Wednesday, June 1, 2022

The most famous case of cross dressing in history

You've very likely heard something about this, although probably not put in these specific terms.  Back in ancient Rome, a man was caught disguised as a woman in the house of the Chief Priest (Pontifex Maximus) in Rome.  It was during a festival to honor the Good Goddess (Bona Dia), and the rite was strictly restricted to women only. Except Publius Clodius Pulcher was there, in drag.  It was said that he was there to seduce the wife of the Pontifex Maximus.

And who was the Pontifex Maximus?  Julius Caesar.

The story was a sensation in Rome.  The sacrilege led to the trial of Clodius, with none other than Cicero himself as prosecutor.  Cicero couldn't stand Clodius, and so went out of his way to seek a conviction.  Clodius was influential in Rome, which put Caesar in a delicate spot.  He was the (or a) wronged party, but as an up and comer he didn't want to alienate Clodius' supporters.  And so when Cicero put him on the stand to testify, he went all Stg. Schultz.

I wasn't there.  I didn't see anything.  I don't know what happened there.

Cicero was incredulous, because Caesar had divorced his wife after the incident.  He asked why, if nothing had happened, had be divorced her?

This is the part that you might have heard before.  Caesar replied: Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

It was all fake, of course.  Caesar knew what had happened, or could have figured it out if he wanted it.  It was more convenient for his political plans to "not know" anything.  And adding to the fakery was his buddy Crassus and the jury tampering that took on epic - and entirely undisguised - proportions.

Clodius walked, because power and money talked.  Those without power and money were routinely convicted on trumped up charges.  Rome's constitution and institutions were in tatters.  Everyone knew that everything was fake, except for naked power.  30 years later the Roman Republic was gone, with Caesar's great nephew hailed by the Senate as Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.

Michael Sussmann also beat the rap.  The jury was tampered with in an epic - and entirely undisguised - manner.  America's Constitution and institutions are in tatters.  Those without power or money languish in prison without trial 18 months after what the rich and powerful called an "insurrection" - seemingly the first in history where none of the "insurrectionists" brought weapons to the "insurrection".

Fake.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion, but if you have money and power in Washington D.C. you can pretty much do whatever you want.  We will see if a grateful Senate will welcome a strongman to end the civil war in thirty years' time, as did the Roman.

9 comments:

Old NFO said...

Sadly, the two tier justice system is now out in the open!

Old 1811 said...

Clodius may have been more historical, but I think Corporal Klinger is more famous.

Arc Eye said...

Clinger would be a corporal in today’s army.

Arc Eye said...

Obviously,,,would not be ,,,,,,

Ed Bonderenka said...

How could there not be a change of venue?

matism said...

Klinger would instead be a GENERAL in today's army!

Richard said...

The jury believed the defense’s theory that the FBI was not the victim but a co-conspirator. I believe this too. The wrong guy was on trial. Almost anyone on the 7th floor of the FBI building was the right defendant. I further believe this was deliberate on the part of Barr/Durham to protect the FBI and cover up their illegal acts.

This enhances rather than criticizes you main point that the institutions are in tatters.

Skyler the Weird said...

The Seventh floor of the FBI building used to be Identification with aisles and aisles of files where you could get lost and ditch work when you made your index for the day. Who's there now?

selsey.steve said...

I live across the Pond from the USA, a country which I have long respected, but no longer. From what I can gather from numerous sites of all political persuasions, the USA is now as corrupt as any African or South American country.
I am deeply saddened to witness the demise of what was once the greatest demonstration of a democratic republic and once which was the pre-eminent leader of what we refer to as 'freedom'.