HALFWAY DONE

 July 2 marks the half-way point of 2025. We are somewhat hesitant to report this, lest we cause a dozen or more DeSantis Judicial Drones to reflect on their year and how many defendants they have sentenced to the max after losing at trial- mindful of course that there is no such thing as a judicial tax for losing at trial. 

But putting aside the misplaced aspirations of robe wearers to be known as Maximum, how has your year gone? What are your goals for the second half of 2025? 

Rumpole’s Thoughts 

Fight The Power

Rebalance - more resistance training, less cardio. 

Stop work by 7pm on weekdays, 3pm weekends. 

Max of 4 Trulys per week (down from 6)

Finish up those 2023 cases. Time to try those suckers. 

Let go of that Assistant AG who objected to a first extension, and then got hammered by the DCA. We keep wanting to send them a copy of the opinion. “When starting off on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” 

Listen to all seven of Bruce Springsteen’s new albums - released as Tracks II The Lost Albums. 

And catch Bruce and the E Street In Europe for the third summer in a row. Time is running out. We just missed the shows in Germany and Milan due to a tricky issue in the EDNY. 

Bite the bullet, wait in line and get a cheesesteak at Danny and Coop’s- Bradley Cooper’s joint that is causing such a ruckus in the City food scene. 

And while we are there, catch a few Mets games and make arrangements for playoff tickets. #LFGM

We start so many books, but finish so few. They just aren’t that good. 

Rumpole’s Fourth Of July reading list:

The Admirals. Four men achieved the rank of Admiral of the Fleet- King, Halsey, Leahy, and Nimitz. This is their stories. 

The Fate Of The Day. Second installment of Rick Atkinson’s series on the Revolutionary War. Rumor is everyone in DC is reading this, 

Final, scary thought. We are now, officially and mathematically closer to 2050 than 2000.  

“We’ll have another tequila shot please … actually make it a double.” 

COMBS VERDICT WATCH

 The jury in the Sean Combs case has been deliberating since Monday. Around 5pm on Tuesday they informed the Judge that they had a verdict in every count but the RICO count. 

What does that mean?

In our opinion, and we hate reading jury tea-leaves, it is not great for the defense. An acquittal is an acquittal. And the RICO count was the most far-reaching count, meaning that if the jury was acquitting Combs it would be the easiest count to reach a NG on. The fact that they are hung on this count, indicates to us that they have convicted him on at least some of the counts, but cannot get unanimity on the far-reaching RICO count. 

All is not lost however. The verdict on the RICO count has significant consequences, including a 15 year min man, (and you know how much we hate min mans), and an exposure to a life sentence. 

Our view on the evidence?  It's complicated. 

This was NOT a RICO case. 

But Combs did a lot of things wrong, mostly using his power and wealth to manipulate vulnerable women. But these women entered into a consensual relationship, and remained despite being manipulated into very unpleasant sexual encounters. But where do we draw the line between culpability and complicity in a complicated relationship? It is a very hard line to draw. 

If we were the judge and had unfettered power to sentence Combs, we would send him to prison. But for how long? Two years? Sure. Four? Yeah....Over five? That is a hard call. Combs used his power. But that is what powerful people do. And having wealth and power is not a crime. Using it to satisfy your prurient sexual interests is also not a crime until a line is crossed. And that line is consent, the age-old question in many sexual crimes. 

This case is a tough one to unravel. 

Your thoughts?