The thing that prompted this is people fell for it, and he can use it as leverage to get rich. That everyone was willing to stand by and let him do it (as in n

The thing that prompted this is people fell for it, and he can use it as leverage to get rich. That everyone was willing to stand by and let him do it (as in not apply real consequences or physically/procedurally actually stop him) is the opportunity that presented itself. If a criminal suddenly walks by and steals your unlocked car (or breaks the window and steals it), and gets away, it’s a bit silly to stand there complaining you didn’t ask them to do that!