Former President Donald Trump has made history by being found guilty of 34 felonies, marking the first time a former president has faced such charges in American history. The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, led the case against Trump for falsifying business records related to payments made to silence an adult film star before the 2016 election.
Throughout the six-week trial, Trump vehemently protested his innocence, accusing the judge of corruption and labeling the trial as rigged. Despite Trump’s claims, the decision to prosecute him was deemed political by many, including former prosecutor Ronald Sievert.
Sievert highlighted the ethical standards that guide prosecutors, emphasizing the importance of only pursuing cases where the offense is severe and the public harm is significant. He referenced the warning from late Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson about the dangers of abusing prosecutorial power.
The case against Trump has raised questions about the legitimacy of the prosecution, especially since it occurred during an election year and lacked a clear victim in terms of bodily harm or financial loss. The verdict may have implications for the public’s trust in American prosecutors both domestically and internationally.
As the dust settles on this landmark case, the larger question remains: will the prosecution of Trump damage the reputation of American public prosecutors in the eyes of the public? Only time will tell.