The third indictment of Donald Trump has caused the most reaction. The first one was over paying hush money to a porn star with whom he had tryst. The second indictment involved hording classified documents. The one delivered yesterday has to do with trying to subvert our democracy to stay in power. The charges ignite strong emotions.
Among progressives and Democrats, the reaction has been pretty consistent. They applaud the special prosecutor, Jack Smith, and agree that no American is above the law. Conservatives and Republicans are deeply divided, depending how much they want to appease their base.
Former Vice President Mike Pence may never be president, but he has found himself at the center of the investigation and has called on accountability for Trump. One of the most memorable quotations in the indictment is when Trump called him “too honest” when Pence balked at going along with the scheme to subvert the power of Congress to certify the election. In response to the indictment, Pence released a statement that said, “Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.” I don’t often agree with Pence, but I do here and I’m glad he said it, even if he’s only stating the obvious.
While a few never-Trumpers agree with Pence, the majority of the party does not—or at least won’t admit it if they do. Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott, both presidential candidates, released statements implying that the Justice Department had been “weaponized” as a political tool. However, Grand Juries recommended the indictments, not justice department officials. DeSantis and Scott are playing to the GOP base that has been duped by lies for the past few decades. Truth is a casualty of Republican politics.
Conservative legal pundits insist that, while Trump may be bad, the case against him is weak. Among the claims is that Trump actually believed that the election was stolen so he can’t be held accountable. Others say the charges are unprecedented without acknowledging that so were Trump’s actions. The political side is trying to tie Trump’s indictment to the Hunter Biden inquiries. There’s no comparison but the goal is to muddy the waters to try to convince voters that Democrats are just as corrupt as Republicans.
Other legal experts think the charges are justified. While Republicans keep saying that prosecutors will need to convince jurors that Trump didn’t actually believe the Big Lie, analysts point out that he was told over and over again that the election was fair and his condemnation of Pence as being “too honest” is an admission that he knew better.
My real thought is that Republicans have brought this on the country. Blame Mitch McConnell in particular. Had the Senate convicted Trump after his impeachment, we wouldn’t be here today. McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, and numerous other elected Republicans blamed Trump for January 6 when it happened. Then, they refused to hold him accountable. Several GOP Senators who voted to acquit Trump did so because they said impeachment was a tool to remove someone from office, not hold them accountable after they had left. Those Senators should be supportive of the indictment.
In the end, the latest indictment probably won’t have much impact on the Republican primary for president. Trump will continue to lead his opponents by wide margins. The GOP base will continue to believe that a widespread conspiracy is trying to take Trump down and take the country away from them, whatever that means. Republicans who know better will continue to pretend that they don’t and Fox News and conservative outlets will continue lying to the GOP’s gullible base, creating the outrage that motivates their voters.
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 >
The streets outside the DC Federal Court were unexpectedly quiet as folks waited anxiously the third and most serious indictment of Donald J Trump for crimes against democracy. This is the big one. This one could put Donald in the slammer for the rest of his natural life. The federal judge assigned to hear the case is an experience jurist, with a reputation for no nonsense that has no ties to Donnie. The jury pool will come from folks who reside and earn a living in the area where Donnie unsuccessfully attempted to keep himself in office by use of force designed to obstruct the lawful duties of the United States Congress. The pleadings in the case are a legal masterpiece, simple straight forward and easily understood. Donnie’s defense to date, “I was merely following the advice of my lawyers.” The formal accusation mentions six of them not by name but description. At least five are currently disbarred or undergoing disbarment proceedings. One of which was the star of a recent Borat comedy. A better defense would be diminished capacity. Donnie could claim he suffered from a mental condition that renders him unable to form the intent necessary for the commission of the crime. In other words, he is sane in the classical sense, but his brain decayed to a level where he did not know what he was doing. Donnie’s current lawyers could introduce the results of the mental testing done while he was occupying the oval office that prove he could distinguish between an elephant and lion. Sadly, the world will see in living color every piece of dirty wash in our basket. But that is how a judicial system based on the notion of presumed innocence works. The government must prove their case, while Republicans are trying desperately to put his guy back in office.
What a mess the Republican Party is! Good grief! Imagine if a former Democratic president of the United States had been indicted on eating a ham sandwich. The GOP crazies would be ready to ride the sucker out of town without due process. What is wrong with people? What has befallen our country that a once law-abiding party would fall do plummet down the rathole? If the GOP does not have a party without these crazies in it, the party should fold up. In the end, the public will have to decide. But the bottom line is that Mr. Trump should never be permitted to be in 50 miles of the Oval Office again.
I completely agree.
If I may, I’d like to add two more things of interest. The first is the evidence and testimony the indictment was based on. The indictment provides information provided Republicans. There is no Democrat conspiracy; unless those Republicans that provided testimony and statements are in collusion. It was those from Trump’s inner circle that provided the proof that enabled the indictment. Democracy meant more than the whims of a madman.
The other is Federal Rule #53. The prohibition of cameras inside Federal courtrooms. This needs to be changed or at least exempted in this instance. Republicans need to see each individual testify and hear what is said by each witness; not what the spin is about what is testified to. It’s hard to spin what came from their own mouths while on the witness stand. For the good of the country and its future, we need to push this.
The Trumpublican Party belongs on the garbage heap of history.
I agree with everything you said. I too blame McConnell and Republicans. Without them Trump would not have the power he has. This isn’t a political party anymore, it’s a cult,
not so optimistic, T. Mills?