In the 235 years from the certification of the United States Constitution on June 21, 1788, until the indictment of Donald Trump on March 30, 2023, none of our 46 presidents, whether in office or in retirement, had ever faced a formal criminal charge.
Since March 30, furthermore, Trump has been indicted twice more on numerous counts. More charges likely are pending.
In fairness to the national memory, two presidents other than Trump, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, were impeached by Congress, although not convicted. Only Trump was impeached twice.
But despite this sorry record of presidential arrogance, turpitude, mendacity and narcissism, unprecedented in the annals of a proud nation, Trump remains the apparent favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Never mind that, in addition to his legal woes, he lost the popular vote by clear margins in both of his previous campaigns.
Unless one believes the entire legal system of this country to be fundamentally rotten and the accused to somehow be a misunderstood saint, why in all eternity would anyone support Trump? Is the GOP so barren of talent and character that it must settle for a liar and scofflaw?
Donald Trump has lost the popular tally twice. He would certainly — and even more deservedly — lose thrice.
Joseph Tipler
Centralia
