Twice Confirmed
Now that Donald J. Trump was reelected as the 47th US President for a second term on November 5, he will be remembered for several ignominious (or less than ignominious) Firsts: four criminal cases, wide-ranging criminal conduct – before and during presidency.
First criminal conviction. Indicted, opprobrious, legally proven, court-sanctioned slurs, dishonorable, stigmatic, infamous. Hush money ($130,000) payment during presidency to porn artist, Ms. Stormy Daniels.
He will be the first American president to have defeated two women for the world’s highest office. He will also be the first president to have been impeached twice. He will be the first president to have four criminal cases to head the White House. Trump will be the first U.S. president found guilty by 12-member jury for fraudulently disguising the payment of money. Convicted for criminal contempt, fined $10,000 for violating gag order 10 times and found guilty on all 34 counts of felony charges; delayed sentencing, now due on November 26, 2024; may apply for immunity ruling already granted by the U. S. Supreme Court.
Donald Trump has many other charges piled up against him. These include falsifying his business records; violated income tax laws to avoid income tax, paid only $750. Trump was charged with interference in Federal Election, January 6, 2020, ‘wide-ranging attempts to subvert 45th President Joe Biden’s White House win.
Since Donald Trump has been reelected president, he could pardon himself. It is, however, not yet legally settled that he can pardon himself; decision only after swearing in.
Besides, there are several other cases under the corrupt organization act – impersonating a public officer; conspiracy to commit forgery; filing false documents. Perhaps a key case of great significance relates to Trump, while leaving White House in January 2021, ‘taking away several boxes of highly sensitive national security documents…and ‘stashed those documents haphazardly throughout his Mar-a-Lago (Florida) resort and obstructed government’s repeated attempts to retrieve them…he showed these documents to the persons not authorized to see them… A trial case was postponed indefinitely.
Thirty-two felony counts of ‘willful retention of national defence information, in violation of the espionage law; six felony counts of obstruction-related crimes, and two more felony counts of false statements…Some of these cases were postponed by the judges appointed by Donald Trump. In most of these cases too, the reelected president could selfpardon, after he takes over the White House in January 2025.
Meanwhile, though most mainstream U.S. print, online and electronic media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The USA Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, CBS, etc., TV networks have been analytically critical of the Trump presidency, and the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. On the other hand, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, and The Guardian have been less than critical.
Finally, a two-page NY Times center spread ‘shouted’ through bold fonts:
“America knows Donald Trump. He is unfit to lead. Watch him. Listen to those who know him best…(27) opinion writers. He tried to subvert an election remains threat to democracy. He helped overturn Roe (Supreme Court anti-abortion verdict), with terrible consequences. His corruption and lawlessness go beyond elections: It’s his whole ethos. He lies without limit. If he’s reelected, the GOP – his Republican Party won’t restrain him. Mr. Trump will use the government to go after opponents. He will pursue a cruel policy of mass deportations. He will wreak havoc on the poor, the middle class and employers. Another Trump term will damage the climate, shatter alliances and strengthen autocrats. Americans should demand better. Vote.
