Barack Obama gave a highly-anticipated speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday. In it he attacked Donald Trump for attempting to rig the election, committing tons of crimes, and using his power to line his own pockets. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris understand, he said, that "no one — including the president — is above the law, and that no public official — including the president — should use their office to enrich themselves or their supporters."
This bears a marked contrast with Obama's record as president. His administration refused to seriously prosecute thousands and thousands of financial criminals. People who did everything from money laundering for drug cartels to mortgage document fraud on an industrial scale got off with wrist-slap fines. Attorney General Eric Holder said that he was reluctant to file charges because it might create financial instability.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 contentious cartoons about Matt Gaetz's AG nominationCartoons Artists take on ethical uncertainty, offensive justice, and more
-
Funeral in Berlin: Scholz pulls the plug on his coalitionTalking Point In the midst of Germany's economic crisis, the 'traffic-light' coalition comes to a 'ignoble end'
-
Joe Biden's legacy: economically strong, politically disastrousIn Depth The President boosted industry and employment, but 'Bidenomics' proved ineffective to winning the elections
-
Weinstein's appeal: a blow to #MeTooTalking Points Is 'shocking' reversal of symbolic conviction a sign of weakening movement?
-
The Clapham attack: a 'wake-up call'?Talking Point The shocking case may prove the British asylum system is broken but it has also been exploited for political purposes
-
The Epstein papers: what do they reveal?Talking Points Documents adding new detail to existing claims cause 'new furore'
-
Epstein files released: Prince Andrew back in the spotlightTalking Points Duke of York named in nearly 1,000 pages of newly released court files
-
Rape in the metaverse: a case for the real-life police?Talking Points Investigation launched into attack on girl in virtual reality game amid warnings that sexual offences 'rife' in online worlds
-
America's metastatic cancerTalking Point How rampant distrust is killing us
-
How the police's handling of the Uvalde shooting could inspire more people to arm themselvesTalking Point
-
Murder rates are spiking in medium-sized cities. Where's the outcry?Talking Point
