Hi james,
Despite the best efforts of Donald Trump and his MAGA accomplices, American democracy is still standing. While he was still in office, it seemed like there would never be any consequences for his blatant criminality, gleeful cruelty, and disastrous negligence. Now, almost three and half years into Joe Biden’s presidency, we see that while our institutions may be flawed, they remain resilient and capable of holding the guilty accountable.
Trump’s recent felony conviction is certainly the most potent indication that we still live in a nation of laws, but if you expand the scope of inquiry to include his many indicted associates, you get an ever rosier portrait of the state of American justice. Three have been indicted in Wisconsin, nineteen in Georgia (including Trump himself), eighteen in Arizona, sixteen in Michigan, and six in Nevada. What we are witnessing is nothing less than the wholesale dismantling of a criminal organization masquerading as a political party.
Best of all, the list of indicted individuals is only likely to grow in the coming months. Take for example the situation in Michigan. So far, the only individuals indicted have been the fake electors. There is still a distinct possibility that Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and Mark Meadows — all unindicted co-conspirators — could eventually be charged for their crimes. Given Trump’s connections to the three known defendants in Wisconsin, he could end up facing an indictment there as well.
To demand Trump be arrested for bribing trial witnesses, sign here
That said, we absolutely cannot take these cases for granted. If Trump retakes the White House in his much-fantasized fascist revolution, every single one of these prosecutions will find itself on life support. While the president can’t technically terminate a state prosecution, he has access to a vast suite of executive powers that would allow him to exert pressure to get what he wants. For someone as unbounded by legality or morality as Trump, everything is on the table, from cutting federal funding to a particular state to sending loyalist Justice Department goons to arrest state prosecutors. The simple horrifying reality is that we just do not know how bad things might actually get. States controlled by Democrats would do their best to stand up to Trump, but in the end the supremacy of the Oval Office would be impossible to overcome.
All of which is to say that if we allow Trump to win this November, we should expect nothing less than a complete decimation of the rule of law. A defining trait of fascist regimes is their selective enforcement of the rules. Those in the inner circle are permitted to engage in all manner of crimes without consequence while political enemies are ruthlessly prosecuted, often under false pretenses and with no regard for the truth. A new Trump administration, bolstered by an electoral mandate despite his conviction, would inflict irreparable damage to this country.
The good news is that the solution is simple. Show up to vote blue, and make sure that everyone you know does the same. It may not be the sexiest way to crush fascism, but it’s damn effective.
Stay focused, stay energized.
Brian
Democracy Watch
Marc Elias discusses the Supreme Court's long-awaited decision in South Carolina.
The Legal Breakdown
Glenn Kirschner discusses a new tactic being deployed to delay the trial in Florida by Judge Cannon.
Inside the Right
xxxxxx Media's Tim Miller discusses polling showing Biden overtaking Trump after his conviction.
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