Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to surrender for arraignment in New York on Tuesday, following an indictment issued against him by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump is accused of concealing a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Despite pushback, Bragg’s indictment has held up in court and is expected to proceed, with Trump facing over 30 counts related to business fraud.
Mona Charen Argues the Indictment Plays to Trump’s Strengths
Mona Charen, a former Reagan speechwriter and conservative columnist, argues that Bragg’s indictment does not undermine the law. While many Republican leaders have exhibited “extremist/incendiary” behavior in defending Trump, Charen notes that their rhetoric is doing more to impede the rule of law than anything they accuse Democrats of doing.
Charen highlights that the indictment plays to Trump’s strengths, allowing him to portray himself as an aggrieved victim of the Democrats and the “deep state.” Trump’s polling lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential race has reportedly widened in the wake of the news of the indictment.
Republicans Raise Concerns Over Precedent Set by Indictment
Some Republican officeholders view Trump’s indictment as motivated purely by politics, with charges not about enforcing the law. There are concerns among Republicans that indicting a former president unless there is an unequivocal violation representing a significant offense is extremely dangerous for democracy.
Furthermore, Republicans warn that Trump’s indictment on multiple charges sets a dangerous precedent for future political prosecutions that puts the nation on a precarious slippery slope. Indicting Trump over crimes related to paying an adult film actress will make future former presidents and political figures more susceptible to politically motivated prosecutions.
Democrats Believe No One is Above the Law
Democrats counter that no person is above the law, regardless of whether they served in the Oval Office. Some even express concern over the targeting of conduct that has been publicly known for five years and passed over by previous prosecutors. The precedent will lead to political prosecutions brought for meritorious reasons or to advance the careers of prosecutors.
While critics of Bragg’s case believe the statute of limitations will be used to try to tie the payment to an effort to conceal another crime, most likely a violation of campaign finance law. Experts say the precedent set by indicting Trump will reverberate into the future, setting a predicate for another line to be crossed.
Trump’s Political Campaign Responds
Trump’s political team is discussing how to best campaign off the indictment. Some speculate that Trump is planning to deliver a full-throated defense against the New York case during a primetime address from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night. However, former Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called for Trump to drop out of the presidential race now that he is facing criminal charges.
Overall, both Democrats and Republicans have differing views on Bragg’s case against Trump. While Democrats maintain that no individual, even a former president, should be above the law, Republicans warn against setting dangerous precedents when it comes to politically motivated prosecutions. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, many are watching as Trump becomes the first former president in history to face criminal charges.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
