Trump card

No need to repeal law that doesn't fit the programme, simply tell the justice department not to enforce it: so simple, it's brilliant! Actually, no, it speaks imperial rather than presidential authority and arguably is a dereliction under the US constitution: Article II, section 3 says "he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed". The separation of powers is also dissolved: when the leader can weaponise/disarm prosecutors at will, is it any longer democracy? Either way, it's the world in which financial crime professionals now find themselves, along with everyone else.

Timon Molloy (timon.molloy@lloydslistintelligence.com), Editor

No need to repeal law that doesn't fit the programme, simply tell the justice department not to enforce it: so simple, it's brilliant! Actually, no, it speaks imperial rather than presidential authority and arguably is a dereliction under the US constitution: Article II, section 3 says "he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed". The separation of powers is also dissolved: when the leader can weaponise/disarm prosecutors at will, is it any longer democracy? Either way, it's the world in which financial crime professionals now find themselves, along with everyone else.