Monthly Archives: June 2024

Carroll Bogert is president of the Marshall Project, a nonprofit publication dedicated to covering criminal justice.

Since Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies last week, gleeful headlines have sprouted across the media, with a new descriptor for the former president: felon.

The New York Times editorial board condemned him under the pithy banner: Donald Trump, Felon.

This newspaper ran an analysis by senior political reporter Aaron Blake headlined, Trump is a felon. Heres why that could matter in the 2024 race.

Even the New York Post, which ran a sympathetic one-liner on its front page, Injustice, included a subhead calling him the first felon president.

Trump has delayed and avoided judicial proceedings for much of his career. Surely part of the impetus behind the sudden widespread use of the word felon is to take Trump down a peg, to label him as no better than a common criminal. And that is the problem.

Most people in prisons and jails in America come from lives of poverty and discrimination. A label such as felon or inmate contributes to keeping them at the margins of society.

Im the president of the Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to covering criminal justice in the United States. We do not endorse candidates or political viewpoints, but we believe journalism can make our legal system more fair, effective, transparent and humane. Achieving that ambition requires covering people charged and convicted of crimes as just that people. It starts with the language we use.

The new edition of the Associated Presss influential stylebook, coincidentally released the day before Trumps conviction, states clearly, Do not use felon, convict, or ex-con as nouns. Instead, the stylebook advises journalists when possible, [to] use person-first language to describe someone who is incarcerated or someone in prison. The stylebook included a criminal justice chapter for which the Marshall Project was consulted.

Labels marginalize people. They turn a moving verb into a fixed noun. They dehumanize and subjugate. As my colleague Lawrence Bartley wrote in a moving essay, I am not your inmate, that term fell on his ears like the n-word.

Person-first language is a concept borrowed from the disability rights movement. We should use it as best we can, but in the beautifully clear words of the editor overseeing our guidance on word choice, Akiba Solomon, journalism is a discipline of clarity. Journalists shouldnt use jargon. People need to understand what the heck were writing about.

At the same time, language can and should change.

Trump does not come from the margins of society. He is wealthy, powerful and was convicted of 34 felonies. Why should the media treat him with the same care its beginning to show toward other people convicted of felonies?

By calling Trump a felon, we risk rehabilitating a word that has fallen out of favor for good reason.

Trump is a person convicted of felonies. So are millions of other Americans. How we describe him affects them, too.

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Opinion | Media should stop calling Donald Trump a 'felon' - The Washington Post - The Washington Post

As The Post reported, on May 30, history was made when former president Donald Trump was found criminally guilty by a 12-person jury of his peers, thus becoming the first and only former president of the United States to be a felon.

The rule of law and the principle that no person is above it both prevailed, which is particularly rewarding being a member and practitioner in continuous good standing of a state bar for more than half a century. But while a New York jury won this battle for the nation, the war rages on, as reflected by the remarks Mr. Trump made after the verdict arrived. He asserted, as he has done for years with anything that doesnt go his way, that the case against him was rigged, that our country is in decline, that the trial judge was against him (although the judge performed admirably), that he was not tried by his peers (despite refusing to testify) and that the Biden administration was responsible (although the case was brought by a state district attorney according to that states law, over which President Biden had no influence).

Mr. Trump and his minions are attempting to delegitimize our rule of law and our justice system, as we have seen occur in Third World countries and Russia. We cannot allow this to happen. Voters from both sides of the aisle must ensure that Trumps warped, dictatorial and incredibly disingenuous thinking does not prevail on Nov. 5.

Miles J. Zaremski, Highland Park, Ill.

The writer is an attorney with Zaremski Law Group.

Justice still works in America when 12 randomly chosen jurors, screened carefully by attorneys from both sides and including people who confided that they had sought information in the past from Donald Trumps own social media site, weighed the evidence for weeks and brought forth a unanimous verdict against the powerful Republican Party leader. This is far from the least important of Mr. Trumps legal cases. What could be more consequential than the threshold misconduct that aided his election and, therefore, made all his other alleged crimes possible?

Larry Lobert, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.

It is ironic that Donald Trump used the legal system for decades to his advantage and now claims the system is corrupt. It is ironic that the candidate who encouraged the phrase Lock her up may now be subjected to incarceration. Mr. Trump succeeded in leading half of the United States to believe the news media was biased and presented false news. With his own false claims, he succeeded again in sowing doubt in our election process. Now, hes focusing on the FBI and the U.S. justice system. Abraham Lincoln said, A house divided against itself cannot stand.

David Mendelsohn, Ashburn

The simple fact is that after 60-plus cases failed to prove that Donald Trumps 2020 defeat was in a stolen election, the only case to go to trial and stand legal scrutiny strongly suggests that it was the 2016 election, in which Mr. Trump won, that was stolen. The key was a plot to suppress, and hide from the voters, information about his profligate lifestyle that could have swung the election. To be sure, knowledge of his profligacy was known (the infamous Access Hollywood tape), but a scheme to catch and kill the evidence and illegally hide it is another matter. Weve heard so much disinformation about the 2020 election that we tend to forget how close the 2016 election was. Mr. Trumps margin of victory in some of the swing states in 2016 (especially Michigan and Pennsylvania) was considerably less than Joe Bidens margin of victory when those states flipped in 2020.

Mark Cooper, Silver Spring

Hold the champagne. The guilty verdict against Donald Trump is a classic example of winning the battle but losing the war. As catcher Yogi Berra said, It aint over till its over. Once the celebration by President Biden is over, voters will elect Mr. Trump because of his policies, which are more important than his being found guilty in a case that many believe should never have been brought to trial.

Paul Schoenbaum, Richmond

The U.S. House of Representatives has a rule that says members who are convicted of felonies that may result in two or more years imprisonment should refrain from voting on bills. The House strips those members of their ability to represent their constituents. That is how serious the House takes having a felon in their midst. Newt Gingrich, the firebrand conservative, passed that rule many years ago.

How hypocritical is it, then, that the Republican members of the House are now telling everyone that it is okay to have a felon as president? Representatives like Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) are hypocrites. Members of Congress would not allow Donald Trump, a felon, to vote in their House, so why should the rest of us want him to occupy our White House?

Michael J. Makara, Mays Landing, N.J.

I was an adolescent growing up in the mid-South during the Ronald Reagan presidency. My family members were all Republicans. I remember Reagan standing up to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The United States wasnt perfect, but it seemed to have a strong standing in the world. I traveled abroad as a young person, and people in Europe and Russia admired this country and its freedoms.

But now, the Republican Party once the party of Abraham Lincoln plans this summer to nominate a felon convicted of falsifying business records as its candidate for president? Of the United States? The same party that has long been tough on crime, fiscally responsible and strong in foreign policy? What does this say to the rest of the world?

Im just an American standing in front of a political party asking them to get over their dang selves. Republicans: You used to love the justice system and the rule of law. But now you want to gut our American institutions because theyre not nice enough to Donald Trump? Come on.

Delia Zielinski, Hagerstown, Md.

I have heard attorneys described as officers of the court. They are responsible for upholding the justice system with respect and professionalism.

I am therefore appalled to see attorneys, especially those who hold elected office, denouncing the court cases against Donald Trump as President Biden weaponizing the Justice Department or witch hunts. They know these are lies.

They attack the New York case while knowing it was fairly decided. The judge was the ultimate professional, treating all sides fairly and impartially. The evidence and witnesses clearly described a criminal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election. The jury took its responsibility seriously.

I wish these elected attorneys, as well as the Supreme Court and U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, would take their responsibilities just as seriously.

Malcolm Lyle Jr., Asheville, N.C.

Donald Trump, now a felon, has mobilized the Republican Party and Republican members of Congress to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) for bringing the case against Mr. Trump, Justice Juan Merchan for his conduct of the trial and the jury for not acquitting defendant Trump.

However, not one of the people loyal to Mr. Trump has claimed that he is innocent of the acts that underlie the charges. Not one. For the party of law and order, it is apparently fine to falsify business records, and it is okay to use fraudulent documents to hide damaging information from voters. Republicans suggest that courts should ignore these violations of the law when they apply to Mr. Trump. Got it.

Andrea Port Jacobs, Columbia, Md.

This is a view from a British citizen who is struggling to understand why America needed to be made great again. It has always stood, sometimes struggling, as a beacon for justice. Its justice system, while never perfect, provides the potential of fairness without favor.

Without being reelected, Donald Trump has made America great again in the eyes of all who believe that no one is above the law.

Anthony McColgan, Cottingham, England

Regarding the June 1 Style article Fox News hosts express dismay over Trump verdict, what these MAGA pundits and politicians are doing by baselessly accusing the jurors of bias and impropriety is not just illogical and reprehensible. Psychologists call it projection. Poker players call it a tell. By accusing the jury, the Fox News hosts and their GOP repeaters reveal their lack of moral core. Their base assumption is that no person acts with integrity because they themselves are devoid of it. They cannot get their heads around the fact that someone can take an oath and follow the law; whether its a juror, or an FBI agent, or an election official. The MAGA blowhards that call the Trump verdict rigged are only showing their hands. And theyre holding trash.

While the world suffered considerably from the Trump regimes attack on the rule of law, the guilty verdict offers some respite. Let me express the feeling in verse:

Theres joy that comes with justice.

It first dances at her feet,

Then soars beyond the heavens

From where it wont retreat.

It is the call of freedom

That always may be heard,

The sound that lifts, unites us

In thought, in deed, in word.

It sings throughout the ages,

A harmony so pure

Heard by soldiers off to war:

Is whom theyve fallen for.

Justice holds us like our conscience,

When its felt and known to be.

It protects us from our weakness

We strengthened to just be.

Those not content to be themselves,

Whove forgotten who they are.

Need justice to remind them

That they have gone too far.

Martin Bell, Balgowlah, Australia

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Opinion | Trump has been convicted, but maybe hold the champagne - The Washington Post

In 2016, Donald Trump seemed to pull an inside straight by narrowly winning Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin while losing the popular vote by three million. We now know, Trump committed 34 felonies to win that election.

Without these crimes, he seems almost certain to have lost to Hillary Clinton. She would have been sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017. She would have filled two Supreme Court vacancies and enacted her legislative agenda.

Roe v. Wade would never have been overturned. The progress made under the Obama administration would have been continued. Following a global pandemic, millions might still be alive.

As we reflect on the outcome of the New York trial, we should pause to acknowledge that history was tragically derailed by Trumps felonious conduct.

Trump continued his election crime spree in 2020. This time, it largely took place in the aftermath of an election he was surprised he did not win. When his frivolous legal attacks failed to overturn the result of President Joe Bidens seven million vote victory, he resorted to fake electors, racketeering and insurrection.

While criminal trials in those cases have been delayed, the evidence is overwhelming. His defense to the Washington, D.C. criminal case hinges on a theory of presidential immunity that would allow presidents to assassinate their political opponents and stage coups.

At the outset of his candidacy, the media discounted his bravado that he could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldnt lose any voters. At the time, we were told to take Trump seriously but not literally. History has shown that was a mistake.

If Donald Trump succeeds, there will be no justice for him. He will become the autocrat he promises to his supporters.

Career criminals rarely stop unless they are apprehended and punished. Narcissistic authoritarians feed off abusing power and violating norms and laws. Sociopaths never develop a conscience.

The morning after his criminal conviction in New York, Trump gave a rambling speech attacking the judicial system and lying about the verdict, prosecutors and judge. Buried in his remarks was this line: Im willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and to save our Constitution.

In an interview with Fox News, he warned that the public might not stand for a criminal punishment. He ominously predicted that at a certain point, theres a breaking point.

When Donald Trump says he will do whatever he has to do, he means it as a threat. When he talks about breaking points, he is threatening violence.

Trump has already told us he will only accept the outcome of the 2024 election if he wins. He recently claimed he won Minnesota in 2020. In fact, he lost by over 200,000 votes. He is claiming that absent fraud, he will win New York and New Jersey in 2024.

Trump is planning his next crime. We dont yet know the exact details, but we know it involves subverting the will of the voters and undermining free and fair elections. And we know that he will spare nothing and no one who gets in his way.

Already his campaign and their allies are suing states to throw out election rules to sow chaos by throwing out the rules by which elections are conducted. They are litigating to criminalize voter registration, increase the number of ballots that are discarded and purge voters. Perhaps most chilling, they assert a constitutional right to harass election officials and voters.

Most importantly for this fall, Trump and his allies are focused on empowering election deniers to refuse to certify election results. They tried this in a handful of places after the 2020 election. Now they are far more organized. Democracy is in far more danger.

This time Trump will have more willing accomplices, more committed conspirators. Rather than a misfit band of lawyers and a handful of sycophants, this time he will have nearly every Republican senator, congressman, governor and state attorney general at his disposal. His grassroots army of followers is more primed to take extreme action, including violence.

Meanwhile too many elites in politics and the media insist that the threat is overblown. Over expensive wine and canapes, they denounce partisanship as the real evil. They take pride in seeing two sides where this is only one; shades of gray, where there is only black and white. They smugly ignore the possibility and consequences if they are wrong.

If Donald Trump succeeds, there will be no justice for him. He will become the autocrat he promises to his supporters. The rule of law and democracy will be irreparably damaged.

Trump is plotting his next crime. We must do everything we can to prevent it.

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Donald Trump Is Plotting His Next Crime - Democracy Docket

One March night in the nations capital, Senator J.D. Vance, Republican of Ohio, left a conservative gala to join a group having dinner with Donald Trump Jr.

As the meal wrapped, Mr. Vance decided, on a whim, to invite a friend, whom he had just introduced at the gala dinner, to meet the former presidents son. Soon, the three Republicans Mr. Vance, Mr. Trump Jr. and Mr. Vances friend, David Sacks, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur were getting to know one another for a half-hour or so in a private dining room of the Conrad Hotel.

It was there, at that impromptu post-dinner hang hours after Mr. Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, that Mr. Sacks signaled that he was all-in for Trump 2024.

On Thursday evening, this time on his own California turf, it will be Mr. Sackss turn to host Team Trump. The former president himself is flying to San Francisco to attend a fund-raiser at Mr. Sackss $20 million home on the toniest street in the citys tony Pacific Heights neighborhood. The private event, the first campaign fund-raiser since Mr. Trumps criminal conviction last week, is expected to raise north of $12 million, according to people involved in the gathering.

Beyond the money, the fund-raiser in the beating heart of the liberal tech industry is also shaping up to be a landmark event, at least symbolically.

Four years ago, and certainly eight years ago, the Bay Area remained a haven for liberalism and offered little support for Mr. Trump. But that Obama-era bonhomie between Silicon Valley and the Democratic Party has come close to disintegrating. These days, entrepreneurs complain as much about President Biden as they do about Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, who has ascended to Darth Vader-like status in some corners of the technology industry.

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Trump Gets a Fund-Raiser in Silicon Valley - The New York Times