Sara Rubin here, thinking about how an ordinary event in the criminal justice system played out today. Twelve regular people who were selected to serve on a jury in New York City did one of the most basic and essential tasks that form the basis of that system. After hearing the case against a defendant facing 34 felony counts, they deliberated and weighed the evidence and the defense. They found the defendant guilty on all 34 counts.
Of course, this is no ordinary case—the defendant is a former United States president (and current candidate), Donald Trump. But even as Trump has shaken the institutions that make up our free, democratic system of government, the basics of our criminal justice system apply even to someone who has held the highest office in our country.
“We have a system in place where we have people judged by a jury of our own peers. That is the baseline for democracy,” says Jesus Valenzuela, communications chair for the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee. “This conviction reinforces that.”
The Central Committee activates especially for elections, and 2024 is a presidential election year, meaning they will be busy. But Valenzuela’s message is that institutions that undergird our democracy are in motion all the time, every day, and we need to pay attention all the time. “Democracy shouldn't be something we look at just every two or four years during an election,” he says.
He expects it will motivate voters who might otherwise sit out the election. “There are voters that will look at this and have a bit of hope,” Valenzuela says. “Trump really has been getting away with everything. Our systems work very slowly, but if we trust the system, we will get the outcome we have today.”
Of course, the system is what we have as Americans, even when we disagree—and it’s Trump himself who is determined to undermine the credibility of the system. In remarks immediately after the verdict was read out, Trump spoke to reporters and reiterated the same talking points that have become familiar: “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt,” he said. “This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people.”
November 5 is, of course, Election Day. There is, of course, a chance that Americans will vote for a convicted felon—partly because of his repetition of unproven claims like “corrupt,” “rigged,” “disgraceful.” If you say it enough times, the system that exists to instill trust and integrity becomes in and of itself a source of doubt and loses credibility.
Whether or not he is reelected, this is the great damage that Trump has inflicted and continues to inflict: chipping away at the systems that we must rely on. It is a triumph of democracy when a basic procedure can hold even a powerful person to account—but it will require voters to endorse it, on Nov. 5 and every day until then.
(4) comments
Just remembered that wonderful AG for NY doesn't even go after those that are beating old women. Amazing how "no one" is below the law
Aside from the fact that Mr. Trump has made numerous poor moral choices, we should look objectively at his situation in this case. It reeks of selective prosecution, and I suspect will be reversed for that reason. The prosecutor campaigned on a 'get Trump' platform, then after being elected he was unable to find actual commonly-filed crimes, so invented a 2-stage crime to get around the statute of limitations. Reportedly Mr. Trump is the only person ever so charged. Further, while I suspect that the evidence by the convicted perjurer might suffice for a civil suit, I believe the appellate court will find that his testimony was insufficient for a finding of criminal guilt. In any event, the appellate process will likely last years, keeping people entertained for a long time to come.
yes, couldn''t agree more with the above comment. The TDS that some on the other side of aisle boggles my mind. Never was any evidence brought forth for the charges, their star witness admitted to theft and is getting away with it. This is scarry because if it can happen to one person, no matter who they are, it can happen to you Sara. Sad, you can't beat him in an honest manner so you make up false charges. Sounds like Soviet Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba-pick you dictatorship type counter. But, you might admire those countries. Sad.
I wonder if Trump had sought the same charges against Clinton, Obama or Biden, would you be rejoicing????? I dought it. Sad.
Literally mind-boggling that you cannot see this for what it is, a true sham trial. A banana republic and the final nail in the republic. Not convicted of any war crime, great misdeed, anything that can remotely be considered a crime, but giving an attorney money to pay a porn star and trying to cook the books. This is political, done by democrats.
Lastly, as a "journalist" it is funny that you write this while having clearly not followed the continued legal errors that occurred during the trial. Due process was objectively violated and I suggest you go back to high school politics to understand this. If not, maybe stick to writing about things you actually understand--farmers markets, road closures, the weather.
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