Indicting President Trump: what could possibly go wrong?

Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith, a noted critic of former President Donald Trump, answered that question in a guest essay, published today in the New York Times. He warned NYT readers [Sid and Doris Bonkers, of Camden NJ. Ed.] that while they might enjoy the idea of Trump being indicted and possibly imprisoned, the other half of the country did not see it that way, and would seek revenge. 

Walt won't pay to read the Times, so these excerpts (but not the cartoons*) are taken from the Breitbart News report.

This deeply unfortunate timing [of the indictments] looks political and has potent political implications even if it is not driven by partisan motivations. And it is the Biden administration’s responsibility, as its Justice Department reportedly delayed the investigation of Mr. Trump for a year and then rushed to indict him well into G.O.P. primary season. The unseemliness of the prosecution will most likely grow if the Biden campaign or its proxies use it as a weapon against Mr. Trump if he is nominated.

… And then there is the perceived unfairness in the department’s treatment of Mr. Biden’s son Hunter, in which the department has once again violated the cardinal principle of avoiding any appearance of untoward behavior in a politically sensitive investigation. Credible whistle-blowers have alleged wrongdoingand bias in the investigation, though the Trump-appointed prosecutor denies it. And the department’s plea arrangement with Hunter Biden came apart, in ways that fanned suspicions of a sweetheart deal, in response to a few simple questions by a federal judge.

… The prosecution may well have terrible consequences beyond the department for our politics and the rule of law. It will probably inspire ever more aggressive tit-for-tat investigations of presidential actions in office by future Congresses and by administrations of the opposing party, to the detriment of sound government. 

BN passes on an Axios.com report, also published today, that the "shock value" of successive indictments — he has faced three thus far, and could soon face a fourth — has dropped, even as the once-and-future President has solidified his position at the top of the Republican presidential primary polls.

* The cartoons are by Gary Varvel, a Christian, conservative, cartoonist and speaker. Mr Varvel's Views From The Right newsletter includes his cartoons, links to conservative commentary and his essays on current events from Biblical worldview.

Meanwhile, the investigation into "collusion" with Russia continues

While researching yesterday's post on the successes of President Trump, Ed. stumbled across a website we hadn't seen before: Indystar.com, which (to our surprise) is part of the USA Today network. They have a columnist and cartoonist -- there's a parlay for ya -- who goes by the name of Gary Varvel. From a quick read of some of his posts, Walt takes Mr Varvel for an evangelical Christian, which is almost as good as being a traditional Catholic.

Mr Varvel shares our views on President Trump. Click here to read "Trump’s successes have been underreported", which, by an amazing coincidence was posted yesterday. His list of the achievements of the Trump administration is more complete than ours [yet more succinct. Ed.]. [Whose fault is that? Walt]

If you liked that, you can sign up for Gary Varvel's e-newsletter Views from the Right. Tell him Walt sent ya, and wish him MERRY CHRISTMAS!