Youngkin Backs Indicted #Trump
TRUMP INDICTED. No matter what happens next, March 30, 2023 will be a historic day: A former U.S. President has been criminally charged for the first time in U.S. history. Without even knowing the details of the charges, against former President Donald Trump, many Republicans were quick to assert that the moment was politically motivated and that the criminal justice system had been “weaponized” by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Republicans have been targeting Bragg for criticism for weeks. Alvin Bragg is a progressive prosecutor who became Manhattan’s first Black District Attorney in 2022. Bragg has been criticized on the left for not prosecuting Trump sooner.
LAW AND ORDER? Branding the word “weaponized” to Bragg’s efforts was is a standard Republican talking point in this moment. “Weaponize” was used by Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin to describe Bragg’s prosecutorial actions even though Youngkin avoided talking about Trump enroute to defeating Terry McAuliffe in 2021. Youngkin was often asked about Trump during that race but was able to keep him out of Virginia during the campaign. There’s still speculation that Youngkin may enter the 2024 presidential race — but so far the Governor has been quiet on the question.
Youngkin wrote last night:
Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) did the same as many other Republicans: He drew a conclusion on Alvin Bragg’s prosecution without knowing the specific charges.
“Without knowing what the charges are, it is impossible to intelligently comment on the apparent criminal indictment of Donald Trump. Whatever the charges may be, he is constitutionally entitled to a presumption of innocence. We should wait for further developments,” wrote Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) last night.
The details of the charges are likely to be revealed on Tuesday, April 4. GOP communications strategy is targeting Alvin Bragg no matter what the details. In an age of deliberate misinformation and disinformation, the details often don’t matter in political messaging.
DUE PROCESS. Many elevated the importance of due process for Donald Trump.
“This is a somber and unprecedented moment for our country. Everyone is entitled to due process, but no one is above the law,” wrote Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA).
In her statement related to Trump’s indictment, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is apparently challenging the presumption of innocence. Her statement “everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence,” forgets that the justice system in American is built on the assumption of innocence and the burden of proof is on prosecutors to prove their case against the accused. For many on the left that presumption of innocence has been directly challenged by efforts related to Title IX and the MeToo movement pushing authorities and media to initially “believe” on allegations alone with no formal process for investigation.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg:
One of the members of the Central Park 5, Yusef Salaam, who is a candidate for City Council in New York and who was wrongfully accused and convicted by New York prosecutors for rape in 1989 (along with five other Black and Latino teenagers) commented on Trump’s indictment. The Central Park 5 settled with New York City for $41 million in 2014 after being wrongfully convicted.
Donald Trump paid $85,000 for a full page ad in the New York Daily News on May 1, 1989 calling for the Central Park Five to received the death penalty. Unsurprisingly, Yusef Salaam put out a statement last night,
👨🏽💻 SUBSCRIBE. We exist to inform. Send your press releases, submissions, tips, pitches, comments and corrections to BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com.
Very good analysis, one of the best I’ve read on this.