GOP grifters & graft: Stealing with both hands

https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jul/06/joe-conason-the-longest-con-book

‘Stealing with both hands’: veteran reporter Joe Conason details the right wing’s graft

Former Village Voice and New York Observer firebrand’s new book looks at US conservatism’s swindle of its own constituency

Martin Pengelly
Sat 6 Jul 2024 08.00 EDT

“Trump is the apotheosis of this moral degeneration of conservatism because he’s out there stealing with both hands and it’s right in your face.”

…

“The media will tell you over and over again, ‘Steve Bannon is going to jail,’ or he’s fighting to stay out of jail. And it has to do with the fact he defied a subpoena from Congress [over the January 6 Capitol attack].

“But he’s also facing state charges. And the state charges are very similar to the charges for which he was pardoned by President Trump. And what the media don’t tell you, and they should be telling you, is that three other people have gone to prison for those same charges already.

“Bannon’s three co-conspirators in the We Build the Wall scam” – keeping donations supposed to support Trump’s border policies – “two of them pleaded guilty and apologized to the court and begged the court for mercy, because they admitted they ripped off millions of dollars.

…more…