Do you think it’s because it’s more of a hassle to go after people who can afford lawyers or because white collar crime is actually down? I think it’s the former.

It's not a trope, it's a pretty logical thing, sadly. Maybe not entirely immune but, when caught, for any crime, rich people can afford expensive lawyers who'll be able to search for any technicality, loophole, problems with the arrest and so on. That's not even considering corruption like getting a friendly judge because your father/uncle or whatever went to college with the right people.

Imagine the exact same crime, let's say selling cocaine. One person grew up in the ghetto and has to use the free public prosecutor. The other is the son of a millionaire. Which one do think will do more prison time?

This https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_and_sentencing_of_Robert... is what happens when they don't step on the wrong toes.

Also, we have a sitting Supreme Court justice who has accepted millions of dollars in "gifts." It doesn't look like anything is going to happen to him. And this type of egregious transgression is just what we know about. It should be clear that Clarence Thomas' behavior is not some crazy outlier. Many politicians seem closer to billionaires than to general members of the public.

Serious question: If it was on the other shoe, would most people have remained on bail all this time to have two children after what Elizabeth Holmes did?

But this is a twofer. It also helps ensures that blood tests stay one-offs and cost top dollar for decades to come. It’s cold fusion all over again. Research in the area has suffered a convenient death blow.

Also that one time their lab got massively contaminated with ebola dna (apparently less bad than it sounds). No charges for creating an unsafe work environment or misleading public health officials on their ability to meaningfully perform ebola tests at (I think it was) airports.

Ian Gibbons unfortunate death. Silence.