Getting word from Special Counsel Jack Smith, 54, that a grand jury is close to an indictment for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riots, 77-year-old President Donald Trump said he received the “horrifying news” in a letter from the Department of Justice. Trump went too far protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, marshalling his supporters to promote a conspiracy that he was robbed by corrupt Democrats of the election. No one, including Trump’s own backers, found proof of widespread voter fraud, disproving Trump contention that he was cheated out of election. Things got dicey for Trump when he sat idly by Jan. 6, 2021, watching an angry mob descend on the Capitol to stop the Electoral College from certifying the 2020 vote. Trump couldn’t accept that he was successfully demonized by Democrats and members of his own party that he lost the 2020 election.
Now the chickens have come home to roost with the year-and-half House Select Committee recommending to the DOJ Trump be charged for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. Smith presented evidence to a Washington, D.C. grand jury that showed Trump supported the rabble-rousers that attacked the Capitol, trying to prevent certification of the Nov. 8, 2020 presidential election. Trump stated publicly that 64-year-old former Vice President Mike Pence didn’t have the guts to stop the Electoral College certification. Pence stated repeatedly that he didn’t have the Constitutional authority to stop anything. So, when Smith meets with his Jan. 6 grand jury, they don’t have to prove much, other than Trump opposed the Electoral College certification. Smith has plenty of testimony about fake slates of alternative electors, showing that Trump wanted the Jan. 6 Electoral College certification stopped.
No one questions whether Trump wanted the Jan. 6 Electoral College certification stopped but that’s a far cry from the House Jan. 6 Select Committee’s conclusions that Trump planned and orchestrated Jan. 6, as Democrats call it, an insurrection. Democrats lost their impeachment case of Trump inciting insurrection Feb.13, 2021 in the U.S. Senate. House Democrats didn’t stop trying to prove that Trump was negligent allowing his supporters to riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Anti-Trump news media refer to the Jan. 6 rioters as Trump supporters. Whether that’s true of not, Trump never told his followers to break the law, vandalize the Capitol Jan. 6. So when it comes to Smith’s grand jury, they don’t have to prove that Trump planned-and-orchestrated the Jan. 6 insurrection, they only need to show he did nothing to stop the rioters. Smith’s grand jury doesn’t have to show Trump’s direct involvement in Jan. 6.
GOP presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked what he thought about possible DOJ charges against Trump for Jan. 6. DeSantis said he strongly opposes the government’s attempt to “criminalize politics and criminalize differences,” implying that the government’s case against Trump was political. “Criminal charges is not just because you many have done something wrong. It’s did you behave criminally?” DeSantis stands to gain in the polls with another Trump indictment. “Meanwhile,” DeSantis said. “”Hunter Biden, he would’ve been in jail if he were a Republican. One of my jobs as president will be to end the weaponization of these agencies, and I will get that job done,” DeSantis said DeSantis was clever not to comment about any possible indictments, knowing, that whatever happens, it only helps his 2024 candidacy, especially if Trump drops out.
However loyal Trump’s base, GOP primary voters will have to catch up with reality, that no matter how political the indictments, it still makes his national campaign untenable. Whatever objections to Trump inside the GOP, it’s undeniable that with the current indictments, it’s doubtful Trump can win a national election. No one is more entertaining on the campaign trail but that’s not enough to win back the White House. Too many independents have soured on Trump to get enough crossover Democrats and independents to vote in the general election. Another DOJ indictment should do in Trump’s 2024 campaign, giving DeSantis and others a boost. DeSantis has waited patiently for events to unfold, fending off relentless criticism from the press and fellow GOP candidates. Trump’s instinct is to keep fighting, ignoring the indictments but they’re taking a toll.
If DeSantis wants to capitalize on Trump’s legal problems, he needs to stop hus “war against wokeness,” getting back to basics with the economy and foreign policy. If Trump drops out, or is out by default, DeSantis should pivot toward the center, giving independents a reason to follow his campaign. “Nothing like this has ever happened in our country before, or even close,” said Trump, is disbelief over the possibility of another DOJ indictment. DeSantis can just sit back and wait it out, knowing GOP primary voters will have to pivot away from Trump. DeSantis has established his conservative credentials, now needing appeal to more moderate voters looking for an alternative to 80-year-old President Joe Biden. Biden has gotten the U.S. into a whole lot of hurt, with his proxy war against the Kremlin. When Trump’s gone, DeSantis is on only remaining candidate opposed to the Ukraine War.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
