“It’s a very detailed indictment and it’s very damning. But I do think if even half of it is true, then he’s toast”
Former Attorney General Bill Barr
In the wake of his 37-count indictment, Donald Trump launched a predictable tirade, again baselessly claiming the 2020 election was stolen and portraying himself as an innocent victim who has never done anything wrong, blaming a government-wide conspiracy he believes is out to get him.
Terrified of alienating Trump’s MAGA base, GOP presidential wannabees and the majority of Senate and House Republicans, more concerned with 2024 election primaries and party partisanship than seeking the truth, their Constitutional oaths or preserving our fragile Republic echo his self-serving grievances against the FBI, Justice Department, President Biden and vitriolic attacks on Special Counsel Jack Smith and his family.
Notable exceptions have been presidential candidates Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie and former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General Bill Barr and Chief of Staff John Kelly believing, if the charges are true, the blame rests solely on Trump’s shoulders based on his own words and actions … not Biden, the FBI, Justice Department or Democratic Party … and in Liz Cheney’s words, he would be ”unfit for any office” and “will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office.”
Contrary to his claims, Trump’s was not charged for possessing classified and other documents but for “obstruction of justice” after failing to comply with a subpoena demanding they be turned over to the National Archives and for orchestrating a conspiracy to mislead the government about their whereabouts.
Despite Lindsey Graham ramblings, the Espionage Act charges have nothing to do with “spying.” Trump was charged with violating a section of the Act making it a crime to have “unauthorized possession” or “willfully retaining” of documents “relating to the national defense” and “willfully communicating, delivering, transmitting” such documents to “any person not entitled to receive” them. Several “ordinary” citizens, some this month, have been charged with, convicted, and sentenced for similar violations of the Espionage Act.
As of January 21, 2021, Donald Trump became a private citizen. Yet, millions of Republican Trump-cultists refuse to recognize in America no person, including a former president, and irrespective of wealth or their current or prior stations in life, can or should be “above the law.”
Trump candidacy, rather than presenting a positive vision for America, is divisive, designed to create fear and mistrust of others, filled with simplistic and bizarre solutions to serious problems and preaches a mantra of revenge against everyone, including respected jurists, members of his Administration and dedicated government employees who have refused to defend his words or actions.
With a dozen other announced Republican candidates seeking their party’s presidential nomination, surely, the GOP can nominate a candidate who can represent its conservative agenda and will commit that, if elected, will remain faithful to the Constitution and the ideals on which our nation was founded.
