National & Minnesota Report
Since Thursday’s announcement of the 37 count Federal Indictment of Donald J Trump in Miami all nearly all news outlets—including Fox News, and NewsMax—blogs, and social media sites have been abuzz with a variety of articles, analyses, and speculations about what is set to transpire. While being a little late for the dance, we wanted to offer our own assessment of the situation at hand.
Trump has a co-conspirator named in this Indictment which is his valet, Waltine Nauta. Both appeared in court yesterday, but because Nauta did not have local counsel he was not yet formally charged.
The full Indictment can be viewed here https://www.justice.gov/storage/US_v_Trump-Nauta_23-80101.pdf
Witnessing History
Traditionally. history is written by the victors, but it was often the imperialistic perspective that became the standard line. In this case, the subject matter of Trump is buttressed by the narrative of one word he despises, loser, and this is supported by the following facts, except for his Electoral College Victory in 2016, nothing he has touched since has prevailed. Because he lost the popular vote in 2016, largely the candidates he endorsed in 2018 lost and the US House changed hands. In 2020, he lost, and again many he supported did as well, and if January 6th, is viewed in a simple context, he was a sore loser and continues to be such.
Based on playground rules. Trump’s demeanor is usually treated by others by snubbing the poor performer until he adopts a better attitude but, in this case, he is surrounded by a cadre of sycophants and bootlickers, who embolden him at nearly every turn.
We will once again note, the education level of Trump supporters in 2016, was less than a high school graduation. The simplicity of his grievance-based election efforts truly plays the right chords with those who feel slighted and passed by in our society and is outright rejected by those who aspire to strive and do more. The Trump Pity Party is on full display.
What is the Motivation or Intent?
In legislative politics, especially on a legislative floor, it is improper to question the motives of a colleague and is deemed out of order. On the campaign trail, or outside the chamber it is a commonly made attack. In the courtroom, motivation may be demurred but is not required to prove, just the question of intent hangs like the Sword of Damocles.
The credibility of Donald J Trump’s words is knowingly suspect. During his Presidency, he stated 30,573 lies or untruths during the four years in office. Questions about his veracity are completely justified, he tells lies before the truth even when it is not necessary. Expectations of perjury are not beyond the pale.
Irony of Message
The most significant irony we have seen in politics is the outright rejection of the message Trump, that he/himself, espoused in 2016 against Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) which resulted in chants of “Lock Her Up.” He focused on her personal email server and the issue of confidential and classified material not being well protected as a disqualifier for eligibility for the Presidency. Hey Mirror, do not reflect me.
TRUMP’s Public Statements on Classified Information
22. As a candidate for President of the United States, TRUMP made the following public statements, among others, about classified information:
a. On August 18, 2016, TRUMP stated, “In my administration I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information. No one will be above the law.”
b. On September 6, 2016, TRUMP stated, “We also need to fight this battle by collecting intelligence and then protecting, protecting our classified secrets. . . . We can’t have someone in the Oval Office who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word confidential or classified.”
c. On September 7, 2016, TRUMP stated, “[O]ne of the first things we must do is to enforce all classification rules and to enforce all laws relating to the handling of classified information.”
d. On September 19, 2016, TRUMP stated, “We also need the best protection of classified information.”
e. On November 3, 2016, TRUMP stated, “Service members here in North Carolina have risked their lives to acquire classified intelligence to protect our country.”
Seems like a good time to apply some idioms here. Is this the pot calling the kettle black? In this case, this is the bed he made and now he may need to lie in it.
Calling on Those to Come to His Aid
As we listened to the bevy of defenders trying to conflate the issues Clinton’s email server and the discovery of classified documents at the residence of President Joe Biden (D) from his time as Vice-President or that of former Vice-President Mike Pence (R), who was not charged with any crime, there are material differences. All these parties openly participated with the National Archives and Records Administration and the Justice Department, while Trump actively engaged in a game of Hide and Seek or Bait and Switch both with the Justice Department and his own attorneys. Causing false statements to be made to Justice and the FBI.
He actively tried to retain documents when there would be no case if he had merely released all to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Calls against a two-tiered system of Justice for Republicans versus Democrats may seem legitimate to those who are strict defenders but it is not when viewed with a discerning eye. Their arguments fall on their proverbial faces because the ham-handed actor here was Donald J Trump.
It is his kleptomania, malignant narcissism, and egoism on full display. This is further enhanced by his appreciation of dictators like Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. He likely would be just as comfortable with Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, and Augusto Pinochet.
Now, the Presidential campaign is underway, the narrative that all Republicans will need to account for is the grievance campaign of Trump and the circular logical fallacy he espouses of “If they are coming for me then they are coming for you next. His victimization effort is sad at best and downright sad to witness and draws in those who feel wronged in some way.
Doubling Down
Regarding all Federal charges, Trump needs to go full out. If convicted it will be the only way he can pardon himself and others by being reelected as President. This will not protect him from the state or civil cases in Georgia, New York, or elsewhere.
It will be a sad test on the fiber of our nation if we were to ever elect a convicted felon to any office, let alone the Presidency where he can scrub his own record, but in this case, facts are far more interesting than fiction. As has been said before, if the writers for House of Cards, had brought forward the same series of scenarios fraught from the campaign, election, and term of Donald J Trump, they would have been fired.
Conclusion
None dare call it treason, especially the actions of Trump, but they should be. Treason is an act against the state and a threat to its existence. Why, did he have a need for these documents, and what did he plan to do with them? It is clear he has a cavalier attitude with laws, rules, and civil procedure let alone common decency.
Did he intend to trade these materials, using them as a bargaining chip? Was he looking to gain leverage in some regard? Since everything he is about focuses on him in all regards what was his angle? We may never know, but maybe just maybe he will be convicted and treated as the true treasonous person he is.
Hang’em High.