America has experienced former presidents strongly criticized, personally maligned, one prematurely pardoned (Nixon), one deposed in a civil trial (Clinton), and one – a very popular one – sued for libel (Theodore Roosevelt, he won). But America has never indulged arresting a former President – for anything, let alone disagreement over a private civil suit. The effect could be enormous.
In short, America has long sought to keep a tight rein on how we use the enormous coercive power of the federal government, including every level of prosecutorial power. While “no one is above the law,” we expect a special focus on due process, detail, proportionality, and avoiding any perception of political persecution of former political actors by their successors. Misuse of prosecutorial power is dark.
But what are we seeing? For transparently political reasons, a vendetta settling, we are watching the erosion of America’s highly prized reputation for not abusing legal process for political gain. We are watching the next act in a reckless pursuit by leftist political actors – now pervasive in prosecutors’ offices – of Donald Trump, and all who appreciate his fight for prosperity and freedoms.
After all, a sitting president – Mr. Biden – went out of his way, while sitting on a truckload of hidden and classified documents – to call half of America “enemies of the people,” a truly dark turn. What began in 2016 as a public distaste for Trump’s brand of “in your face” politics, which tends to be personal, sometimes arrogant, turned into fear of Trump’s potentially disruptive effect on the bureaucracy.
That fear, which spawned what we now know to be bold misuse of the Justice Department, FBI, FISA court, and investigative tools throughout 2016, became desperate when Trump won. From 2016 until the end of his term, Democrat operatives abetted bipartisan actors in Congress and the media, knowingly developed and promoted a false and intentionally damaging political narrative.
Specifically, they used every tool – some legal, some illegal, some traditional, some absurdly untraditional (like snap impeachments) – to derail, delay, vilify, and demonize this president.
Not someone to take unjust criticism lightly, Mr. Trump – feeling unfairly treated – fought back, using the airwaves and social media. He cooperated with but disdained the unjust appointment of a special prosecutor, who ultimately cleared him.
Trump declassified and released data to show he faced wrong-headed, but well-orchestrated, leftist and Democrat misuse of federal resources for surveillance, misrepresentations before FISA, and other. All this was compounded by COVID-19, a “likely” Chinese origin virus, which upended the social and political order, created more fear, led to more blame-casting, and occurred in Trump’s final year.
The political vilification of Mr. Trump then took off like a rocket when he encouraged raucous protestors on January 6th, films of which now stunningly contradict much of what Democrats contended.
Never mind. The idea that Mr. Trump had to be vilified, was a good target for “what ailed the nation,” that he must be repudiated – despite a remarkable economic and national security record – and replaced with the “woke” (Marxist, racist, socialist, gender-dismantling) agenda, took root.
Fear has again rocked the left, as reality has set in: Trump has a following more concerned about the country, preserving rule of law, freedoms, free markets, and the Bill of Rights – than his style. This fear began to rise as Trump indicated…he might run, again.
Stunningly, in retrospect embarrassingly, the “January 6th Committee” – configured like the French Revolution’s Committee on Public Safety – issued a scathing, highly personal, subjective, and selective report on Donald Trump, fanning political hatreds on both sides.
Then the Biden Justice Department – which later found a boatload of classified documents hidden by Biden, some perhaps tied to his China-hired son – deployed 30 highly armed, unnecessarily hostile FBI agents to raid Mr. Trump’s home, where they pawed through the former First Lady’s garments, turned the place upside down for nine hours, and got a handful of innocuous documents for their efforts.
Again, the steam of political corruption rose form that event, and drifted to all corners of the blogosphere, social media, pumped by Democrat politicians, as if law no longer matters. The warrant used was either “general” – illegal under the 4th Amendment, or “specific” but wildly violated, in either case unjustified, together with that belligerent raid.
Turn the page, and we watch Biden’s White House – strangely linked by money to China and Ukraine –doing backflips to condemn Trump’s policies, reversing even common sense, because it was his.
And NOW, we have a Democrat establishment clapping and nodding as a petty indictment –transparently political in nature, disgrace to US history, tradition, and rule of law – is rolled out to nobble the former President, presumably to destroy his attempt to run again, against corruption.
Bottom line: This is not going to turn out well for those who still, after seven unproductive years, aim to end Trump’s political career and silence him. He is not of the traditional personality type found in presidents like Eisenhower, Reagan, or GHB Bush. But he does not quit.
Moreover, this indictment may make Trump the posterchild – or poster candidate – for fighting public corruption, and the seemingly unstoppable “woke” revolution that is afoot. People feel government is crushing them, aided by media. Many see an absence of accountability, feel Democrat leaders are hurting more than helping. Trump may now become the symbol of fighting all that, standing indisputably for those who feel marginalized. The effect could be enormous.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
The FBI knew that Hunters laptop was the real deal and then lied that it was Russian disinfo. The swamp is just attacking anyone and anything that reveals how corrupt they have become. God Bless Trump for the ability he has to keep fighting against the constant and continued witch hunts that just get forgotten after the swamp loses. Meanwhile sleepy Joe gets away with anything he wants just like Bill, Hillary, and Barrack Hussein.
Nice summary. Good analysis. I hope more people read this.
The democrat party has never gone to such hateful extremes, as they have attacking President Trump.
Joey and the morons he associates with can go back seven years or more to go after THE DONALD for what at best could turn out to be a misdemeanor. but take a blind eye to the illegal conduct of BILLARY and O…….! A sad commentary on what our government has degenerated into.
Bragg should check and see if Trump has any long term over due library books as well… nothing hurts worse than a freeze on book checkouts due to unpaid over due books at the library. The noose is truly tightening then…
Who are the real ones to be locked up? Clinton’s, Obama’s and Biden’s
Great article that at every point exposes the hypocrisy of the left as well as their fear that Donald Trump will run for the presidency again. All the underhanded abuse of power the democrats are using and usurpation of our constitutional republic.
President Trump caused his own problems when he campaigned saying “I’m going to drain the swamp”. And that scared both democrats and republicans.
Lopsided Law enforcement against Republicans—– Time to get even in 2025 starting in January.
What is good for one is good for all Right???
Trump is never going to prison or getting convicted. He has many millions of devoted followers who would cause the most violent protests our country has ever seen if anybody tried to send Trump to prison. He is untouchable due to his money and power.
Please CNN and the left, continue to bash Trump. Its the greatest gift this
country has. And I know you guys are dumb enough to do it.
All this nonsense tells mw is that Trump still runs the country. We don’t need to
re-elect him. The president is subservient to Donald Trump. So, relax.
Half the nation has wasted their lives hating Trump 24/7. No president or person is worth it.
All this continues to tell me that Trump makes change and cannot be stopped.
The left and CNN has seen yet another of oh-so-many countless attempts to wreck Trump run into the ditch. Two things are certain: They are 1. persistent and 2. inept . Since 2015 they have failed to get Trump on: 1. Russia collusion (2 and 1/2 years) which wrecked CNN and made them irrelevant as a news source 2. Trump’s perfect phone call with Zelensky asking him to report on what we now know was fraud committed by Joe Biden with Ukraine. 3. Jan 6 which is a spoof 4. Georgia election interference 5. Mara-Lago raid 6. MIchael Cohen who turned out to be a liar 7. tax records an on and on and on. Trumps enemies consider Ji-Ji Peng to be Christ compared to Trump. They agonize about putting him in jail. Meanwhile, their futility is hilarious. Without Trump, there is no news. Everyone else ( except Musk) is boring and irrelevant.
Very good and important comment, I believe that the question in the first sentence could make for a topic for an AMAC poll. It would probably have many very spirited responses. The matters that concern loyalty, and respect, would probably be given much attention And the issue of hate should be addressed as hate can be very powerful ( and powerfully bad ) and it usually tends to block out reasoning and proper ways to communicate very important things that need to be understood in order for the truth to be realized . Being able to discuss differences of opinion intelligently is vital and respect is needed to do that. Loyalty to principles can sometimes be compromised by a political party policy that may be just plain incorrect to some. Just two examples of the importance of this topic, two past Presidents , John F. Kennedy, who had several Conservative beliefs. And Ronald Reagan , who was a Democrat , until the early.1950 ‘ s . President Reagan , I believe , was one of the best Presidents the country ever had. And if more Democrats looked to the Conservative beliefs and ideas that motivated President Kennedy, that would be a very significant improvement. In the interest of and spirit of, love of the United States of America and love of Liberty.
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Why has the GOP changed from a party of limited government free market capitalism to a party of hate? In the 1980s the GOP cut taxes and regulations. Today the top priority of the GOP is attacking dems and they even attack other members of the GOP for being like the GOP of the 1980s calling them RINOs.
Ok. When will we put Biden and his son in jail along with Biden’s brother, niece and several other
Biden’s. I’m sick of hearing how guilty they are. Lets get on with it. The case has been made.
We don’t need a trial. The dems know that Biden cannot possibly be re-elected ( but we elected him once) and they also know that Trump is the probable repub nominee and it makes them
mess in their diapers since they know the SHERIFF will gut them when he is president. Trump
remains the biggest figure in politics and DC has not a full nights sleep since his election in 2016.
Trump is the grim reaper. Even the repubs fear him. Half of the GOP will screw Trump also.
I do believe this may be a right good time to list the Eleven Principles of a Reagan Conservative ( from the book by Paul Kengor entitled ” The Eleven Principles of a Reagan Conservative ” ) Freedom, Faith, Family, Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life , American Exceptionalism, the Founders Wisdom and Vision , Lower Taxes , Limited Government, Peace through Strength, Anti Communism, Belief in the Individual These principles were good when Ronald Reagan was President and they are good now. The Spirit of the Declaration of Independence was good in 1776 , and it is good now.
A regular American who did what Trump did would have received 100 million years in a supermax jail without parole.
Why hasn’t Stormy Baby been arrested and charged with prostitution!? Last I heard when sex was paid for it was a chargeable offense!And so is using federal monies to weaponize the prosecutors of New York!
So no one is above the law , how funny that they would use an excuse like that to arrest the Trump over a personal issue that is a misdemeanor, but obummer got away with breaking the federal law Hilary with her E-mails and then some Biden with Afghanistan, and a number of top secret documents found at multiple places that Biden owns , after raiding Trumps home for top secret documents, and Biden wasn’t even a president to declassifie the doc’s he had , and the open boarders , collusion with multiple countries making millions in the process. Where does it end with the democrackheads, and why hasn’t anything been done . I can not belive America has come to this point where the innocent is convicted and the who need to be held accountable for their crimes wich everyone knows in America that they have done the crimes , still get away with the crime . I’m ashamed to be an American what a laughing joke are country has become to the world..
BRAVO!!!!! Thank you! I’m affraid the “Deep State”, a percentage of Republicans, Democrats, and the filthy rich funders of the “Deep State” (You know the ones that threaten Supreme Court Justices, or Judges, Senators, Governors, Mayors, etc.), if they try to do their job, that they will go after their family. In November of 2020, a lot of us were in shock. Not in our country, where our ancestors fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice, to uphold our freedoms. Many of us are still in shock? We were told by the EVIL EMPIRE, to shut up! There is no Democracy anymore. The EVIL EMPIRE, which owns the Judicial System, and the Military, are now in control. I would love to be wrong about this, but I’m not. The greatest country in the world, has been taken over, by the “DEEP STATE EVIL EMPIRE”!
Actions of the Democratic Party against former President Trump give them the title of persecution party. I feel with certainty that this will be a thorn in the Democrat’s side before long.
Yes, the writer is perfectly correct. Biden, DoJ, FBI and Dems attacked PRESIDENT TRUMP non stops since Sleepy Joe (not even waking up after 2 years in the White House yet) and his administration took office. That’s so sad and so bad luck for Americans now and in the future. Things need change and change soon. Thank you so much Mr. Robert Charles.
Thank you for that article, Sir. You hit the nail on the head. Americans have had enough BS from this illegitimate President and administration! If they go through with this, they’ll be taken to the wood shed post haste. We The People are pissed off!!
Who The Hell are these traitors Scum Of America Put Them in Prison To Clean Up The Country is Americans That Stupid That they Put up with these freaks
Why is this man still being prosecuted while the resident crook in office and his son get away with their underhand activities? Because this is all part of the plan to turn us into a one world government where the elite control everything even the new digital currency they are trying to control us with. Trump was just in the way so no matter what he says or does they will come after him.
… hallmark characteristic of a free market economy: currency divisibility. The US$10 bill in my pocket carries exactly the same value, as the ten-spot in yours. Hallmark characteristic of a free society, equal rights under the law, and judicial divisibility. Were America a free society, it would be Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and his son, in the grey bar motel, sharing a 12 by 8 with lonesome, misunderstood Bubba –
… political suicide for the Democrat political party, a Trump indictment only serves to strengthen the resolve of free-thinking Americans that the democrat political party is, indeed, wholly devoid reason, hopelessly subverted, and has fumbled its axiom for fair efficient, objective governance –
Absolutely. Being President of the United States of America should give every former president a pass on crimes he’s committed, before, during, or after he leaves office. He has to let others suffer for his transgressions, but he himself must remain immune. All hail the new political order!
Actually classified docs were on her illegal server, as well as private cell phones that she and her staff used and subsequently destroyed with hammers. All by “accident” of course. As for Biden, there were at 10 boxes of documents recovered from his various houses going all the way back to his years in the Senate. Neither Senators nor V.P.’s have any constitional right to declassify classified documents, so Biden broke several federal laws going back almost 20 years. None of the docs recovered from Biden homes were secured in any way. Meanwhile the entire cache of docs, less than one box from Trump consisted of letters from foreign leaders about grateful they were from the United States. None considered classified. He did have two empty folders marked classified, which just demonstrates the govt marks almost everything as classified.
Here’s a suggestion for you while you still live in your parent’s house; actually know what you’re talking about rathering than just ranting incoherently about things you clearly know nothing about. No need to reply and thank me, as I don’t want to keep you up past your bed time.
… it’s the usual suspects, behind the curtain pulling strings, on this kangaroo Trump indictment:
1). the Clintons –
2). the Obamas –
3). the Bushes –
4). the limousine liberals (e.g., Hollywood)
4). Bejing-Biden, and his CCP handlers –
Democrats want another J6 opportunity, for which to declare their political opposition, domenstic terrorists –
Leftwing loons intentionally fail to understand Trump is the ONLY candidate that is actually standing up for them. Clinton, Obama, Biden, Sanders, Pelosi, Schumer et al. are all multi-millionaires that never worked a day in their lives. Their millions came as a result of their “public service”. Its called a clue. Wake up!
Your post, no different than any other TDS post, is unhinged, lacks facts, and is detached from reality.
That’s really dumb, unless you’re being sarcastic. I guess you’ve never heard of the Green River killer. Or Bill Clinton.
I would love to see Trump run as VP in the next POTUS election to bolster the strength of the GOP ticket! It would give him a more direct chance to guide policy within a smaller realm of physical health effects,
The DemocRats are so paniced that demeaning Trump is a top agenda item for them. Doing so with their relentess lies, exaggerations, and phony allegations (with much help from a DeomcRat heavily biased news media. They are girding their attack early. They know that Biden got them a 4 yr slot to Communise the government and pad the wallets of DemocRat encumbents … but they also know that the majority of mainstream American voters are firmly aware of Biden’s incompetence and partisan bias in his term … and that will turn the trick … especially if the Republicans put more emphasis on monitoring the performance of honest voting!
Clean up New York City!Let the Police do their job! That DA needs to go!I’m voting fir DTrump! Even if I have to write his name on my Ballot!I am sick and tired of the Democrat Party and their corrupt agenda!
What a great publication and piece. Balanced, incisive and driven thinking. I don’t understand how you got here with the mission that sounds like AARP coupled with Hayek and Friedman, but my hat is off. Thank you.
this is all bull from the left – they will do anything to get Trump out of the picture, well forget it bc Trump and his base are stronger than ever! the left knows President Trump will go after corruptness and that scares them – don’t say the left is fair bc if you have common sense you know they are scroundrels, sleezes and everything else you can think of
Excellent article.
President Trump has done nothing wrong.
Statue of Limitations has already passed for this Witch Hunt.
But DICTATOR Beijing biden who has committed High Treason from election fraud, election interference to Illegal and Unconstitutional lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and mask mandates, and including Illegal and Unconstitutional Bills signed along with executive orders (by Over a Thousand), corruption, taking money from Communist China (TREASON), protecting Terrorist antifa and Terrorist blm (Bailing out their Banks and Never charged for RIOTING), weaponization of ALL government agencies ATTACKING AMERICANS with censorship (Illegal and Unconstitutional J6 committee) and Illegal and Unconstitutional RAIDS for political purposes and constantly Attacking our Constitutional Rights for political and Communist support reasons.
And this isn’t the full list of High Treason committed by DICTATOR Beijing biden along with SELLING OUT the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
Yet, this COWARD, goes after PRESIDENT TRUMP who made the UNITED STATES #1 across the board and followed the U.S. Constitution and the law while DICTATOR Beijing biden continues BREAKING the LAW and DESTROYING the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
Above all, WHY isn’t Hunter arrested for being a Communist China Agent who never registered as a Foreign Agent and Treason along with his daddy for HIGH TREASON?
So man man who has had his charity, University all shut down for fraud is somehow above the law?
Communist use their version of the law to arrest and dispose of their political rivals. Here we are. United States of America operating as a Communist country. Are all the sheep happy now? Keep listening to Pravda, oh, I mean network news, and believing the B.S.
This will take some thought to sink in on Dems in general.
Biden can threaten Putin and Xi and anyone else he wants night and day.
However, Biden is no long-term threat to anyone, and can hardly even defend the United States itself, because by participating in the fox hunt against Trump, half the country more or less gives only lip service at best to Biden as President and have only minimal loyalty to him and his Administration.
A nation divided as Lincoln said–this time by its own President–not a rebel force, is a paper tiger abroad. This was actually a huge problem for Bush as well concerning the Iraq War, where he at least started with popular, bi-partisan support, but even after 911, at the first trouble, the opposition deserted him.
So, indict away, Dems.
You are only undercutting America all over the world. For the same reason Ford pardoned Nixon–to keep him from continuing to divide the country–is the reason to pull in your anti-Trump horns, especially on this so-called offense that isn’t even a traffic ticket.
You are a USEFUL IDIOT.
I have a feeling that the Democrats know this indictment will go nowhere, but it will serve the purpose of A) reminding women that Trump is a serial cheater, B) baiting Trump to say something mean about Stormy Daniels (to ensure that any women on the fence about voting for him will be repulsed all over again, C)emboldening Republicans to stand behind Trump and nominate him and D)baiting Trump loyalists into protesting in order to get the campaign videos they need to remind voters that Trump will be a never-ending Jan 6. And a bonus E)getting as many white, bearded, sunglassed, flak-vested men in said videos as possible to paint the white supremacist narrative and damage Trump’s black vote. I think the Dems want Trump to be the nominee and this indictment will turn off the independent voters he badly needs to win.
“pumped by Democrat politicians, as if law no longer matters.”
That is because law no longer does matter. Communists are so close their ultimate goal of total control that hiding their intent no longer matters. Look at everything they get away with, thanks to a complicit media. Hitler did the same thing, so did Lenin until they felt they had enough power(re useful idiots) to apply armed police pressure(gestapo/KGB).
“when he encouraged raucous protestors on January 6th”
He didn’t encourage them to be raucous, he told them to march and protest PEACEFULLY!
It was the communists, calling themselves the “democrat party” along with the pravda media complex that encouraged the likes of BLM, ANTIFA and others to protest violently. Even to the point of raising funds to bail out those arrested!
GET IT RIGHT!!!!!!!
Many of us do not watch MSNBC, CNBC, or CNN anymore. BOTH parties do NOT watch these stations anymore. Future journalists are not getting the example of ethical conduct. The above mentioned media outlets; have become nothing but brainwashing, propaganda tools. You turn on the stations and its ALL ABOUT THE ANATHEMA TRUMP. THAT IS IT IN A NUTSHELL. IT is boring repetitive and caddy. Notice; the Trump stories resume after the banks begin to fold, the House finds information about; China To Biden Family large payments, and global news is deliberately dampened. Trump is the subject to distract, detract, and anathematize. He is the equivalence of: Ebenezer Scrooge, Ivan the Terrible, Henry the VIII, Bloody Mary, and a Virulent Pathogen. If you just happen to mention that you study both sides of the Civil War; Trump is immediately compared to a Southern Sympathizer! It must be hell being a history professor these days! The Justice Department is embarrassing. Do they really need to participate in the ‘drawing and quartering’ of President Trump? He has already been chewed into little pulp pieces by our unethical media. Enough is enough; journalists are down to the ‘bone marrow’ already. There is little left to dissect! One is reminded of the song: ‘Pick-A-Little Talk-A-Little’ (from ‘The Music Man’ 1962 musical.) ‘Journalism’ has been reduced to a visit to a village beauty salon; where all you hear is who contracted what venereal disease from whom. It is just that disgusting and lacking in any journalistic ethics or professionalism. Surely, even the stations themselves are sick and tired of these tactics! May God Watch Over And Bless These United States of America!
I’m in the mood for some retribution, and Trump is the guy who can deliver. Democrats know they can’t lie and cheat on the scale of 2020, so this is their alternative.