Convicted on 34 Counts
Convicted on 34 Counts
Yesterday, a long with a lot of you, I watched as the word guilty rang out across a NY City courtroom 34 times. For the first time in American history a former President of the United States is a convicted felon.
We have truly crossed the Rubicon. Now, we the people, must make a choice. Do we stand for the rule of law and the democratic principles that have guided us for nearly 250 years? Or do we throw it all away based on the capricious, child-like rantings of an obvious narcissist who declares the system rigged only when he loses?
Trump’s reaction is akin to a six-year old on the floor flailing his arms and legs and screaming “this is not fair” at the top of his lungs. The GOPs response as a whole is no better, essentially defaulting to the idea that their “dear leader” can do no wrong.
(I would like to reserve thanks to Sen. Hoyer and former Governor Atchison for their comments calling for respecting the legal process, but they are the only two republicans to publically rise to this challenge thus far.)
This is a case that was turned down by the Department of Justice. It was deemed non-prosecutable by the previous DA. Mr. Bragg decided otherwise upon his election and brought the case before a grand jury. Those folks determined enough evidence existed to go to trial. A 22 week trial took place and that evidence was heard by 12 people who, in turn, unanimously agreed that crimes were committed and rendered a guilty verdict. In short, a textbook example of how the legal system works.
Obviously, it is not over. There will be multiple appeals and, frankly, there are several areas of this case that I think need to be looked at more closely. And I have faith that we will take that look because I believe in the fundamental American ideas that we are all created equal and no man is above the law.
In the meantime, we now have a convicted felon vying to occupy the most powerful office in the world and neither conviction nor jail time will prevent him from being on the ballot in November where it is becoming increasingly clear that we are faced with the choice of continuing our grand American experiment or handing the reins to an increasingly unhinged demagogue who demands loyalty to Trump over and above loyalty to God, loyalty to family, and loyalty to Country.
In my mind, it is a clear choice.
