Thread by @douglasblackmon

@Fahrenthold’s story in @washpost about @realDonaldTrump’s large scale hiring of undocumented alien workers gives a clear basis for a criminal investigation. It’s surprising that this is seen primarily as a political scandal. Under current law/policy these are serious crimes.

Barely a month ago, Waste Management of Texas was penalized $5.5 million to avoid federal prosecution for a pattern of illegal hiring that perfectly mirrored the behavior of @realDonaldTrump’s companies. Same time period. Same numbers of illegal workers.
justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/w…

Under federal racketeering and conspiracy statutes, if @realDonaldTrump’s companies still had an established practice in 2016-2018 of ignoring false work papers, then every past violation—even if the statute of limitations has expired—can be prosecuted as part of the conspiracy.

@Fahrenthold ‘s story describes more than the necessary elements to prove a criminal conspiracy by @realDonaldTrump ‘s companies:
1) An established pattern of illegal hirings
2) Knowledge of violations by management
3) Direct assistance in creating fraudulent documents
4).....

4)...Active inducement of workers to use false documents.

5) Clear financial benefit to @realDonaldTrump ‘s companies.

6)Active effort by the companies and its executives—including the president—to conceal the conspiracy and deceive the public and the regulators.

Under the precedent of the Waste Management case just settled by the Trump Dept of Justice, @realDonaldTrump’s companies are liable to forfeit millions of $$$s just in the difference between what was paid to every illegal worker and what a legal employee would have received.

In the past, companies like @realDonaldTrump’s that flagrantly violated immigration laws were rarely charged. Prosecutors assumed workers won’t testify for fear of deportation or can’t be found.
But @Fahrenthold shows where they are.
They talk.
They have physical evidence.