The Rule of Law is now being emphasized and underlined in a Manhattan courtroom where former President Donald Trump is facing 34 felony counts.
He is charged with falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments allegedly made to a pornographic-movie actress before the 2016 election.
The trial is historic because it is the first time a former U.S. president has been a defendant in a criminal court case.
The Rule of Law, along with free and fair elections, is the very foundation of representative democracies. It is defined as “a durable system of laws, institutions, norms and community commitment that delivers four universal principles: accountability, just law, open government and accessible impartial justice.”
Under the direction of Judge Juan Merchan, 12 jury members and six alternates have been selected from among scores of prospective jurors who were peppered with questions by attorneys for the defense and for the prosecution.
Like all defendants, Trump is entitled to a fair trial and must be assumed not guilty until the 12-member jury delivers its verdict – not guilty or guilty of one or more of the charges. If convicted, Trump has the right to file an appeal.
The trial is bound to be problematic because defendant Trump has long been loudly proclaiming “witch hunt” about 90-plus charges filed against him in four major cases, including alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election voting results and keeping at his home many boxes of federal classified documents.
The current trial is likely to erupt into pandemonium for one big reason — Donald Trump’s big mouth. During the jury-selection process, he sneered, scoffed, scowled and made gestures as many of the prospective jurors were questioned.
Several times, Judge Merchan had to reprimand Trump and even imposed gag orders on him. And if there’s one thing that Trump cannot tolerate, that drives him into a tantrum rage, is when someone tells him what to do or how to behave. He’s always viewed himself as Mr. One-and-Only, the Boss, the Only One who can “fix it.” He’s an example of narcissism run rampant, and many of his former aides, department heads and attorneys have spoken up about his stubborn egotism during his years in the White House.
It is possible that Trump might have to “attend” the current trial remotely by closed-circuit TV — away from the courtroom, locked in a room where he can rant and rave, throw tantrums and howl about how these “witch hunts” were instigated by President Joe Biden and his “crooked family.”
But one thing is for sure. Trump is going to learn the hard way that he does not have “total immunity” as he has absurdly claimed, that he is not sent by God to “Make America Great Again.” And though he may think he is high and mighty and untouchable, he is like all other Americans not above the law.
Even if he is found not guilty in the cases yet to come, his court-related humiliations are bound to exhaust him and make him even angrier. What will remain is a shell of a man hell-bent on vengeance, a dangerous man who — if elected as President – would eagerly, vindictively destroy this representative democracy, its Constitution and its Rule of Law.
