As never before Trump is now looking panicky. God only knows how he sleeps at night, presumably, I imagine, with the aid of sleeping pills.
For there’s no doubt he’s in increasingly big trouble. Another Ukraine revelation, and apparently there’s more to come, and the Republican senate will inevitably start breaking ranks making impeachment a real possibility.
But most of all, if I’m reading him right, the New York court decision to reveal his last 8 years tax returns is his principal concern. He’ll take it to the Supreme Court, but it’s an elementary issue and won’t eat up much time. He can probably count on at least 2 of the 5 judges to back him, being his appointees.
Hitherto he’s correctly argued it’s not a legal requirement but simply a convention. Plus, he’s trotted out the “under audit” nonsense which after 2 years is ridiculous.
The New York Appeals Court, in a unanimous decision, found against him for two rather cunning reasons advanced by the plaintiff, the Manhattan District Attorney. The D.A did not sue Trump but instead his accountants, thereby seemingly side-stepping the convention argument.
I’m certain that won’t wash with the Supreme Court as it’s a massively dishonest proposition.
More significant though, the demand to reveal Trump’s accounts is as part of a criminal investigation into Trump and his family. That certainly overcomes the Presidential convention argument.
But why does it matter to Trump? My pick is if his accounts are ever revealed they’ll expose his wealth claims as massively exaggerated; his debt levels possibly matching his assets.
As he’s shown throughout his life, and specially in his Presidential role, he pathetically measures the worth of absolutely everything, solely in monetary terms. A further concern, should the accounts ever see the light of day, is they actually do reveal criminal activities (bribes, pay-offs etc) which with Trump, would surprise nobody.
I suspect the denouement to his Presidency is now clearly visible. It will be messy and humiliating. I almost (just a tiny bit) feel sorry for him.
If as remains possible, he wins a second term, it’s an easy money bet it won’t go the full 4 years distance. His massive ego and commendable fighting spirit, probably won’t allow him to do the sensible thing, namely to pull stumps now and not seek a second term. It would certainly be a smart move which he could proffer on health grounds, plausible too as in recent months, I suspect driven by worry, he’s banged on an awful lot of lard, dangerously so given his age. Do that and he’d have satisfied his ego-driven achievement of the Presidency and get the hounds off his back once and for all.