Donald Trump’s ugliest scandal is about to get even more costly
As the news tries to juggle Donald Trump’s scandals alongside his latest insane policy moves like buying Greenland, it’s easy to lose sight of the more draconian things this administration has been capable of. Not only is the migrant situation worsening at the southern border because of the policies of this administration, but it’s about to hit in a way that will affect average Americans. The appalling conditions in the border detention facilities has led inevitably to deaths and horrific abuse. Now, there are at least 38 legal claims of maltreatment from former camp detainees. If successful, these lawsuits could cost taxpayers billions of dollars in damages, according to a report by the Associated Press.
It’s fair to assume at this point that the number of lawsuits is only going to increase – and the headache for the Trump administration is unlikely to go away any time soon. It’ll likely only get worse as they continue to cast blame on each other for what are serious crimes against humanity. Among the plaintiffs is a Guatemalan man who sought asylum for his 7-year-old son after his home was destroyed by government officials.
The man’s son has been shipped to a foster home in New York, where he was allegedly molested by other boys staying at the home. Several other families in the lawsuit allege that their children were sexually, physically, or emotionally abused in federally funded foster care, meaning that the problem is much more complex than we previously thought – it’s not just any one caretaker or facility where problems are happening.
The majority of bigots in Trump’s base will try to defend this, however abhorrent the story may turn, as they always have tried to rationalize their own racist thoughts and fears. The people in the middle who weren’t already repulsed by the incompetence of this administration are less inclined to side with him – especially since their own wallets will be getting hit when it comes to paying for damages. Perhaps worst of all for Donald Trump is that he has no way to spin this so he looks good. His attempt to look like a hero when the child separation story first broke, is no longer playable. Trying to defend his administration will cost him support, as will firing more people than he can replace.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making