and AOC but the Dem's won't give them a voice or chance to compete. More of us ought to be asking why that is.....instead they are all just grinding us down. More and more people don't even bother to vote. It's not me yet, but I can certainly see why we're heading that way. So depressing. it's really hard to understand WHY people want so much and will do anything to get it. There's only so much "stuff" you can own. They do enjoy stealing little girls and forcing them to have sex with them....and now have babies. How did we let evil come to power in our beloved country? In the end they are going to die like the rest of us. Unlike most of us though, they'll leave the world worse for their ever being born.
@@studdstuff7645 Republicans. That's how.
"If the same people are in charge again, there's no stopping them.". Chilling! What an important interview!
Here's the tldr.
Jon: "How is it that well-connected people with means are able to get away with crime?"
Barman: "IKR. The southern district of NY is the best though."
Rinse and repeat for an hour.
Yes, but we know this attorney is a good person from the start because he wrote the 762nd Get Trump! book. Who cares if he does his day job in good faith? He's a holy warrior against the worst threat to democracy: populism. And, no, populism and democracy are not synonyms. Populism is when the people resist the ruling class, democracy is when the people do not interfere with the high aims of the ruling class for the good of the ruling class.
You're right!
He did admit near the beginning that he's a Republican. Perhaps the people working these cases being ideologically allergic to condemning rich white right wing sociopaths, might just have something to do with it.
💯
@@nunyabidnis3815 Maybe not everyone's opinion is based on politics.
The way Jon was laboring to get this man to admit outright that the justice system is not now, nor has it ever been fair, balanced or even functioning.
thats Capitalism for you
@@Glaaki13 You obviously take full advantage of capitalism.
Occasionally it functions: the Rosenbergs were duly tried and executed, for example. Nixon was ousted, although his predecessor was not. Trump had Epstein arrested.
DeSantis 2024 !!!!
Ya was gonna say, he is trying hard to protect his work and his peers. Just admit that the system is broken, but letting your ego take control you allow the system to stay broken!! If he cannot even get a lifelong friend admit the truth, how is he or anyone suppose to get the truth out of anyone!
"The fairness of Justice". It's good to see that Jon still has his Flair for humor.
Wow, the relevance of this discussion touches so many problems in our society. Great job!
"When you see a roach you don't think 'oh there's only one.'" Perfect analogy.
Jon tried really hard but politely to ask a lawyer why the wealthy and powerful don’t pay for their crimes like the common person. The lawyer didn’t want to say that the wealthy have very very good teams of lawyers that can navigate through every loop hole, every questionable tactic etc. and the common person doesn’t have those tools.
Nor did he address the elephant in the room: how these loopholes and delay tactics got written into law in the first place.
@@rcnfo1197 You're absolutely right.
He was more interested in defending his work and selling his book than in giving a straight answer.
@@rcnfo1197 They aren't written into the laws. Laws are about LANGUAGE and written in language. It is impossible to predict every possible nuance and meaning. It is the process of judicial interpretation that determines the limits of laws within the constitution and lawyers always find some argument to exploit a loophole. Closing those loopholes is an ongoing process. I am not saying it is ideal because it isn't. It is far from perfect, but it's all we've got and the rule of law has to better than might is right where the rich and powerful would oppress the poor and weak even more than they already do.
Part of it is that there is a disconnect between what someone who believes there are two tiers of justice says and what someone who is an institutionalist hears. Are there two sets of rules? No, says the institutionalist, there is just one set of rules but one group can make better use of them. There are two sets of outcomes for one set of rules.
It's like this: imagine if instead of courts we did trial by basketball. In this game of legal basketball, the defendant gets the win if the score is tied but all points have to be scored by slam dunks. The prosecution is good at dunking because it's their job. The public defender can dunk but they're always exhausted. Defending yourself in almost every instance would be insane. And if you're rich enough, you can hire a Dream Team. One set of rules, but how you leverage those rules favors a particular type of person.
What a great discussion with Geoffrey Berman who presents as a guy of outstanding principle that is quite ordinary whilst at the same time very much extraordinary. Thanks Jon for inviting him to sit down with you.
Back in the '60's, there was a famous defense lawyer named Percy Forman. He practiced in Texas. I remember reading, somewhere, that you knew, when someone hired Percy, 3 things: 1, guilty;
2, rich; 3, about to walk. Our legal system, in effect, impanels juries to decide which side has the best lawyers.
That was incredible. John asked the same question about 55 times and the guest didn't answer it once except for the answer that is the subject of his book.
Sadly our system is corrupt AF. Americans only get the justice we each individually can afford. If you're poor you can't afford to be suspected of something you didn't even do. If you are wealthy the American justice system will let you do practically anything.
Evasion and obfuscation is this guy's game. Disappointing and not remotely surprising.
"Somebody's gonna have to stand trial."
"Well, we'll see what happens."
Best summary of the American justice system I've ever heard.
What I really don't get is how he can basically say there wasn't enough evidence to prove Trump guilty when EVERYONE around him is going down for crap...yet it seems that semi regularly I'm watching a documentary or listening to a podcast about someone the innocence project get released after 10 years and the MAIN evidence against them was a jailhouse snitch, probably lying because a cop told him they would release him earlier if he got on stand and said whatever the cop wanted him to.
the level of street crime and violence is directly related to the level of corruption and inequality. people are not safe with this level of corruption and unfairness. it bleeds into the psyche of the people, and the majority who are struggling to survive are stretched too far and eventually snap due to the aggregate weight of the emotional and psychological harm, which is a reasonable reaction to the level of stress and pain being endured, all while watching certain few move to a different strata of wealth and influence and security, which is only possible by doing things that cause the stress and pain for the majority...all which is unnecessary and actively harmful to the society.
I blame batman. Fuck that guy.
i hate to agree...
@@IGNANT4LIFE Babbling nonsense.
Many years ago I heard a local sportscaster say, "People hate lawyers because they make a game out of right and wrong." Common sense does not seem to apply if the defendant is wealthy and can drag things out at great expense to all involved, forcing a settlement or mistrial.
Jon did a great job in this interview and the comments are spot-on
You asked great questions and he avoided answering most of them.
In an oligarchy, the powerful punish but cannot be punished.
the level of street crime and violence is directly related to the level of corruption and inequality. people are not safe with this level of corruption and unfairness. it bleeds into the psyche of the people, and the majority who are struggling to survive are stretched too far and eventually snap due to the aggregate weight of the emotional and psychological harm, which is a reasonable reaction to the level of stress and pain being endured, all while watching certain few move to a different strata of wealth and influence and security, which is only possible by doing things that cause the stress and pain for the majority...all which is unnecessary and actively harmful to the society.
Yes we had years of financial documents, yes we had the receipts from the banks, yes we found the documents in his home, yes his lawyer and accountant were found guilty of up to 15 felonies, and yes the alleged defendant profited from these crimes. But hey, we just didn't have a case to be brought.
- Geoffrey Berman
Weasels-R-Us
Then maybe we should charge the lawyer for failing to do his job! Wtf does it take to charge Trump w/a crime?!🤬
YES! and still he has the audacity of calling himself and his colleagues "the best" and not unbiased in any way. What a joke!
You guys are a joke. He was talking about one case (where Trump was the unnamed co-conspirator) and you've conflated it with every case drumpf faces. If you're on the good side of the social divide play by the rules.
@@alan_davis I am literally talking about one case where Weisselberg pled guilty to an astonishing 15 felonies. All the above in the original comment is true about that case and this man was talking about that specific case and he says there is no case to be brought. It’s crazy how the criminal justice system “works” for people like Trump.
Reminds me of a line I heard over here in the UK when Johnson was still Prime Minister and was partying at No. 10 during lockdown, "There must be in-groups that the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups that the law binds but does not protect."
How not to answer any friggin question masterclass.
yeah, this was hard to watch. Don’t expect anything less from a Republican lawyer, but still…
of course, we all already know the answers, don’t we? It’s written on the wall for all to see, you just have to be able to decipher the language.
@@Quirkyhndl the problem is in having to hire the correct translators to quicken and navigate the process
I had Johns Mom as a substitute teacher in high school in 2004 and she was one of the nicest substitutes I ever had. She was retired from her full time position and was living in the NOVA area.
Hopefully she is ashamed of her sons decision to give a neonazi an award at disneyland. Jon is clearly fine with it.
Don’t you love how lawyers just dodge every direct question 😂
It's because the answers are too complicated to explain, are privileged or as "Legal Eagle" says "It depends..." 😁
I loved the remembering of these former neighbors discussing the things that happened when they were younger.
"The United States, big fan of continuing wars that they're not involved in but send arms to." - Jon Stewart
We were funding Iraq openly, then we helped Iran secretly, when they were at war with each other.
Reagan was probably trying to make both countries more controllable.
"When you see a roach, you don't think 'oh there's one'". Pretty much sums it up
I loved the reference to “Captain, my Captain.” 😂
Jon is polite but relentless in this interview/conversation with his lawyer friend. Atty. Berman is a bit squirmy when Jon delicately puts his back against the wall while trying to get him to admit that there is a two-tiered legal system. Good job Jon, as usual.
You can tell that this cat is an attorney. He was able to go toe to toe with Jon and talk the whole time without ever giving a substantive answer or admitting that people of influence rarely get the law applied equally to them.
So you want to hear what you wanted to hear, not what he had to say?
@@alalalala57 He contradicted himself. He went on about how in the SDNY they work very hard and they are of the greatest level and all financial crime goes through there, and then at one time flatout accepted that there is a discrepancy between blue collar and white collar crime justice. Then went right back to how great the SDNY is.
His answer as to if Trump is guilty is right as a lawyer. Prosecution never indicts a case in which they don´t believe they have the evidence to get a conviction, white collar criminals just have the means to impede and controvert the evidence, sacrificing some people on the way (like trump did).
So the guest did say what @Natasha Nyxx wanted to hear. He was just very careful about it. At times I think Jon was a little bit blunt about what he wanted the guest to say and I think that could have been handled better as well. Not because he is not right but because it might come across as trying to get a specific answer and that might rub a right leaning viewer the wrong way.
And he’s a government attorney, at that.
Even more duplicitous, slimy, and slippery than the average attorney.
@@camiloandresbarretorojas7404
"Prosecution never indicts a case in which they don´t believe they have the evidence to get a conviction" First of all, you do not "indict a case." You indict a person or an organization. Second, indictments are sometimes politically motivated. Third, the failure to prove the case by the prosecution does not entail any significant negative consequences for the prosecutor. Last, there is no evidence that "Trump sacrificed people along the way." The accusation has been made, the proof has not been forthcoming despite hundreds of Leftist attorneys trying to find the proof so that they can be the heroes who take down the big bad Trump. No one in American history has been as thoroughly investigated as Trump. He is an actual threat to the ruling class (unlike Jon Stewart), and they therefore hate him above all others.
exactly. This is probably the least noble profession in the world. Just filled with unethical corrupt people, the worst of humanity.
"...in front of a judge that they appointed and who does not have to recuse them self..." Just think of that phrase. The problem and the solution are pretty bloody obvious.
The pronouns alone in that phrase are torturous and possibly even tortuous.
@@MisterRlGHT Right.... it's the pronouns that are the problem and not the blatant corruption and obvious conflict of interest in our broken judicial system. Pronouns are what we should focus on, of course. /s
Do you listen to yourself?
The very fact that this is and so many other similar instances are allowed to happen really says it all about the American legal system.
I think if it was set up that any judge would have to recuse themself from hearing a trial against their appointer, DT would've just made sure to have fired/bribed with a better job/otherwise chase off all judges he might have come before and appointed all new judges to replace them, so that there wasn't any judge who could hear the case. I think that's what's been typically done in certain other countries.
I have always loved your comedic stance, John, and your poking at irony. But please keep up these legal questions and stance. I have and will continue to have faith in your strength of mind. This is the pure gold humanity...nothing more...nothing less. 🤘😔
Jon is doing what others have done throughout time. Pointing out injustices and inequalities. People already know all of what he's saying, but we never do enough to fix it. Nothing will ever change where there is money to be made. Live with it.
I think what Jon was getting at is if a subpoena was issued for a court date and the recipient failed to appear, at the end of the day's docket a bench warrant would immediately be issued. The well-connected, however, seem to be able to ignore subpoenas with impunity. This is the alternate justice system, and this cannot be denied. Why aren't arrest warrants immediately issued and executed?
Precisely! I’d love to see a few people with subpoenas just ignore them and when arrested say if former President DJT can do it, so can I. And run that all the way up.
Yes, Alternative Justice System/alternative facts
I have had a bench warrant for not paying my excuse tax. Warrants for murder and real serious crimes are clearly more important.
@@brianr6651 This is not new. Dick Cheney shot someone did not time. Biden has documents all over the place and allows people with no security to rummage thought them. At least Trump used the FBI :)
Could be Biden takes them and gives to hunter to copy then sells the info to his over sea connections. He will never be charged or even impeached.
Why? Because there is no justice in our justice system, never has been.
“Why is it hard to punish the powerful?”
- When the question answers itself
That's because Jon Stewart doesn't actually care anymore and wastes our time. He's become a cuck for Big Pharma, Ukrainian Neo-Nazis, and woke-cultists. He lost his ability to think critically and that makes him worse than useless. It's made him an obstacle to progress because people actually think he's still an ally.
Why? Are they too powerful? Physically or by influence? Is that influence derived from finance? Can we legislate finance? Are they unpunishable b/c the system was developed to protect them? Is it just hard or near impossible? Do people not want to do "hard" work? Can the system be repaired so that it is not near impossible or do we need to get rid of the system entirely and rebuild? Are powerful not also people? Are they greater than "people"?
WHY?!? What the fuck is the reason,... so that we can attempt to fix it.
"unwritten rules that ordinary people don't get"
THIS, EXACTLY!
😠😠😠😠😠😠😠
It's crazy that John asked him the same question in several different ways trying to get them an answer: Why are rich people being prosecuted differently? And he really got no straight answer.
I would like to see some rich politician dragged into an interrogation room for 12-24 hour questioning session. We all know it would never happen. Jon nailed it when he said there are all these "unwritten rules".
Having done a night of good cop bad cop because they had a warrant for a Brown Dodge Tradesman Cargo Van, contents, driver & passengers and I was the Halfbreed driving a Black Ford Econoline Cargo Van. Honestly I wouldn't wish that on anyone...
well, hillary clinton had to spend 11 hours answering questions from congress.
@@margaretjohnson6259 she did not answer them
@@wolcottwu756 nonsense. she answered the questions. you're thinking of donnie who took the 5th 400 times.
@@margaretjohnson6259 Trumpf is a clown
This guy is a real good lawyer lmao he wouldn't admit that the justice system is unequal.
LOLOL. Yup.
The law is one career that attracts a lot of high-functioning psychopaths
Jon: It's not fair! Geoff: Correct.
Am I glad your back Jon! If ever there was a time when we need your talent to shine a light of Truth brightly on all the corruption that has grown in the last decade, this is it. Thank you for all you've done and are doing. Your a real Mench... Bless you sir!
John, this feels like reputation laundering for someone who has failed to bring justice in most of their cases.
"reputation laundering" What an apt way to describe jon giving a neonazi an award at disneyland.
@@clintholmes2061 Geoffrey Berman is a neo-nazi? How so? I can't seem to find anything about that claim.
He certainly comes off as a person who is dismissive of equal justice under law but a neo-nazi is stretch.
@@CCFQuelex "Geoffrey Berman" I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about Ihor Halushka. And if you want to know more I recommend the youtube video titled, "Jon Stewart Presents Medal To Ukrainian Nazi At Disney World"
@@clintholmes2061 you've shown up in multiple threads trying to sling mud, so I looked up the Azov Regiment, the group this guy belongs to. This group you're talking about is a Ukrainian former street militia that fights the Russian-backed rebels that have been disrupting the normal functioning of a sovereign nation. These guys are certainly right-wingers, immersed in a civil war since 2014 that finally turned hot enough for international attention this year. They do have that identifying tattoo that is associated with other neo-Nazi groups. While one would hope for more clean-cut heroes to root for here, it's laughable that a troglodyte like Putin condemns the Ukraine resistance as Nazis, and that he was going to "denazify" Ukraine, when he's one himself. So, just declare yourself pro-Putin and be done with the weak attempted character assassinations against someone who has chosen to not support your flavor of dictatorship.
@@tvtitlechampion3238 "sling mud" I'm trying to make sure jons fans know about a FACT they absolutely should because doesn't even acknowledged it happened.
There IS a HUGE discrepancy between those with money and those without it in the judicial system. Even in family court for instance. You can't even go IF you don't have the thousands it takes to get visitation from someone with a personality disorder that wants to control or even worse, alienate you from your children OR grandchildren for instance. An expert in that field, which you HAVE to have to prove it is 10K! We have been fighting for the minimum of High Conflict Mediation for instance. Something you should just be able to get after a contempt or in our case several for visitation. Nope. It is SICK. It is a SICK and UNHEALTHY and EVIL system that BROKEN. That guy is propagated into his own reality, which is NOT the same for MOST people. And to think that those in govt or even legal or even police arena's don't 'Protect their OWN" is ridiculous. And they turn a blind eye. People BELIEVE their is Legal Aid for the poor for instance. I am disabled and needed help a couple of times in my lifetime and they just don't. More get turned away then get helped. People live in La La Land. Especially those in these careers. Look at the Epstein one for instance. There is clearly a withholding of information to protect those in dealings. Just like the thousands of other corruptions happening in our institutions, it is happening in that system also.
If you can't admit you were wrong to give an award to a neonazi at disneyland then nobody should listen to you.
Well said
The family courts are very messed up where I live. For one, custody and child support are in different courts, so attorney's fees are separate.
In my case, I am the custodial parent. My ex was convicted of physical assault against me and my minor daughter. He actually broke my nose during a custody exchange while I was holding our toddler. When I asked the criminal prosecutor if I still had to adhere to the custody agreement, I was told that I would be held in contempt if I did not. His conviction meant nothing; a motion heard to be filed in family court. The cheapest lawyer I consulted said that I would have to have the money for witness depositions at $100 per hour in addition to attorneys fees ranging from $30 to $40 per hour and a retainer of $2,000.
My ex also quit his job and filed for a child support reduction, claiming to be physically disabled. He was already about $24,000 behind because he hadn't paid anything in 3 years... I had printouts showing that he had started a business in leu of his previous income. There are Facebook ads, bumper stickers, pictures of his nice fully-equipped work truck, etc. The fact that he had a good lawyer on retainer should have also been evidence that he was working, in my opinion... The judge would not even look at anything I had. He continued the case for a month and told me to come back with an attorney. Of course, I didn't have the resources to hire anyone, so our support was reworked based solely on his attorney's suggestions. That was 4 years ago, and he still has paid nothing.
...but, despite having no income, he has continued to claim our son as a tax dependent every year per the original custody agreement his lawyer proposed, lol.
Yup. Justice is a commodity in America. And just like in war, if you don't have the money behind your lawyer army, you don't have a prayer. Doesn't matter if you're in the right. Might makes right in the justice system.
@@kimberlyanne8549 Jesus, that is infuriating to even read. I can't even imagine how infuriating that must be to _live_ through! I hope you get a good lawyer or a good judge to help you out. Stay safe and good luck! 🍻
Greetings Mr. Stewart. I only started to watch you a few months ago. Today I saw this episode and WOW! I am now a subscriber! You asked ALL the questions I would have and few hosts do! I fear for my adopted country (for 50 years now) that I served in the military and on the streets of Florida. You expressed much of the frustration I feel. Honest politicians are discarded and canceled while the craziness and lies are not only condoned but emulated. Please keep up the good fight and THANK YOU for what you have done for my fellow veterans!
If I had a nickel for every time this guy said "Southern District of New York," I still wouldn't have any answers.
You're GD right.
There are three levels of reasons why we hold the powerful to a different standard:
1) the law is mainly constructed by the powerful, who want to protect themselves and their interests
2) conservatives tend to be the ones who work in institutions, and tend to have a complex theory of justice, meaning they factor in social status/power in their judgements. That is a psychology thing the data seems to bare out.
3) when you have a lot of money, you can hire lawyers to delay justice until you can pay someone in power to get you off. This happens time and again.
I had a friend who was charged in a crime. He had to use a public defender. I went to court to watch the proceedings. It was not anything like TV. He met his attorney for the first time 30 min before his arraignment. I also went to the trial. There was no defense. All they did was plea deal and convict. Next! It was just a conviction machine.
Then there are the classics :
"We cannot erode the trust in *insert institution* by sending their bosses to jail.
The American economy, the American people need to trust their institutions.
Without that trust, the American society will collapse."
The best meme I have seen on this is:
"Prosecuting Trump is not political, it is justice and accountability.
NOT prosecuting Trump is politics."
Justice delayed is justice denied. The GOP playbook of late.
@@counterinfluencer5684 CORRECT! That has ALWAYS been the Trump game plan. Now that the Republicans have adopted Trump as their flag bearer, that has now become the GOP game plan.
As I start thinking of questions I would like the answer to, Jon has already asked. You are one of the best interviewers I have ever seen. Actually thinking about what’s being said while formulating these succinct questions is a real talent. Thanks for being you. I do miss seeing you nightly but fully understand the life quality decisions and your effectiveness on issues you care about as a result of those decisions.
"best interviewers" Isn't he the guy who gave a neonazi an award at disneyland? I'm not sure he askes the right questions.
Maybe quit watching Newsmax all day.
I totally agree with you. He thinks and anticaptes the listeners conversations, thus we are throughly informed.
Dear Mr Stewart, You are such a dynamically talented man.
Thank goodness, thankyou, you always do the hard thing.
Honestly, I like you even more.
Great interview. This conversation needs a greater audience.
Does it? It's important that powerful people are asked these questions, yes. And for that, this is a good and important interview. But let's be honest for a minute - there were no answers given. From the perspective of the viewer, this is 47 minutes of my life wasted.
The greatness of a nation is directly related to the heroism of its ppl. Sacrifice of one for many is what has made this nation great - a few good men can tip the ice berg! Jon you are a hero! The Green Beret of Journalism! A Saint in Soul! Thank you!
There's nothing this man said that contradicts my opinion: There is No Justice for the Rich and Powerful. Nice that Jon tried to ask him about this point about 700 times. Love you, Jon, for trying.
Absolutely. Total failure to address the question. Ghastly.
There is one exception to the rule of wealthy not getting hit. If you do something that screws with taxes or hits other wealthy people, the government comes down HARD (Madoff, Enron are good examples). It feels more like the government is a type of mafia while every little fish gets royally screwed all the time.
Madoff died in prison. Epstein got Epsteined. Martha Stewart: jail. Jeffrey Skilling: 12 years served. I could go on. Therefore, you are a liar.
Wait and see what happens to #DONTHECON when the #RICOACT is enforced.
@@CryptoVanessa The same thing that happened to the Clinton crime family: nothing.
In the United States, Courts have descended into mechanisms to help the rich and powerful either get what they want, or keep what they have. It only punishes poor people, who populate for profit prisons, naturally.😊
Its called blackmail...folks. DOJ may be corrupt or compromised. Its not a written rule...we follow rules...that aren't written...right, mob style. Got it.
Same everywhere
Descended? This is literally what courts were created for, defending property rights. Who, in the US, had property? White, male, probably Christian, likely already wealthy. There is no war, but the class war.
This is the 1850s argument, citing the 1650s treatment, based on the 1400s establishment, of a 778 reframing, of a 242 code, from a 400bce concept, derived through a 1200bce edict, granted through a 2500bce diatribe. They (the wealthy, the property owners) have always been justifying why it is right for them to have and others to not have. We (poors) have always been arguing that if "this writing right here" is true, then it must be true in this instance as well and that is how we have come to earn rights/privileges as they are today.
Never forget that only about 100years ago, US morality police, made it so one did not have the right to consume alcohol. It was repealed less than 100 years ago. There are still people alive today that had no right to drink, any quantity, ever.
@@Paul-zm1hb European prisons don’t rely on profits to run.
Great Job as usual, John. I just wish he had bared down on this guest the same way he has in the past with others that were not his childhood friend. This interview seemed to be about only 2 questions. Do you believe that white-collar crime gets off easier than every other one? If so, how could we change it. Instead of answering that, no matter how John reframed/rephrased those questions, he danced around them. He found every opportunity to defend the Southern District, though. They quite literally are not the ones on trial here.
The best comments and discussions ever on this topic. This subject has troubled people for a long time. Whether in the U.S. or U.K..The comments are more in depth than many professional journalists on this topic IMO.
Props to Jon for asking the tough question that we're all asking and trying earnestly to get a real answer.
I can't say that the behaviour of the lawyer to whom he asked the question came as any kind of surprise, though.
You know, now that I've calmed down from watching a grown-ass adult go a solid 47min without answering the question I realize:
THIS. This, right here, is exactly why we can't hold bigwigs accountable.
Yes. The people, like him, who are responsible for enforcing the law against them, don't. That's all it is.
Check out the book _The Chickensh*t Club_ by Jesse Eisinger.
My guess is he'd afraid of disappearing or something if he does. Powerful people can get revenge easier than broke people.
My idea: when subpoenas are served, a camera needs to document how that process went.
Excellent and informative interview. Bless both of you.
Jon: Why the southern district didn't indict?
Geoffrey Berman: I believe in a good case, well made, but we didn't have what we needed.
Letitia James: We're indicting the Trumps in a civil case for fraud. We've also found proof of criminal crimes and we'll be referring the case for prosecution.
It's a good thing Letitia James took the case.
It wasn't possible that there wasn't evidence. It was a truly ridiculous fob and totally unbelievable.
You forgot the component of time, and all the events that have happened since. I am positive that he took every precaution to make sure every indictment fell just short of himself. THAT'S what privilege gets you -- a Teflon coat.
@@nickwallette6201 no. Privilege gets you in a room with the NY AG and your kids into NYU with the AGs kids. The southern district is federal but the NY AG is a beyond corrupt institution.
To be fair, she's bringing forth a civil suit and the proof that she's passing along may not be enough for prosecutors to act.
That being said, this interview does nothing but further cement the fact that there is a two-tier justice system and we need dramatic change to get things in line.
King Trumpo ain’t going anywhere. The next Ice Age will happen before Tre45on is enforced!
Rah!! Rah?? Whaaa???? The keystone officials at the DOJ are in charge. Oooh, anyone scared?? Not the GOP or King Trumpo!
1. The NY AG will indict and King Trumpo will plead “not” guilty, plea bargain and pay a small fine since this was his first offense.
2. WRT to the “Top Secret” documents, does anyone really think he's going to be prosecuted?? By Whom?? This investigation has been going on for over a year and now, the feckless DOJ gets involved. Guess no one thought it was that serious. No indictments, no one jailed, no nothing. Yawn…
3. WRT to Georgia interference and phone call. We have the perps on camera and still nothing. King Trumpo will keep appealing until the end of time so that case will go nowhere. Supreme Court in his back pocket baby!!!
4. Lastly, on the Jan 6th coverup and obstruction, read below...
Why is George Bush/King Trumpo and their administrations/sycophants all walking around thumbing their noses at everyone?? People who seek justice want to know! Isn’t it completely obvious!!
Why not?? Blame these Neo-Liberal/conservative AG stooges from the last 4 administrations: Barr, Sessions, Lynch, Holder, Ashcroft and Gonzales!! Laws are just “words” to be exploited/ manipulated/ ignored by the rich and powerful!! Don’t rock the boat - ever. Status quo rocks forever!! Crimes/corruption only apply to the poor, weak and not well-connected. Ain’t America Great??? Hell no!! We live in a full blown Kleptocracy!!
People “think” this AG is somehow different. LOL!! So, all we are left with is "hopium". Read on...
Yeah, Garland is too quiet because he's up to his ears trying to figure out if it’s a "Go or No Go” wrt prosecuting King Trumpo and all his sycophantic henchmen/lawyers which expand by the day! Only a feckless, clueless Conservative has to think about enforcing the rule of law. On the other hand, a GOP/RW AG wouldn't hesitate for a second. Line 'em up and shoot them down. Get some points on the board. People want blood so give it to them ASAP. Let everyone know you mean business and deal with the fallout and consequences later. You're going to get blowback no matter what you do, so do your damn job already! The problem is, time is not on Garland's side as he dilly dallies trying to get one conviction. Indictments are a dime a dozen! With all the DOJ tools at his disposal and the US government at his back, he becomes the weakest link and has absolutely no excuse as he appeases/capitulates to these GOP miscreants. What a bleeping loser!
Garland is a wimpy conservative chump, a RW King Trumpo sycophant. People who think he's just crossing the T's and dotting the I's are in for a rude awakening. LOL!! He's stalling to protect his own lame arse. Still pissed off he wasn't selected to the Supreme Court as a Conservative. Of course, Brandon doesn't give a hoot. Why swat King Trumpo's hornet's nest??? Still trying to get above 50% approval rating. LOL!!
For those hoping real Justice will be dispensed will be slapped with a "travesty of Justice” instead. Nothing is going to happen in 2 years let alone your lifetime. Alphas are just too damn powerful. They defend each like blood brothers. It's like trying to take down the mob when they control all the courts and have all the money. Complete fantasy if people think this bozo cares about the rule-of-law.
Find this: “Why Is Merrick Garland Defending Bill Barr’s Policies?”
Where has Garland been the last 19+ months - playing checkers while the GOP/RW play 4th dimension chess? The GOP are throwing up daily roadblocks, calling in reinforcements, controlling the narrative/debate and gumming up the works and what do we get from Garland. Bleeping nothing!!! Fire this clown ASAP!!
Not one person from King Trumpo's inner circle has been indicted for Jan 6th/ “Stop the Steal”, let alone convicted. Only a bunch of low-level peons were charged!! Big deal?? Is Garland waiting for a winning lottery ticket?? Garland is scared sh*tless and knows the MAGA base will make him public enemy #1 after the elections!!
The real question is why hasn't Merrick Garland done anything besides suck his thumbs. His pathetic dawdling, inaction and silence is why the Dems suck at everything they do. The DOJ refuses to charge Meadows, Scavino for defying Jan. 6 subpoenas. 5 GOP members asked for pardons. Crickets by Garland. Bill Barr as a Dem would have indicted every person that entered the Capitol and would be working up the GOP chain of command in 2021. People would be serving life sentences including Giuliani/ Powell/Lindell and a host of other high profile King Trumpo sycophants. These GOP miscreants would be squealing on each other. Any day people would be wondering when King Trumpo would be doing a perp walk in an orange jumpsuit. That's how you prosecute by intimidation and fear!! That's how you keep people glued to their TV. Instead, under Garland, the GOP remain defiant and laugh when the DOJ threatens them. What a bleeping, feckless joke the DOJ has become!
C’mon people, the GOP had 7 bogus investigations/ witch hunts on Benghazi and HRC. There was no point to those sham trials but that didn’t stop the GOP, did it?? Their goal was to dominate the 24/7 news cycle, rile up their damn base and put HRC on the hot seat because they could. The GOP made a mountain out of a molehill and no one called them out. No namby-pamby gathering of evidence and waiting 19+ months to deliver a verdict which will not be acted on by a weak and feckless AG. Hell no!! Truth and justice be damned. The Dems can barely cobble together one trial.
The DOJ after Watergate indicted or jailed 40 government officials. Today our DOJ along with the insipid, imploding Dems are excited about Jan 6th “hearings” no one seems to care about because it ain't going anywhere. Signs of tensions rise between Justice, Jan. 6 panel. thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3528327-signs-of-tension-rise-between-justice-jan-6-panel/
The 24/7 fury/backlash will be unleashed after the November elections when an army of unhinged, relentless MAGA politicians, pundits, shills, sycophants will go after dark Brandon, Fauci, Garland, Liz, Hunter, Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Adam Kinzinger etc... And there's nothing the Dems can or will do to stop them. Going to be endless witch hunts and riling up the base the next 2 years. King Trumpo will tee up another round (of grift) with the Saudis!
The Dems feast for a stink'in day while the GOP feast for a lifetime!!
After 26 mins despite Jon’s politest efforts not one single question answered. Maybe I’ve missed something but I need my life back
Evasion, diversion, white wash.
...yikes! thank you for your comment, you just saved me 40 minutes of my life...I'm moving on 😃 and the little bit i fast forwarded to was bullshyt deflect after bullshyt deflect ... geeze...he would have easier said, this is something we are sworn to "leave the affluent alone
That's because Jon Stewart doesn't care anymore. He's become a cuck for Big Pharma, Ukrainian Neo-Nazis, and woke-cultists. He lost his ability to think critically and that makes him worse than useless. It's made him an obstacle to progress because people actually think he's still an ally.
I'm 22 minutes in and ready to stop. So much spin, but kudos to Jon... I think in a weird way this interview answers why it's difficult to incriminate powerful figures.
@@sura_is_here True. Berman is a Republican, thru and thru. Just like Mueller, they'll dodge and whitewash the truth to serve their party's interest. F him. Berman should have followed up w/ the investigation of the "unindicted co-conspirator #1" / Trump after Cohen was jailed for following Trump's orders.
OUTSTMANDING ! Show
Berman is a true patriot , my kind of MAN!
So many fascinating facets of these cases in our justice departments. Great discourse, I was enthralled.
Thanks Jon...your programs are always so informing, interesting...and sometimes bring a needed smile.
What do you think about his decision to give a neonazi an award at disneyland? And then not address it? And just bury it the way a corrupt politician would?
@@clintholmes2061 What’s this about I haven’t heard about it
@@cole1380 youtube video titled "Jon Stewart Presents Medal To Ukrainian Nazi At Disney World" to learn what I'm talking about.
@@clintholmes2061 Oh dang I honestly didn’t think this would be legit hahah thank you tho
@@cole1380 "legit" Now that you know that it is what do you think it says about him that he hasn't even offered an apology for it?
It's really quite simple, Jon. We don't have a justice system. Never did.
What we have is a Legality Market. Money and means will get you away with most crimes. If you don't have those things, then the law will come down hard on you.
DT is the epitome of white crime transparency in your face,racism,misogyny and lies that built a button of cringe for the other 50% to push that makes them feel whole in their disenchanted world.
Well .... in what period of world history was that NOT the case??? We can set a precedent. We just have to outnumber THEM with willing participants!
Jon, thanks for pushing the point. Imagine me or an average joe being like, "I want a special master" after being caught with classified info (let's just assume we all had equal access to government secrets).
Today is a feeling of a small world , glad to see this interchange , you can see it brings a warm feeling to both of you as you speak genuinely, terrific
He so politely asks the questions he won’t get the answers to
Jon should have asked, "If someone would double the resources of the U.S. attornies office of the Southern District, would that allow you to bring more cases of white collar crime?" and also "How certain to do feel like you have to get a conviction to try a case?" If you at the moment need 90% certainty, how about changing that to 60% so that you will bring more cases?
I would imagine that bringing a case that then goes to trial costs a lot of public dollars. Also, if you bring someone to trail with that low of certainty, how can you in good faith expect a jury to convict them? It has to be beyond a reasonable doubt, they have to have the evidence to actually win the case or it's all wasted time and money for literally everyone involved.
@@JulyTiger1986 If Jon would get Geoffrey Berman to say "if we would spend more money on persecuting white dollar crime than we would have convict more white collar criminals" instead of saying "we are doing everything we can within the law to persecute white collar criminals when we have the available evidence" that would be great. You want the prosecutor to be certain that the person is guilty but you don't need them to be certain that the jury will agree with their assessment.
@@ChristianKleineidam What? Prosecutors isn't the one handing out the judgement in the end, juries do.
its not hard to punish the powerful, its easy to punish those with no power.
Very informative piece. I'd like to thank Geoffrey Berman for his time. It's always good to meet the human beings in these sort of roles - especially when you then discover how dedicated and able they are. And thank you, actually, for your apparent ability to remain upbeat in a situation that you clearly find, well, difficult, Geoffrey. And it was very entertaining at times as well... "I did what any kid would do....I ran into the house.." Genius! 👋👋 Thanks both of you.
Jon is working hard to be diplomatic with this gentleman/former neighbor.
So funny you can tell this guy is a member of GOP.
Jon is asking great questions. I ❤ that he tackles these very spicy topics, our nation needs it.
Well, I don't know about that. Take off your partisan glasses for a moment and consider this another way. The guy's a lawyer. This is a breed of people who are trained to ignore their opinions, and focus on the simple matter of whether the evidence, in isolation, is worthy of conviction. He's not going to tell you what _he_ thinks, he's going to tell you what he thinks a judge would say.
I have no doubt that, if you needed his _opinion_ about the guiltiness of some party, he would be able to say right away. But that's not useful. It doesn't mean anything more than your or my opinion. Can it stand up in the courts? That's all that matters.
Are they guilty? Yes. Can you prove it? No. Then are they guilty? No. That's how this guy thinks.
And because everything has to be meticulously accurate and to the letter of the law, there's no sense getting emotional about it. If there's a stone unturned, then turn it. If you've turned them all, then you're done, and the evidence is what it is.
In a way, that's absolutely the least partisan way to approach a problem that there could be. Not very satisfying to the rest of us, but nonetheless, that's the kind of attitude _you want_ in a lawyer. Or at least you do when they're representing you.
@@nickwallette6201 You don't have to agree with my opinion. Also, I didn't read beyond your first paragraph, I don't come to the RUclips comments section for an essay. Keep it short here, write longer content elsewhere. 👌
@@weston.weston Nah. I'll write what I'd like to say. If you haven't the attention span, no need to read it. Nor to reply. The idea that you came here for a 45-min long debate and can't spend 3 minutes to read a counter-point is a bit puzzling, though. Did you have somewhere to be?
@@nickwallette6201 Yep, write what you like, I won't be reading beyond several sentences. I have books, magazines and newspapers subscriptions and read that daily, I am not coming to RUclips for long forms of communication.
@@weston.weston Then why are we still talking about this, my man? You've got lots of important things to do! Magazines and books to read. Newspapers to line gerbil cages with. Time is money, sir!
Very telling that a case must be built "brick by brick" with foresight and care ... when prosecuting the powerful. I didn't hear him say the counterfactual - those without power can be put away with the flimsiest of case building.
GREAT conversation! Thank you for this!
That was lovely hearing about your shared past in the neighborhood. So much brains and integrity. Good interview.
"They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings
Steal a little and they throw you in jail
Steal a lot and they make you king. "
- Bob Dylan
Sorry John but your friend is hiding behind department policy. I think it has to do with many factors including personal bias, fear of losing a case (has to be a home run or we aren’t going to try), pure corruption, pressures from all over, etc. I think we should look at changing the structure of the federal policing and investigating arm to something similar to Great Britain. I believe their AG equivalent is not selected by the Prime Minister but rather a different entity.
This guy was way too complacent with corruption. Sdny is the best? The same place that lets rampant lawlessness like Trump and wall street flourish?!
Happy New Year, Jon!
Wonderful interview
For 45 mins I listened to great conversation with zero ads. I love u John Stewart. U are an amazing and gifted human being and the world is better for what u do. Thanks
We have too many " baseball rules " in this country, where we expect people to behave honestly and fairly.
Time to codify these rules.
Allow me make the case that this rule makes more sense than you seem to be giving it credit for!
Without it, you might see corrupt DAs putting up outrageous investigations just to sway voters. Or waiting to make otherwise legitimate allegations until politically advantageous times. Voters are heavily swayed by the most recent events they associate with a candidate. And we certainly saw with Barr that lawyers aren't above political tampering.
This particular rule isn't about guiding people to behave cordially. It's about stopping the potential for corrupt behavior. One might try to make the case that it fails to do that in one way or another, and someone could hash that out. But your main suggestion, that this rule is simply a naive baseball rule, doesn't seem to hold water.
Agreed. This gentleman seems like a nice and honorable person. However I am not fully buying his assertion that Justice is processed regardless of political affiliation or nature. Just too many anomalies.
It will never happen. The only people these rules would apply to are the ones who would pass them. We have had a two tier justice system for 500+ years. It never ends well.
Then you start an arms race where you write a law, they find a way around it, you write a new law, they find another way around, etc. Legalism is not the answer.
@@ernststravoblofeld it seems then that the only answer is violence. If the powerful write the laws and find loop holes and legality doesn't really apply to them, it simply implodes. It's happened in a lot of countries.
Thank you Mr. Stewart for helping us intellectually challenged to find a place to heighten our understanding our nation and our humanity better.
Needless to say I love Jon Stewart and appreciate shows like this. Darn I can't finish it. We're screwed
This discussion has not made me feel any more secure that the powerful will ever be held accountable. The good guys follow the unspoken rules but they are surrounded by crooks who follow no rules.
So sorry for you struggles. I learned from a small legal problem I was 100% guilty. I scraped together 700 dollars to hire a lawyer to have my records sealed. 1 time pass for people over 18.
Have a lawyer nest egg.
No. However it was a discussion worth having...the comments were so thoughtful and sincere. At the very least a sincere discussion took place.
The comments here are so thoughtful . Stewart is asking questions we all concerned about. This is a serious topic..
Stewart is doing his best to extract answers.
If I withheld any document from a cop knocking on my door...
I don't get to negotiate it and not end up in jail...
WTF
OMG THE MERCER COUNTY TALK AT THE TOP OF THIS EPISODE IS BRINGING ME ALL THE WAY HOME. Literally. The 609, baby!
Jon, right on for returning over and over to the two (or more) tiered justice system. Thank you.
If the people around a certain around “person” are all going to jail and keep telling you that the “person” is in charge and all crimes were done at his/her behest, at what point isn’t it a RICO case?!
These cases should be dealt with like they prosecuted só many Rico cases successfully - I tell you to pay X to prevent Y
Jon hasn't come to this place without the skill and hard work to back it up. Any discussion with him has the possibility to be painful and yet so human and understandable that people still line up to be on the recieving end. Even as a kid, watching him on MTV, we all knew he had a destiny that was not being fully recognized by his current position. Thank goodness he's actually a decent person because his skill and sway as an interviewer and speaker is effective and powerful.
Smart
So the Bermans gave full size candy bars?? What a great family they are!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Advising to watch and listen this great conversation by great Jon Stewart and Former U.S. Attorney.
Interviews with lawyers are so hard. They just don't)can't give you a straight answer to anything
It’s like they’re always covering their ass.
@@judykinsman3258 Is that why jon is just ignoring his decision to give a neonazi an award at disneyland? He's covering his butt by pretending it never happened? Peppridge farm remembers.
What did he not give a straight answer to? All of his answers them seemed pretty straight to me. Just not satisifying.
If the highest levels of the profession are in the US Attorneys offices, and there are two tiers of justice still in the world, then I assume the problem is structural.
Thank you Jon Stewart for raising questions publicly which I have long asked friends.
Very interesting. Thank you both
Great stuff!
I think another thing is that not all crimes are equally easy to prove in court, whether they be white collar or not. Sexual crimes are generally way harder to prove than things like battery. Add in that wealthy people are able to hire people to put distance between themselves and the most flagrant examples of wrongdoing. They know what their job is and their boss doesn't have to spell it out for them so there's a smokescreen of implausible deniability. Sometimes it feels like if we're going to have RICO, it should be expanded to cover large organizations beyond gangs.
Sexual assault usually leaves injuries that take longer to heal than a black eye and other bruising...
As someone once stated, collusion is the hardest thing to prove in a court of law. When you can find henchmen that have no problem being 'effective', that simplifies matters.
@@davidhollenshead4892
Many injuries consistent with sexual assault are ALSO present during consensual sex.
This is why it is so difficult to prove.
You don't ask somebody to punch you in the face (unless you're into that, I guess) but sex doesn't even need to be rough to leave bruising.
Add in that victims of long term abuse develop a physical response to avoid injury... and you have an enormously difficult subject to discuss, let alone prove.
(I know victims of childhood abuse. It can take a LIFETIME of therapy to come to terms with their bodies literally betraying them with an "arousal response" to being abused. It's *incredibly* heartbreaking. When you imply that "it's obvious" when somebody has been sexually assaulted, what you're REALLY saying is that you don't know much about the subject and are ACTUALLY denying the experiences of many victims who don't fit that comfortable and obvious profile. Imagine it like this: Walk up to a rape victim and tell them they were not raped because there was no tearing or significant bruising. Tell them that they couldn't have been raped bc they had consented in the past, or enjoyed rough sex in the past. And note: this largely only applies to female victims. Men are sexually assaulted all the damn time and nobody REALLY gives a shit. Just look at the response if a literal child, a boy under 13 so not even a teen, is raped by a grown woman...)
Jon you are an awesome man. Thank you for that interview and all the truths that came out.
And your public school background shows in your grammar, Geoffrey! Hahaha, I'm sorry - I just can't resist. That dig was sent with love.
I'll call your podcast the free form long form of The Daily Show.
Love what you've done for the American discourse.
The problem with America's justice system is even the lawyers won't come out and say it's all about money. Until the people working in the system admit there's a problem, nothing will change.
Then we need to change rules and regulations about what one is allowed to say about their employers and company actions (whistleblower), and treat whistleblowers in the press as likely truthful and push for evidence about the entity to provide factual arguments. At the same time media needs to see and portray that person as credible, at least on this topic, and spread that message to the entirety of the populace so that public opinion sways significantly enough against the entity or action that the court has to take up the case as a matter of public interest, which means the public has to continuously express interest (contact officials, protest in public) on the matter.
Whistleblower protections; Non-biased media coverage; Public outcry.
The best argument using this tactic and conveying your message was Occupy Wall Street (corporate media projected them as Socialists). Tea Party identified the correct problematic outcome, but not the root, and not the solution (corporate media projected them as Radical Libertarians [some truth to that]). People against TARP recognized and warned of the likely outcome that led to both movements (Corporate media dismissed them as "Against the US Auto Industry" when "Democrats and Republicans were almost universally outraged at the reported bonuses paid out by bailed-out companies like AIG, which had offered 13 executives $3 million to $4 million bonuses each." - The Nation, George Zornick, 8Mar2016).
It isn't about money - ask SBF next year. If anything, it is about influence. But even then you'd need to convince me.
If you talk about fight club, you are out of fight club.
This is kind of the same, loyalty or the curb
"....nothing will change."
Wrong. This tragic trend will continue to get worse until the ultimate collapse of the American Republic.
I fear we passed the point of no return with the election of Trump in 2016 😢
Every criminal law attorney should be required to serve as a public defender for 2 years before moving on. This helps the justice system two-fold; more public defenders so each public defender has more time to provide a proper defense, and then when some of them eventually become prosecutors these attorneys know what the average defendant goes through.
Hear, hear! Although I would go farther: every criminal law attorney must donate 20% of their time as a DA and they get judged on performance.
This is Spot on, Particularly when it is not a wealthy person. There are some prosecutors that file charges carelessly and don't comprehend that just filing a charge, even if it is thrown out by the judge, STILL affects the person tremendously. Those sort of prosecutors think if the person didn't do anything wrong, they'll be found not guilty and be fine. But we all know that is far from the truth. In some states, just making minimum wage disqualifies one from getting a public defender. So defendant either ends up going thousands of dollars in debt just to prove their innocence or, if they can't afford an attorney since the public defender system is so messed up, reluctantly agrees to a plea deal.
Then there is the fact that even if someone fights and wins, it is still on their record unless they pay more to have in expunged, public opinion, etc....
That being said, Trump is long overdue for charges.
Great interview !!!
This dude was exhausting. Jon, you are such a patient man.