For all of those celebrating the indictment of Donald J. Trump (yesterday; 3/30/2023): please don’t.

While his indictment is an affirmation of the rule of law, it’s still a somber event when a leader of a country is indicted for whatever reason, but especially one that ties to the very nature of his office (while the indictment is currently sealed, the broad arc of the probe has been campaign finance issues, especially trying to hide potentially unsavory behavior in order to get elected)..

This is a first for America, but leaders in many other countries have been tried – Israel, Brazil – and some convicted (Italy) [See Update, below].

In these cases, as well as in Trump’s case, there are certain political cheers, but I again caution against the same. High level corruption – even if just alleged – is no reason to break out the champagne. And while an indictment is serious, it is not a conviction. Very important distinction.

As for Trump, this first indictment is just that: The first.. He faces many other possible indictments, including federal indictments, where the punishment is harsher than this state (NY) charge. I expect him to be indicted for election tampering in Georgia, as well as for the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Both of these cases seem, to an outsider/non-lawyer, much more clear-cut and winnable.

I don’t believe Trump will ever be charged for the January 6, 2021 events – the lack of connective tissue between Trump and rioters seems to preclude charges. However, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes action that we don’t know about (fake electors, plotting to replace the Attorney General with a more pliant choice, the “Green Bay Sweep” and so on and on…).

And then there’s the E. Jean Carroll civil cases (yes, multiple) against Trump. Who knows how those will play out? Or even when – the first starts in about two weeks!

Commenting on TV yesterday – Mary Trump on her uncle: “Donald knew the difference between right and wrong. He just never thought it would apply to him.” I agree with this statement, but it’s up to the courts to decide his innocence or guilt.

Sad day for our country, but a good day for the rule of law – no one is above it.

Update: Writing for the New York Times, Peter Baker outlines indictments and convictions in other democracies:

“In Israel, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spent more than a year in prison for bribery, fraud and other charges while the incumbent prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is currently on trial on similar charges.”

“In Italy, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who just regained some power as part of a governing coalition, has faced 35 criminal court cases during his long career, although he was definitively convicted just once for tax fraud and sentenced to a year of community service. Just last month, he was acquitted on charges of bribing witnesses at a previous underage prostitution trial.”

“Other leaders of democratic nations convicted in recent years include former Presidents Jacques Chirac (embezzlement) and Nicolas Sarkozy (influence peddling) in France, former President Park Geun-hye (corruption) in South Korea and former President Chen Shui-bian (bribery) in Taiwan.”

The US – like the other countries Baker lists – is not a Banana Republic or an autocratic state, as Republicans are saying as a way of defending Trump. We’re a democracy, and Trump was indicted by a grand jury – fellow citizens – and he will have a chance to defend himself in a court of law.
That’s how our system of justice works, and no one – not even rich former presidents – are above or beyond the law.