Now we come to it: the political trial of our lifetime. Trump faces legal indictments containing criminal charges related to his campaign to overthrow the 2020 election. How did we get here? There are legitimate means for any candidate to challenge election results. Trump used those means extensively, as was his right. The results of those efforts overwhelmingly proved that the 2020 election was free and fair, and that Trump had lost.
That wasn’t good enough for him. Trump persisted with his big lie that the election was stolen. Wild assertions with no facts to back them up are false. To repeat false accusations becomes a lie which, if continued to be asserted, is unethical at least, if not downright criminal. Additionally, rebuked by legitimate means of challenge, Trump crossed the line into illegal means: the false electors’ ploy, pressure tactics on election and other government officials to change voting results, inciting a violent attack on our nation’s Capitol to disrupt the electoral count, and doubling down on election fraud claims that have been repeatedly proven false.
These are means to which none have the right, including Mr. Trump. His actions in this regard have been legitimately investigated, found to be potentially criminal, and now must be treated as such — or the rule of law in our country is meaningless. Lots of other people have challenged elections in the past. Like Trump, it was their right.
Trump is the only ex-president in our history to refuse the peaceful transference of power. Instead, means were pursued that clearly crossed the line into criminality for the sake of his own selfish ambitions. For justice and the defense of our democracy, he, along with his coconspirators, must be held accountable. Let the trials begin.
Roy Estabrook
North Monmouth
Send questions/comments to the editors.
