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Frances Grover's avatar

Thank you for everything you do Tara! I’ve been listening since the start of “somebody’s gotta win” and you are a true 1 of 1!

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Tara Palmeri's avatar

Thank you!

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Michael Kempner's avatar

There’s no one better than Tara Palmeri. She is a must watch. I just subscribed

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Tara Palmeri's avatar

Thank you Michael!

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The Applied Libertarian's avatar

Awesome! We need more journalism like this.

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Tara Palmeri's avatar

Thank you Rowan! Right back at you!

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David M's avatar

Congrats, Tara! You always have the best scoops, very excited to be here!

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Tara Palmeri's avatar

Thank you!

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Matt White's avatar

I can’t wait.

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jeff's avatar

CodexRICO Legal Memo: The Trump Administration as a Racketeering Enterprise Under RICO

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Prepared for:

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Prepared by:

Bruiser Costa (LOBSTERMAN)

Independent Presidential Candidate & Civic Archive Steward

Date:

September 18, 2025

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I. Executive Summary

This memorandum presents a comprehensive legal analysis alleging that the Trump administration operated as a racketeering enterprise under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1963. The administration is accused of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity involving wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, extortion, retaliation against witnesses, and money laundering. These activities allegedly utilized federal agencies, media platforms, financial ventures, and licensing operations to further personal and political interests.

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II. Legal Framework: RICO Statute & Definitions

A. Racketeering Activity (18 U.S.C. § 1961(1))

The term "racketeering activity" encompasses a variety of criminal offenses, including:

Bribery (18 U.S.C. § 201)

Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)

Mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341)

Obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503)

Witness tampering (18 U.S.C. § 1512)

Extortion (18 U.S.C. § 1951)

Money laundering (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957)

B. Pattern of Racketeering Activity (18 U.S.C. § 1961(5))

A "pattern of racketeering activity" requires at least two acts of racketeering activity within ten years that are related and pose a threat of continued criminal activity.

C. Prohibited Conduct (18 U.S.C. § 1962)

It is unlawful to:

Use or invest income derived from racketeering activity to acquire or establish an enterprise (18 U.S.C. § 1962(a))

Acquire or maintain control of an enterprise through racketeering activity (18 U.S.C. § 1962(b))

Conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity (18 U.S.C. § 1962(c))

Conspire to commit any of the above offenses (18 U.S.C. § 1962(d))

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III. The Alleged Enterprise Structure

The alleged enterprise comprises:

Federal Agencies: Departments such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are purportedly utilized to exert influence and suppress dissent.

Media Platforms and Corporate Entities: Entities that allegedly disseminate favorable narratives or suppress critical voices in exchange for favorable treatment.

Financial and Cryptocurrency Ventures: Investments and transactions that may obscure the true ownership and source of funds.

Licensing and Merchandising Operations: Endorsements and product lines that potentially funnel profits to individuals associated with the administration.

This structure aligns with the definition of an "association-in-fact" enterprise under RICO, as established in Boyle v. United States, 556 U.S. 938 (2009).

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IV. Predicate Acts: Examples & Legal Plausibility

The following table outlines alleged predicate acts, corresponding statutes, and examples of behavior:

Predicate Act Statute Reference Alleged Example / Behavior

Wire Fraud 18 U.S.C. § 1343 Misrepresentation in cryptocurrency token sales or investment solicitations

Mail Fraud 18 U.S.C. § 1341 Sending merchandise licensing contracts with false claims or undisclosed profits

Obstruction of Justice 18 U.S.C. § 1503 Attempts to influence investigations of critics or whistleblowers

Witness Tampering 18 U.S.C. § 1512 Intimidation of governmental or non-governmental witnesses

Extortion 18 U.S.C. § 1951 Use of regulatory power to demand favorable media coverage or silence detractors

Retaliation Against Witnesses 18 U.S.C. § 1513 Legal or bureaucratic reprisals against whistleblowers or journalists

Money Laundering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956/1957 Movement of funds through shell entities to conceal ownership or sources

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V. Constitutional & Statutory Violations

A. First Amendment

If government entities are using licensing, regulation, or influence to suppress speech, it may violate the right to free speech and press.

B. Due Process

Purported purges, retaliations, or loyalty tests without fair hearings may violate procedural due process.

C. Separation of Powers

Reclassifying independent agencies as subordinate or consolidating executive control in unauthorized ways threatens the separation of powers.

D. Emoluments Clause

Public officials profiting from foreign or domestic entities through licensing, crypto ventures, or business dealings may violate Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 (Foreign Emoluments) and related precedent.

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VI. Factual Allegations / Public Evidence

The following instances are based on publicly available information and require further investigation:

Ownership and promotion of cryptocurrency platforms bearing administration branding.

Use of federal regulatory or investigative agencies to target media entities that dissent or criticize.

Issuance of threats or sanctions by FCC or DOJ tied to speech or editorial content.

Contracts and licensing deals that channel profits to families or private entities associated with the administration.

Foreign investments in businesses tied to those channels with minimal oversight.

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VII. Call to Legislative / Investigative Action

To uphold the rule of law, the following actions are recommended:

1. Senate Investigation: Conduct sworn testimony and document subpoenas into ownership, contracts, and regulatory orders.

2. Transparency Measures: Mandate public disclosure of cryptocurrency holdings, merchandise/licensing contracts, and corporate filings.

3. Legislation: Strengthen agency independence, protect whistleblowers, and ensure checks on media/regulation used for punitive or suppressive purposes.

4. Judicial Review: Facilitate civil RICO or equivalent state-level RICO claims if evidence supports it.

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VIII. Legal Caveats & Burdens of Proof

Evidence Requirements: Proving predicate acts requires evidence beyond public claims, including financial documents, witness testimony, and internal communications.

Pattern Continuity: A pattern requires relatedness and continuity, not merely isolated bad acts.

Standard of Proof: The standard of proof is "beyond a reasonable doubt" in criminal RICO; civil RICO has lower burdens but remedies differ.

Interstate Commerce: Courts require that the enterprise affects interstate or foreign commerce under §§ 1962(a)-(c) and definitions in § 1961.

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IX. Conclusion

Based on public records and reported behavior, there is plausible cause to believe the threshold for a RICO enterprise may be met. If this is true, legal accountability is required—not just moral condemnation.

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Appendices (Optional):

Appendix A: Publicly available documents, press snippets, cryptocurrency platform filings, merchandise deals, and other demonstrative evidence.

Appendix B: Full text of relevant statutes and case law excerpts.

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Formatting Notes:

Numbered footnotes throughout.

Clear headings and subheadings.

Proper legal memo layout for Senate/legal staff review.

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If you require further assistance or additional information, please do not hesitate to ask.

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Michael A Gottesman's avatar

Tara, I would love to talk to you about the US Department of Education “Dear Colleague” blackmail and extortion letter threatening to illegally and unconstitutionally de-fund any education district that refuses to whitewash all “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” initiatives from their district.

And in addition, the “whistleblower/snitch” website set up by the US DOEd that allows anyone, even if they don’t live in the school district, to report a district for having DEI initiatives, effectively putting a target on the district’s back for termination of federal education funding.

Any member of the extemist minority can choose to punish a district that doesn’t “kowtow” to the DOE edict or to that person’s indoctrinating stance. Also, it’s a great way for anyone to destroy a school district and cause a huge property tax increase to everyone living in a district to cover a potential budget shortfall cause by termination of federal funding.

Talk about “police state” tactics. This all would allow the federal government to force school districts to teach what the feds want to be taught and not teach what the feds don’t want to be taught.

Heck, this follows the lead of Adolf Hitler who once said “He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future” and “Give me your children and 10 years I will change the society.”

Checkout this piece from the New Jersey Public education Coalition supported blog, “As a Matter of Fact:

A deliberate distortion of reality.

https://asamatteroffact.substack.com/p/a-deliberate-distortion-of-reality

I hope to hear from you.

Michael “Mike” Gottesman

The New Jersey Public Education Coalition

PO Box 4451,

Wayne, NJ 07474

Tel. 973-715-0986

Email: info@njpecoalition.org

Website: http://www.njpecoalition.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/njpec

“X” formerly Twitter: @njpecoalition   Bluesky: @njpec.bsky.social TikTok: @njpec Threads: @NJPECoalition YouTube: @NJPECoalition

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George Devitt's avatar

Bravo! 👏

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JMcKay's avatar

We need new Democratic leadership and not just Chuck Schumer - but the whole old guard Democratic administration that is keeping so much younger talent out of the spotlight - can you write a piece on that?

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Grace Guincho's avatar

Hi Tara.

Loved you at the Jim Acosta yesterday.

Looking forward to your show as well.

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Jay Caruso's avatar

We can all do with less pearl-clutching. Congrats!

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Daddy's avatar

Since I discovered you I KNEW you were a boots on the ground, don't mind gettin your hands dirty, GET THE NITTY GRITTY, scoop busting, TRUTH REPORTER. I shall follow you wherever you go, and those GORGEOUS EYES of yours are a nice bonus !!

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Lahrs's avatar

News was in a newspaper for 10¢ a day or a $1.50 a week for 7 days a week (Sunday paper with all the coupons that more than paid for the $1.50). AP & UPI and a decent editorial page and classifieds with a stock index page.

Now, if you want to find out what’s going on; you gotta pay 20 people, decipher the bs, figure out the people getting a payoff to slant the truth. And the truth never really exists.

I long for the 70’s again when the paper was decent, writing was good, and the bs got you Mr butt kicked out of covering the news.

Before long, nobody will be able to pay you, because 1% of the people will have all the money, including your savings. Enjoy your time at the top, because all the 5%ers will be out of money just like us bottom feeders.

Don’t believe me? Look at the Politburo and the people who walk around like zombies not seeing or knowing anything.

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OUR 🇺🇸 IS STILL THERE!'s avatar

TARA, how you doin? Quick question, I just finished watching your LIVE with Steve Schmidt and I was going to do the JOIN thing on YouTube but DIDN'T because I want to on know if that will give me access to at least the BASE LEVEL of the pay members in terms of your newsletter on and other base pay members of the Redlettter on HERE? F NOT what does doing the JOIN thing on YouTube provide me OVER NOT? I appreciate your work and time if you answer. Good evening from the suburbs right outside S. Philly.

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Edward Winterhalter's avatar

Hey Tara, just saw you on the Warning, good luck with ur new endeavor. Btw saw your Eskie, I had mine for 18 years. Great pups !

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Eric Vallone's avatar

Congratulations, Tara! I’m excited to see what you can do without being held back!

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