Trump's Latest Extortion Plot

 

It's always the grift. The Malignant Loser / Don Snoreleone is emulating his fellow crime bosses in demanding a "tax" on down ballot MAGAts who use his name or likeness in their campaigns. One can guess what happens to them if they don't pay at least 5% of their donations. Writing in Salon.com, Amanda Marcotte takes it from there:

"For someone who frequently proclaims his innocence, Donald Trump sure loves to act like a two-bit gangster. The perpetual defendant should be focused on staying out of prison and running for president as the first of his four criminal trials kicks off. Instead, he is still focused on his lifelong obsession with making money while avoiding honest work. And the latest marks for this elderly grifter are other Republican candidates running in state or local races. 

"'T]he Trump campaign is asking for down-ballot candidates who use his name, image and likeness in fundraising appeals to give at least 5 percent,' Politico reported late Wednesday. The campaign's, uh, 'outreach' took a nice shop you got there, shame if something would happen to it tone. 'Any split that is higher than 5% will be seen favorably by the RNC and President Trump’s campaign and is routinely reported to the highest levels of leadership within both organizations,' read the letter sent to Republican fundraisers this week.

One would think the 'or else' was already implied by this language, but Trump's campaign committee clearly worries Republican politicians struggle to understand subtlety. So the threat was made explicit: 'Any vendor whose clients ignore the guidelines mentioned above will be held responsible for their clients’ actions,' including having the Trump campaign cut them off. (our emphasis)

The Republican Trump National Committee, with the Malignant Loser's vain daughter-in-law Lara in control, has already promised to spend whatever it takes on his election, whether or not it impacts elections at the Federal, state and local levels ability to conduct competitive campaigns. This newest extortion plot should signal every down ballot Republican candidate that their success is a low priority next to the Malignant Loser's quest to stay out of prison, who will still demand their total loyalty if they're defeated. It's breathtaking in its arrogance and entitlement, and yet another sign of the Trump Crime Family's utter contempt for their followers.