Let's just say why Trump likes his people to have heinous sexual assault, illegal prostitution or sex with a minor

[Baitball Blogger]

problems. These crimes are usually deal breakers for anyone looking for a government job. They're beyond being in a gray area. They are no brainers. But Trump has heralded in the era of white entitlement, which is not always a given, just because you're white. To get away with these things you have to have political power yourself, or you have to be able to pull strings.

And if it's a question of someone above you pulling strings, then, they own you. If they get you a job that you never should have had, then they also have the power to take it away. Which means, you will always be their loyal dog.

[unblock]

1. Yeah, it's the kompromat. He's running a criminal organization. This is how you ensure loyalty.

Sure, he particularly likes the kind of blackmail material that lines up with his white male hierarchy crap, but any leverage will do.

Of course, if we *know* some of this about Gaetz or whoever else, it's a lock that there's even worse we don't know about....

[tanyev]

2. Yep, you've got to commit a crime to get into the gang.

[mopinko]

3. and u can bet they've done more, which he knows all about.

[B.See]

7. This and having a slew of equally reprehensibly despicable people around him

provides cover and distraction from the fact that he's been accused of the SAME.

[Blue Full Moon]

4. Rampant in business

The man who was over the department I worked in is a big tRump fan with The Art of the Deal on his desk. He told me that he would never give me a manager position because he didn't have anything to hold over my head. I would have been a loose Canon. That was okay with me. I would rather have my integrity. Which makes me think who was Epstein and Maxwell working for and who did they have blackmail on?

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Exactly. These people have forethought in picking the worst, not the brightest.

That's why our country is going in the shitter.

[Prairie Gates]

6. I don't think they knew about Hesgeth (whose actions seem shockingly worse than Gaetz's)

But they certainly knew about Gaetz and have doubled down on Hesgeth despite pretty clear evidence of shocking anc criminal conduct.

I think they have a long-term agenda of reversing any cultural change that came about through the #MeToo movement. There's at least an undercurrent running through MAGA that "believe women" is deeply harmful and needs to be attacked and undermined. If the hardcore MAGAs in the transition and administration are consistent in this view (and I think they are), they will at the very least probe it with nominees.

Recall Trump's constant references to Harvey Weinstein on the campaign trail. I don't think anything shook Trump personally or powerful MAGA and Republican (and some Democrats, let's be clear) as much as the sentence(s) handed down to Weinstein. They want to crush "believe women."