The former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, stood in the dock like the common criminal he is and pled "not guilty" to charges that he conspired to overturn the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021 and remain in power.
As Magistrate Judge Maxilla A. Upadhyaya read the charges against him, he sat sullenly, sometimes tapping his fingers on the wooden defense table in front of him. He heard the judge admonish him not to threaten or intimidate witnesses and inform him of possible prison terms if he is found guilty of the four counts against him -- up to 20 years on one charge, that of conspiring to stop an official proceeding.
Overall, Trump was charged with conspiring to block Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s election, and successfully obstructing the vote confirmation by directing his supporters to the Capitol, which they violently invaded resulting in death, injuries, and destruction of property. He also is accused of trying to disrupt the election process and prevent the votes of American citizens from being counted.
When it was over, Trump said it was "a very sad day for America."
On the contrary, those indictments brought by special counsel Jack Smith demonstrate that in America, nobody is above the law -- not even a former game show host turned politician who successfully scammed sufficient numbers of foolhardy voters to be elected President of the United States.
"A very sad day for America." Hogwash!
Trump was released pending further proceedings that ultimately will conclude in a trial, which Trump and his supporters are trying to delay as long as possible. However, prosecutors are pushing for a speedy trial and that will be determined at his next court appearance at 10 a.m. Aug. 28 before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan.
Following the hearing, Trump returned to his debunked claim that the election was stolen, and claimed he was being persecuted by the same political forces that unfairly denied him a second term.
“I AM NOW GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO BE ARRESTED FOR HAVING CHALLENGED A CORRUPT, RIGGED, & STOLEN ELECTION,” Trump wrote on his social media app yesterday before departing New Jersey. “IT IS A GREAT HONOR, BECAUSE I AM BEING ARRESTED FOR YOU.”
This, of course, is Trump's third indictment, and the most serious. Previously, he was charged by a Manhattan grand jury regarding payments to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her from discussing a sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.
In addition, Trump was indicted and pled not guilty to 37 federal charges related to the investigation of classified documents allegedly mishandled when they were taken to Mar-a-Lago in Florida after his defeat. Then, Smith charged Trump with three additional counts -- all related to violations of the Espionage Act. A trial in this case will take place in May 2024, in the heart of the presidential election campaign.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, a select grand jury has investigated efforts by Trump and allies to overturn his election loss in Georgia in 2020 by pressuring state officials to "find" enough votes for him to carry the state, which he had lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has denied wrongdoing or criminality in all matters, state and federal, and has aggressively maintained his innocence.
However, indictments in the Georgia case are expected to be returned in September, which will mean yet another trial for the disgraced former president. Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis has indicated that indictment would come on or before Aug. 18.
In the latest case, charging documents quote Trump as telling former Vice President Mike Pence that he was just "too honest" when he denied Trump's request to invalidate the electoral vote and seat fake electors loyal to Trump.
That's now being used by Pence to raise money for his own presidential campaign, both in fundraising appeals and by selling new swag, like caps and t-shirts, emblazoned with the slogan "Too Honest."
What will come of all of this? Polls show that many of his MAGA supporters still cling to Trump's claim that the election was stolen from him, despite the evidence to the contrary, and that he still has a commanding lead over challengers, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Thus, the Republican Party could be in the dubious position of having a convicted felon as their official nominee in Nov. 2024.
When Trump was president, in a play to his massive ego, he was fond of calling himself "your favorite president" on social media. Now, in the aftermath of these latest indictments, Trump is pleading and whining and claiming that it's all a politically motivated witch hunt.
No, Mr. Trump, those indictments did not mark a "sad day" for our country. Quite the contrary. It marked a great day for America, and as these prosecutions unfold, the ultimate outcome could be even greater if Trump is convicted and sent to prison where he belongs.