Donald J. Trump has nothing to be proud of. He crows about how
the Special Counsel’s report has exonerated him, based on a four-page summary
of a 300-page report. The summary said that the Trump campaign did not conspire
with the Russian government to win the election. But let’s remember how we got
to this point in first place.
When questions first arose about the Russian’s interference
in our election, Trump never – ever – condemned the practice, the Russian
government, or Vladimir Putin for launching the attack on our democracy. He has
said it could be China or some geeky hacker sitting in a dark basement
somewhere, but he has never condemned the true culprit.
Instead of crowing about his exoneration, Trump should be
saying how alarming the Special Counsel’s findings are. The Special Counsel’s
work brings the intelligent community’s assessment out of the shadows, publicly
setting forth – with indictments and convictions – that the government of
Russia interfered – not tried to – but successfully interfered in the U.S. election.
Why successful? Because, to some extent, their campaign contributed to
fermenting divisions within this nation. While we may not be able to quantify
the extent of that influence (yes, the influence might have been minor) its practice is simply unacceptable.
More alarming, since the report’s release Trump has said
nothing related to Russia’s assault on our democracy. Instead, he is calling
for prosecutions of the people who investigated him. For what? If the man had
condemned Russia’s efforts from the beginning, if he had not embraced Putin, if
he had not gone out of his way to obstruct justice, constantly attack the
investigation, and dismissed the findings of the intelligence community, then he
would have avoided these investigations.
If nothing else, the summary of the report actually raises more
questions about Trump’s fitness to hold office. Why, in the face of
overwhelming evidence, has he failed to condemn the Russians or take any strong
actions against them for their actions? Why his unconditional embrace of Putin?
Why, if he is innocent, did he attack the Muller investigation on an almost
daily basis?
Is he so narcissistic and egotistical that he is unable to
put the common good of the nation above his own self-aggrandizement? Or is he
so mentally challenged that he fails to see the damage he has done and continues
to do?
The Constitution does not allow for the removal of the
president for incompetence, mendacity, or poor judgement. The Muller report –
when finally reviewed in the whole – will probably not contain enough to indict
Trump for removal for high crimes and misdemeanors. Ultimately, it will be up
to the American people to cast their verdict. For the sake of our country, I
hope, after the full report is released, that it will finally convince enough
Americans that Trump and his wing of the Republican party do not have America’s
best interests at heart. Our country and the world’s future depend on it.
