Friend, The indictment of a former president on charges related to the Espionage Act is a sobering development.
As Donald Trump appears in court today, all Americans – regardless of our political affiliation – should be hoping for a fair and impartial trial for the former president. Mr. Trump and his lawyers have the right to defend his case in court, and all of us as citizens have the responsibility to honor our criminal codes of justice.
No person is above the law, and all are innocent until proven guilty. Both apply to the former president, as they apply to every American. The law should be a nuanced instrument, not a meat cleaver, and it should never be an instrument of personal grievance. Such a case as this, if prosecuted unfairly, could set a dangerous precedent; it is to every American's benefit, therefore, that Mr. Trump receives equal justice before the law.
A fair trial and equal justice depends on a commitment to non-interference from those who have anything political to gain from this case.
For that reason, it is unfortunate that many Republicans in Washington D.C. have taken to the media to undermine the credibility of the indictment and attack the integrity of the Special Counsel before Mr. Trump even has his day in court. Their actions damage the American people’s faith in our courts and the rule of law – and recent polling confirms this corrosive influence on the process.
The special prosecutor in this case, Jack Smith, is a registered Independent with a long record of service. In his career he has worked with the Justice Department, in international courts, and in the private sector. As chief of the Justice Department’s public integrity unit, he prosecuted both Democratic and Republican officials.
To be clear, Smith is not working to further the political agenda of the Biden Administration. Such charges are false, and those who are making them know that.
An investigation was conducted and a grand jury made the decision to indict. The goal of the system is to be an impartial witness to the facts. I have no doubt that those involved in the indictment have done their best to achieve that, and that those who will be involved in the trial going forward will seek a similarly high standard of justice.
Our role today is not to predetermine the outcome that most suits a particular political objective, but to reinforce the importance of an impartial justice system and our faith in our fellow Americans to achieve a just resolution.
Today is one small step in that process. In the coming months, others will use this trial to further their own agenda, but I will not.
I hope you will join me in that commitment. |
