During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump famously bragged: “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” At the time, we thought the whole ‘Trump thing’ was a comedy act. Many people supported him as a ‘fresh perspective’ or thought he was funny.
No one is laughing anymore. Trump was correct in 2016. No matter what he says or does or how evil or even criminal his misbehavior is, he seems immune to punishment. Unless, of course, you count the 2020 presidential election. We, the people, held him accountable. So far, we are the only group in the history of the Trump era to do so. Trump was so shocked at the result that he refused to leave, and, of course, the rest is detestable history.
Trump whined like a spoiled child, born with a silver spoon in his mouth . . . oh . . . wait . . . he is a spoiled child, born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
“The election is rigged,” he cried. “Stop the steal,” shouted his loyal supporters. That neither of these statements was true did not matter to Trump in late 2020 and early 2021. He focused on a few narrowly decided swing states and declared fraud. He challenged the count, harassed and disparaged volunteers, cost the taxpayers a fortune in recounts, defamed the company that provided voting machines, and filed multiple lawsuits challenging the vote—and, he lost every time.
When all else failed, Donald Trump gathered his most loyal village idiots and staged an insurrection. This was not some random, last-minute endeavor. This was a carefully planned organized coup—executed by (among others) campaign officials, members of militia groups, and white supremacists.
Fast forward to 2024—Donald Trump still refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election, still refuses to go away, still has a boatload of followers, and still believes that no one will ever hold him accountable for his criminal behavior. He is still shooting people on Broadway and getting away with it.
I am no longer confident that America will repudiate this dangerous man whose very actions are in contempt of America.
According to the latest polls, he is either tied with or defeating an extraordinarily effective and capable president. If the electorate is not careful, this carnival barker, shyster-fraud might again be elected president. And if you think his first four years were awful, you have not seen anything yet.
When he was indicted multiple times, I believed the justice system might succeed where others have failed. But Trump is treating these indictments like he treated the will of the people in 2020.
First, he calls the indictments “witch hunts.” Second, he attacks and threatens the judges and prosecutors who dare to try to hold him accountable for his nefarious behavior. Third, like his attempts to delegitimize the 2020 election, he is now trying to delegitimize our entire justice system.
In Contempt of America
If he is ever elected president again, he will delegitimize or dismantle our system of government.
Trump is an active participant and witness in a civil fraud trial against his precious real estate company. These are serious allegations, and the evidence is so strong that the trial judge granted a summary disposition motion on liability. This is now a ‘damages only’ trial. Donald Trump and his company are guilty of fraud, not that this matters to his supporters.
I’ve been an attorney for over 45 years. I’ve witnessed countless trials, motions, and hearings during my career. Our justice system is second to none. We are all entitled to equal justice under the law, including Trump. However, the rules of conduct require a professional level of civility and decorum by all in attendance. Contempt of Court is defined as willful disobedience to or disregard of a court order or any misconduct in the presence of a court.
In other words, courts of justice have broad inherent power to punish people for contempt of their rules and orders, disobeying their process, and disturbing them in their proceedings.
Trump has a child’s ‘I want what I want when I want it’ mentality. He misbehaves like a child if he doesn’t get what he wants. Yelling at judges or calling them names qualifies as contempt of court. Improperly challenging or ignoring the court’s authority qualifies as contempt of court. Insulting the court’s dignity qualifies. Mocking or threatening court personnel or witnesses qualifies. Interfering with court administration or attempting to poison the jury pool qualifies. Disobeying a court order qualifies. And carrying on like a school bully or intimidating witnesses also qualifies as contempt of court.
But despicably, his supporters love his disrespectful contempt for our justice system. His poll numbers are improving.
While Trump claims he is the victim of a “rigged system,” every experienced lawyer on the planet knows that he has been given the benefit of all doubt. Any ‘normal person’ would be in jail for Trump’s absurd and childish courtroom antics. If you treat the system and its judges with contempt, you are in contempt and should be jailed. He has paid a few fines for his behavior, but judges have shown him undeserved patience and leniency so far.
His behavior is nothing less than the continuation of a conspiracy to commit an organized coup. Here’s the plan: Trump is convicted on all counts and uses the results as further proof of his false grievances. Once again, he screams “witch hunt” or “rigged system.” Like before, he charges that the current administration has weaponized the Justice Department. His followers rally around him. They go out and vote for him in record numbers. He wins and reassumes office.
Look out! His political enemies will be crucified. His cronies will be pardoned, and his Republican legislature will dismantle the Bill of Rights.
Trump is after every freedom we hold dear. He wants to be our dictator for life. He is Hamas—we are Israel. Like Israel, we must defend ourselves from someone who is a clear and present danger to the United States of America. As the only entity to hold him accountable thus far, we must do so again, Repudiate this man. Go to the polls and vote in 2024. Do not rely on the Justice Department, the prosecutors, the judges, or the juries.
A Michigan appellate court recently sanctioned a lawyer and fined him $3,000 for flashing his middle finger at his monitor during a Zoom court proceeding. Donald Trump is giving America and her citizens his mighty middle finger. He is not only in contempt of court, but in contempt of America. Make him pay.
Don’t stand on the sidelines. VOTE!
Please check out Mark Bello’s ripped-from-the-headlines legal thrillers, all available online at Amazon and other major online booksellers. He has quite the hero in Attorney Zachary Blake, who fights for justice on all fronts. His books are Betrayal of Faith, Betrayal of Justice, Betrayal in Blue, Betrayal in Black, Betrayal High, Supreme Betrayal, Betrayal at the Border, You Have the Right to Remain Silent and his latest, and his latest, “The Final Steps – A Harbor Springs Cozy Legal Mystery. Also, he’s written a wonderful children’s book about bullying, “Happy Jack, Sad Jack.” For more info, just check markmbello.com.