Man, is Donald Trump having a tough time with the legal system. First, he was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney for paying off a porn star. Next, a jury found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Then, yesterday, he was indicted again for crimes related to withholding classified documents that did not belong to him. And a Georgia indictment may be looming.
Americans have traditionally believed no one is above the law, though a host of wealthy defendants with powerful lawyers have strained that premise’s credibility. But the sentiment applies in a country that adheres to the rule of law and maintains that all people are created equal. Everyone, no matter their station in life, must obey the law and should be held accountable when they don’t. Presidents and ex-presidents are no exception.
Republicans used to be big on law and order, personal responsibility, and public accountability. Not anymore. Most of the party base and leadership is rallying to Trump’s side, declaring the deep state is after him. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called the indictment a “grave injustice.” Others, like Reps. Matt Gaetz and Elise Stefanik, claim the Biden Administration directed the justice department to issue the indictment to deflect from something related to Hunter Biden. Marjorie Taylor Greene says the indictments came down because Democrats are scared of “packed out Trump rallies and overwhelming winning poll numbers.”
They all know better, well maybe not Greene, but the party is no longer loyal to the rule of law. They live in fear of alienating a base that has shunned the Constitution in favor of Trump. They have become used to lying because nobody in their party holds them accountable. They will say anything to appease their idiot base.
Few in their party are going to call them out. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave up his moral authority when he made it clear that he’s not willing to hold Trump accountable. The last powerful Republican to try to hold Trump accountable, Liz Cheney, was censured and booted from her seat for her effort. Mitt Romney might say something, but most Republicans consider him a RINO anyway. Almost all of them know better, but they’ve decided that party is more important than country. Besides, it’s hard to undo the alternative reality built through decades of lies, distortions, and misinformation perpetuated by the right-wing media and compliant GOP politicians.
That said, a few Republicans who propped up Trump want to change that dynamic. Chris Christy launched his presidential campaign leveling attacks at Donald Trump saying the former president is never willing to take responsibility when things go wrong but always takes credit when they go right. Former Trump Vice-President Mike Pence also released an ad saying “A weak man appeases a mob,” while displaying images of Trump. After four years of loyally appeasing and sucking up to Trump, they are a little bit late, but at least they are trying.
I suspect the indictment will just fire up Trump’s base even more, but it will drive a deeper wedge between Trump and independent voters. Republicans could suffer nationally in 2024 if the party continues to circle the wagons, especially if more indictments come down. I suspect that many Republicans hope the legal proceedings will take a toll and that they can begin to disavow the former president, but few have the courage to say anything out loud. They are quietly cheering on the attacks of Christy and Pence. And nobody likes the attacks more than Ron DeSantis. He can protect his second place status while lesser candidates do the dirty work of telling the truth on Donald Trump.
Trump faces challenges he’s avoided in the past. John Gotti was nicknamed the “The Teflon Don” for his ability to beat criminal charges, but ended up dying in prison. Trump could share the moniker. He has also avoided accountability most of his life, but his crimes might be catching up with him, too. While his loyal idiot base might not abandon him, a lot of Republican leaders are looking for an out. They know that he cost them control of the House in 2018 and control of the White House and Senate in 2020. If they can’t put some distance between the broader party and the Trump faction in 2024, they could be facing a devastating election. They desperately want to get out of the mess they’ve created for themselves without paying a price, but they are a morally rudderless party.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Quite a pictorial line up: Trump former Republican president and body double for Bozo The Clown, twice impeached, found liable for sexually abusing a woman, soon to be indicted a second time and has two more pending indictments for inciting sedition and soliciting an election official to falsify results, Mitchell McConnell III Senate minority leader who said Obama is a one term president, unreasonably refused to hold a hearing for Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court, Kevin Owen McCarthy Speaker of the House and third in line for President who believes locking a bathroom door will protect classified documents stored therein and de-funding the FBI because they investigated politicians engaged in criminal conduct that threatens the security of this country, Ronald Dion DeSantis current Governor of Florida who picked a fight with one of Florida’s major employers and source of state revenue over the silly notion of woke. This group looks like the lunch roster for a home for the pleasant.
What the hell happened to a party that believed in Common sense, small government, Law in order and the military? Where did they go and when did they leave? Moreover, why did they leave this little band of losers behind to carry on?
A Trump nomination is a path for the Democrats to finally break through in North Carolina if Democrats play their cards correctly. There is a growing share of Republicans and right of center independents for which the latest legal developments are a bridge too far.
Don’t do as we do, do as we say. The poignancy of authoritarian dogma.
Trump doesn’t read much of anything, possibly because he had a childhood learning disorder that was never properly diagnosed. Be that as it may, he never read the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bible, daily intelligence briefings, etc. The GOP under Trump finally morphed into an authoritarian, fascist party and there it will remain until it’s burned to the ground.
Since Trump is yelling about how innocent he is – with no specifics as to why of course – the media should be asking him two things:
1. Therefore, do you not want to clear your name and get to trial ASAP? and
2. Therefore, do you plan to take the stand and defend your innocence (even though never required)?
Bert, Mr. Trump does not concern himself with such matters. He follows the late Roy Chon school of jurisprudence: There is no right or wrong, just get away with it until you cannot.
Trump has made statements over the last few months that he believes he has certain rights under the Presidential Records Act which allow him to remove classified documents from the Whitehouse and carry them to his private residence in Florida. Moreover, he can change the status of these documents by simply thinking they are changed. (A Jedi mind control act)
The PRA has nothing in its wording that allows a president to change the ownership of classified documents from public to private. The PRA creates an obligation on a sitting president to preserve documents of a political nature but never gives him ownership. Upon leaving the office, the control of these public documents is immediately vested in the National Archives. Trump never had any claim of private ownership to any of these documents. They are public documents, which Trump had control while in office, but lost that control when he left office.
It is doubtful any rational person would use the PRA as a defense to the acts Trump is accused of committing. It is certain this defense will not stand up in court.
It has been suggested that Trump is sewing the seeds for a defense to crimes he is currently involved and those he committed in the past. The defense involves his mental capacity to commit these crimes.
This defense may keep him out of prison, but not prevent his incarceration in a mental institution for the rest of his life.
Moreover, for Republicans to imply Trump is a victim of a Democratic Party agenda is ridiculous. The members of the grand jury indicted Trump, not the president or any political body. It will be a jury of his peers who will decide his fate.
Well said. Especially “A Jedi mind control act.”