Donald Trump made history in March when he became the first sitting or former president of the United States to be indicted. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted him for paying off a porn star and covering it up.
Special Counsel indicts Trump again
But Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted him again in June for mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice.
Yet, such was the crime spree he perpetrated as president that Smith indicted him today for the third time. This time, for masterminding a conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Fourth indictment looms
And that’s not even the charm. Because everyone expects Fulton County DA Fani Willis to indict him for a fourth time next week. That, for orchestrating a mob-style racketeering scheme to nullify the presidential election results in Georgia.
Significantly, if convicted, he won’t be able to pardon himself. That is, even if lightning strikes twice or he fools the people again and gets elected in 2024.
Read the indictment
I am loath to comment too much. Indeed, having read the indictment, iPINIONS seconds Smith’s plea for everyone to do so. It’s surprisingly readable for a legal document. What’s more, it’s riveting.
As you read it, though, perhaps you bear the following points in mind:
- The remarkable thing is that Trump’s worst crimes are yet to come. Because those he allegedly committed to try to stay in office will look like Boy Scout frolics compared with those he’s bound to commit to get back in office. After all, he thinks his freedom depends on doing so.
- This congenital narcissist is clearly willing to destroy the country to save himself. And he’s so egomaniacal that he thinks it would make perfect sense for him to do so.
- Trump did not corrupt Republicans. Republicans found in Trump a Pied Piper for their febrile tribalism. Indeed, former President Barack Obama famously bemoaned their “fever” in June 2012. He hoped their fever would break and Republicans would regain common sense if he won reelection. He was wrong. Instead, Trump gave them perverse reasons to think they were fine and everyone else had tribal fever.
- Most Republicans are blithely telegraphing their intent to vote for Trump to turn this country into an autocracy. They are marching the country towards authoritarianism or civil war. Either way, Democrats and Independents must stop venting outrage and being “shocked, shocked” and prepare to fight for our freedoms.
- Special Counsel Smith should have named the media as unindicted co-conspirators. After all, they enabled (and are still enabling) Trump’s high crimes and misdemeanors for ratings. The integrity of their profession and the welfare of the country be damned.
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