I’ve observed a keen truism over the past three years: Trump supporters don’t appear particularly bothered by fraud. Some either partake in fraud themselves or support those who commit fraud.

For this fraud squad, Trump exists as a sort of an Uncle Daddy, the paternal figure who gazumps everyone, thus making the grifty feel better about their own dirty deeds.

To understand the junta that took place in America, it’s critical to note it’s not the fallout of one hornswoggler but the work of many.

THE FRAUD SQUAD

Trump’s close-knit backers are a who’s who of convicted felons, both foreign and domestic, and his most vocal supporters may want to rethink flapping their gums because the increase in scrutiny often results in the unearthing of questionable behaviors.

Take the story that broke over the weekend about low-rent fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, who according to Tom Arnold loudly stumped for Trump at a party, “rambling on…about people carrying their own weight.”

Forget that the biggest recipients of government welfare are the wealthy, with their subsidies and tax breaks, Giannulli and his wife Lori Loughlin have been charged by federal agents for allegedly paying $500,000 to pass their daughters off as athletes to get them into USC. According to the couple’s 19-year-old daughter, Giannulli began his clothing line with tuition money he was supposed to be using from his parents for college. Not the first kid to lie to his parents about where that tuition money was going.

Just saying.

And let me take you back to the inaugural carnie of 2017, currently under investigation by multiple tiers of law enforcement. You may recall how no A-lister would go near the event, fearing the stench of treason might stain their cashmere overcoats. And then like manna from heaven, crooner Toby Keith stepped up to save the day, allegedly. (Although that level of entertainment was the kinda thing you could see at any country fair with a five-spot and a pulse.)

As the media was celebrating the headline, I took a nanosecond to google “Toby Keith” and “fraud” and lo, there came a report about his bunk restaurant chain and the nefarious underworld characters associated with it, allegedly.

Just saying.

With Trump’s erstwhile campaign manager going to federal prison for a seven-year stretch for, gasp, fraud and such delightful crimes as conspiracy against the United States, I felt it important to remind cognitive thinkers that Trump may not use email and may not text, but the circumstantial evidence of his willingness to surround himself with criminals is, well, pretty circumferential.

DUBIOUS FRIENDS

Many of those who invest in his enterprises have criminal rap sheets that date back decades. For a complete expose on the dubious friends of Donald Trump, check out Dutch investigative team Zembla’s three-part documentary titled, “The Dubious Friends of Donald Trump.”

In the meantime, here’s a short list from a long list of convicted felons and allegedly ethically challenged associates of Trump’s “fraud squad”:

Felix Sater, convicted felon and longtime Trump business associate, also an FBI informant.

Michael Flynn, convicted felon and Trump’s former national security advisor; cooperating with the Special Counsel and awaiting sentencing.

Michael Cohen, convicted felon and Trump’s longtime lawyer.

George Papadopoulos, convicted felon and former Trump policy advisor.

Rick Gates, former Trump deputy campaign manager, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and making false statements; cooperating with the Special Counsel and awaiting sentencing.

Tom Price, forced to resign as Trump’s health and human services secretary for violating government travel rules.

Scott Pruitt, former Trump EPA head who resigned amid myriad ethical scandals.

Wilbur Ross, Trump’s commerce secretary, hounded by watchdogs for not divesting from investments before joining Trump’s cabinet or for entering into new investments.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s counselor, accused of violating ethics rules and the Hatch Act.

Sam Patten, Republican political associate and Manafort associate, pleaded guilty to federal prosecutors for using a “straw man” to purchase tickets for a Ukrainian oligarch to Trump’s inaugural ball.

Thomas Barrack, billionaire real estate investor and close friend of Trump, although not accused of wrongdoing, in hot seat due to probes by state, federal and congressional investigators into Trump’s inauguration. Barrack produced the event with Gates, who as noted above, is cooperating with the Mueller investigation.

Elliot Broidy, a GOP fundraiser, under investigation by federal authorities for allegedly peddling influence with the Trump administration on behalf of foreign nationals.

Steve Wynn, Trump associate and former RNC chair, resigned due to allegations of sexual misconduct. The casino mogul stepped down from his company, Wynn Resorts, after dozens of sexual misconduct allegations.

Tevfik Arif, real estate mogul whose firm, the Bayrock Group, developed Trump SoHo and other Trump entities, settled racketeering lawsuit brought by a former Bayrock executive; also arrested in an underage prostitution bust but later acquitted.

Paul Manafort, convicted felon, dictator spin doctor and former Trump campaign manager who worked for free despite being in debt to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire currently suing the U.S. Treasury Department over sanctions.

Rep. Chris Collins, an early Trump supporter, accused of insider trading.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, an avowed Trump supporter accused of misusing campaign funds.

Roger Stone, longtime Trump friend and veteran GOP operative, indicted on seven counts of lying, obstruction and witness tampering by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of the Trump-Russia probe.

Jeffrey Epstein, longtime Trump friend, billionaire, and convicted sex offender.

Roy Cohn, Trump’s original “fixer” lawyer, disbarred for unethical and unprofessional conduct and misappropriating clients’ funds.

Charles Kushner, convicted felon and father of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

I could go on and on and on… and on… but you get the gist.

THE JUNTA

Perhaps it would have been a better use of my time if I documented those in Trump’s orbit who haven’t committed felonies or been accused of ethical improprieties, but I’m not so sure they exist. A few of his children are under investigation in probes related to the Trump Foundation and his third wife has lurked under a cloud of suspicion due to the murky details of her early immigration/modeling days.

If only Trump himself wasn’t trailed by an industrial toxic cloud of lawsuits and out-of-court settlements it might be easier to swallow that he merely exercises poor judgment in hires and loved ones.

To be sure, the president* appears to have an unparalleled knack for collecting scumbags. That this fraud squad’s collaboration resulted in a hostile takeover of our democracy is not only alarming, but frightfully obvious.

Juntas don’t occur in a vacuum. Ultimately, however, fraudsters can’t exist in sunlight.

We see you.