For senators defending Trump, retaliation tops ethics

Eight Republican senators were outraged by the unanimous guilty verdict on 34 felony counts against former President Donald Trump. Signed A petition pledging not to take any action against any political or judicial appointments made by Joe Biden, the duly elected President of the United States of America.

To underscore the level of retaliation they would impose, outraged senators also vowed not to expedite consideration of Democratic bills not directly related to public safety.

For the record: The jury in the aforementioned case was selected by opposing counsel in accordance with New York State law. All 12 jurors and the six alternate jurors were average citizens representing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Potential jurors who showed evidence of relevant bias may be inclined to rule in the case. in front After hearing and considering the evidence, trial was excused.

In fact, there was nothing unusual about the jury selection process, the court discipline, or the behavior of attorneys, witnesses, defendants, or spectators, all of which were carefully monitored and controlled by a highly competent and respected judge.

still, Petition “The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally transformed our politics in ways that are un-American,” reads the bill, signed by eight senators who are leaders in the Republican Party’s MAGA faction. Is that true?

In addition to the factual errors (the White House had no role in filing the complaint or prosecuting the case), the apparent legal misrepresentations were truly astonishing.

Surprisingly, five of the eight co-signers teeth Trained, Experienced lawyerall of whom are graduates of reputable law schools. The avowed representative of this group, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), is in fact Served as a clerk for a Supreme Court justice!Are they really comfortable defending what they say to a panel of former law professors? It’s hard to imagine.

I am a physician, but any paying attention public knows that the charges against the former president were brought by the duly elected District Attorney of Manhattan for violations of New York State law and were in no way directed or influenced by President Biden.

In fact, among the eight signatories to Lee’s statement are senators who are physicians, who support anti-vaccination bills and was denied Election results 2020. One other non-lawyer, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), gained notoriety for withholding confirmation of over 400 key military promotions in the Senate because he disagreed with the U.S. military’s policy on abortion.

Lest you think of these senators as political outliers, the data suggests quite the opposite. one third Ten percent of sitting senators and representatives did not acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. At least two Supreme Court justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, have held joint or controversial federal court positions. Seems to be shared Sentiments of federal elected officials.

moreover, Tens of millions 100% of Americans belong to the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, which is united around the belief that the election was “stolen” from Trump and other conspiracy theories promoted by the former president.

I am not in a position to understand the psychology of MAGA supporters.

But I have a question: When people like the senators who signed the petition (more than half of them are lawyers, all of them are educated, all of them have taken the same constitutional oath), wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, what do they see?

How will they justify their public identity as Trump followers when they fully embrace the dangerous ideas that Trump has set as priorities for the next administration: constant misinformation, misunderstanding of international geopolitics, and love affairs with dictators? Immigration What about his gross and irresponsible treatment of people with disabilities? His denial of the January 6th riots? His blatant misogyny?

And now their brave leader is a convicted felon.

So, fellow lawyers in the Senate, do you expect the American people, who are entrusting you with their national security and economic prosperity, to feel comfortable with the position you are taking now? Do you want the American people to believe your absurd position that Trump’s trial was somehow controlled by Biden and that the jury of Trump’s peers was somehow rigged?

So, once again, as senators prepare to address the challenges facing America — and the planet — what on earth do they see when they look in the morning mirror? A question that all pro-Trump leaders must grapple with as the country considers the reelection of a convicted felon who would pose the gravest threat to American democracy since the Civil War.

Irwin Redner, MD, is an adjunct senior fellow at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.