California Sen. Kamala Harris says that if she's elected president, her administration's Department of Justice would likely pursue criminal obstruction of justice charges against a former President Donald Trump.
I know lots of people will clutch their pearls in agony over “precedent” and “norms.”
What are your thoughts?
(By the way, this is a new thing from the Editorial Board. Click the button to reply to this thread and join the conversation. I’ll jump in after I’ve published today’s edition of the daily newsletter.)
Honestly. If we get Trump out of office I think the Democratics should move forward, stop talking about him, and take him out of our country’s narrative. In other words, treat him like a blip on the radar screen and not a continuing story for Republicans to rally behind.
good! If our national project is going to have any hope of succeeding over the long term, Trump and co. must face real punishment. Not because of any deterrent effect, (which may or may not exist) but because of faith in the system of laws. The American system will flat out cease to function if the belief that 'bad things ultimately happen to the worst people who break the staunchest rules' is shattered. If ex-President Trump is not punished for his crimes, then I see no way that that reality won't come to fruition.
I wouldn't pursue the obstruction of justice if that's the only criminal offence that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It's not important enough for that. Now if any of the other threads, the conspiracy ('collusion') thread or any of the 20 still under investigation, produce enough evidence for a conviction then yes, I would like to see those prosecuted.
My quarrel is with the focus on Trump himself. I'd be happy to see him walk free and sink into dementia as long as he is willing to testify against his co-conspirators.
Honestly. If we get Trump out of office I think the Democratics should move forward, stop talking about him, and take him out of our country’s narrative. In other words, treat him like a blip on the radar screen and not a continuing story for Republicans to rally behind.
good! If our national project is going to have any hope of succeeding over the long term, Trump and co. must face real punishment. Not because of any deterrent effect, (which may or may not exist) but because of faith in the system of laws. The American system will flat out cease to function if the belief that 'bad things ultimately happen to the worst people who break the staunchest rules' is shattered. If ex-President Trump is not punished for his crimes, then I see no way that that reality won't come to fruition.
I wouldn't pursue the obstruction of justice if that's the only criminal offence that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It's not important enough for that. Now if any of the other threads, the conspiracy ('collusion') thread or any of the 20 still under investigation, produce enough evidence for a conviction then yes, I would like to see those prosecuted.
My quarrel is with the focus on Trump himself. I'd be happy to see him walk free and sink into dementia as long as he is willing to testify against his co-conspirators.