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LetMyPeopleVote

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51. MaddowBlog-Former Prince Andrew's arrest, Yoon Suk Yeol's sentence and the power of accountability
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:29 PM
Thursday

In many democracies, criminal suspects are often held accountable — even if they’re politically powerful, even if they’ve served at the highest levels.

In rapid succession:
- former British royal arrested
- former Korean president sentenced
- former Norwegian PM charged
- former French and Brazilian presidents imprisoned

And then there’s Trump and the Republican-appointed justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-19T13:49:49.711Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/former-prince-andrews-arrest-yoon-suk-yeols-sentence-and-the-power-of-accountability

But by any fair measure, the most dramatic development to date is the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, better known as the United Kingdom’s former Prince Andrew. The Thames Valley Police took the former royal into custody on Thursday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While the specific details of the criminal allegations are not yet known, BBC News reported that the arrest “comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince” with the late sex offender....

Indeed, right around the time the world was learning of the former prince’s arrest, the public also learned that former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment, having been convicted of overseeing a 2024 insurrection attempt that sparked a constitutional crisis in the country.

One week earlier, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was charged with “gross corruption” over his Epstein ties......

In stable, advanced democracies around the globe, it’s not uncommon to see governments hold criminal suspects accountable — even if they’re politically powerful, and even if they served at the highest levels.

Italy prosecuted a former prime minister. France prosecuted a former prime minister, in addition to Sarkozy. South Africa prosecuted a former president. South Korea prosecuted a former president before sending a different former president to prison. Israel has prosecuted more than one former prime minister. Germany prosecuted a former president. Portugal prosecuted a former prime minister. Croatia prosecuted a former prime minister. Argentina prosecuted a former president. Austria prosecuted a former chancellor. Pakistan prosecuted a former prime minister.......

And then there’s the United States, where Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices ruled in 2024 that Donald Trump, at the time a former president, was immune from prosecution for any possible crimes he might have committed while carrying out his duties. (Trump is also shielded from legal accountability during his tenure in the White House under existing Justice Department policy.)

In other words, we’ve reached a point at which British authorities can hold the king’s brother accountable, but American authorities are out of luck when it comes to Trump, no matter how much evidence they’ve compiled documenting the Republican’s alleged felonies.

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BBC.com has it as well irisblue Thursday #1
BBC was the first source I went to but they are doing it as a "Live Updates" which is not allowed in LBN BumRushDaShow Thursday #2
What time did BBC break the story? Irish_Dem Thursday #4
BBC opened their Live Updates on it at 10am UK time, 5am Eastern muriel_volestrangler Thursday #5
Thanks! Irish_Dem Thursday #9
Long overdue. Irish_Dem Thursday #12
As long as he diddled young women, they didn't care so much FakeNoose Thursday #30
Basically a Martha Stewart type of charge. He won't serve a day in prison Bengus81 Thursday #39
Not sure but as soon as I got the AP breaking banner (have their app on my iPhone) BumRushDaShow Thursday #7
On one of the British forums they posted it about 5:26/7. Irish_Dem Thursday #10
LOL BumRushDaShow Thursday #14
Well you still beat the one forum. Irish_Dem Thursday #17
"Charles/Camilla/William/Catherine are held in high esteem." BumRushDaShow Thursday #20
Oh yes, she was the bad one for quite some time. Irish_Dem Thursday #24
I will always look at her with disdain. Adulterer for decades gets rewarded... 3catwoman3 Thursday #29
She's good on sexual assault. She fought off an attacker as a teenager muriel_volestrangler Thursday #35
That's commendable. I still don't find her admirable. 3catwoman3 Thursday #47
"a shredding company was called in" muriel_volestrangler Thursday #3
Will Americans still protect their billionaires now that the Brits are no longer protecting the royals? Irish_Dem Thursday #6
Here is Bloomberg reporting on this: lostincalifornia Thursday #8
Yeah, one minute... Hugin Thursday #13
Oh, my.... Hugin Thursday #11
IOW BumRushDaShow Thursday #15
There's ketchup in the water... Hugin Thursday #18
That was bizarre BumRushDaShow Thursday #22
Every time I look around... Hugin Thursday #38
And that was from 30 years ago! BumRushDaShow Thursday #40
If only NJCher Thursday #26
The ketchup alert status has been raised to KETCHCON 1! LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #43
From the Guardian... "we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk" QueerDuck Thursday #16
At least they took markodochartaigh Thursday #19
This could work out spinbaby Thursday #21
Whatever Andrew says will be kept under wraps FakeNoose Thursday #33
Being a pedophile is one thing ... Jarqui Thursday #23
Where is your sense of values? NJCher Thursday #27
I think they are being JustAnotherGen Thursday #45
I know NJCher Thursday #55
The PDF Formerly Known As Prince DinahMoeHum Thursday #25
So, child rape is ok, Miguelito Loveless Thursday #28
His brother knew JustAnotherGen Thursday #37
Yes he knew Miguelito Loveless Thursday #41
I think his brother knew the LEGAL JustAnotherGen Thursday #44
Indeed Miguelito Loveless Thursday #46
Epstein's MO is becoming clear: trafficking young women to wealthy, powerful and well-connected men, sop Thursday #31
As with Al Capone... Kira_Thomsen-Cheek Thursday #32
That was what they got him on,no murders just tax evasion Bengus81 Thursday #34
They got him on JustAnotherGen Thursday #36
Statement from King Charles LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #42
Does he have the possibility of getting out on bail in the British system? hamsterjill Thursday #48
He'll won't be held after being charged, for sure muriel_volestrangler Thursday #49
He has been "released under investigation" after nearly 12 hours muriel_volestrangler Thursday #53
Thank you. hamsterjill Thursday #54
I feel so sorry for Andrew's daughters. Talitha Thursday #50
MaddowBlog-Former Prince Andrew's arrest, Yoon Suk Yeol's sentence and the power of accountability LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #51
The family of Virginia Giuffre have released a statement following the arrest of Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #52
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