Update! The Scam Economy and the Populist Myth

Several weeks ago I wrote a post about David Gentile, a financial scammer whose prison sentence was commuted by Trump. In today's New York Times, there's a good story investigating what happened to a criminal investigation into the circumstances behind that commutation.

If you can, read the story. It's a good illustration of the corruption that has infected our government and the finance industry, corruption that comes at the expense of common people trying to save a little money. It highlights the myth of Trump's "populism."

"The suppression of the investigation into Mr. Gentile’s commutation is another example of the Trump administration’s politicization of the Justice Department. It has abandoned cases against some of his allies, including former Mayor Eric Adams of New York, while targeting high-profile critics of the president, such as the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey."

"The Gentile commutation was particularly sensitive because of the personal relationship between Mr. Trump and Father Mann, who delivered the closing benediction at the inauguration last year and has attended at least two events at the White House since."

"Shortly after his arrival, he told inmates that he expected to be released imminently because Father Mann was pressing his case directly to the president, according to two people with knowledge of the jailhouse conversations.

"Mr. Gentile indicated that he had already facilitated payment of some amount of money to the priest for his clemency effort, according to two people with knowledge of the former private equity executive’s representations while in prison.

"Days later, Mr. Gentile walked free."