Trump’s indictment
Regarding “In Trump probe, grand jury hears from final witnesses,” (March 19): Let’s hope it really is nearing the end. The time and money wasted on various Trump investigations is criminal. Bragg seems to be so hate-filled and ambitious that he can’t recognize a losing case. He’s just another George Soros protégé. J. Jones, La Porte
Regarding “Trump indictment would be unprecedented in U.S. history,” (March 20): I am so sick of the Republicans complaining that the investigation and potential prosecution of Donald Trump are unprecedented and therefore an abuse of power or a political witch hunt.
They refuse to acknowledge that the actions being investigated, committed by a former duly elected and sitting president, are “unprecedented.” The whole of Trump’s election and tenure is unprecedented, starting with the name-calling, mocking and un-presidential behavior of the candidate. The mishandling of the pandemic and the blatant misinformation spouted by Trump during that time are unprecedented.
Pressuring the Georgia secretary of state to “find 11,780 votes” to overturn the election is unprecedented. The storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, called for and exacerbated by Trump in an attempt to overturn a fully legal and certified election, is unprecedented. His support by so many Republican legislators, some of whom felt their lives were threatened by the frenzied Jan. 6 crowd, is unprecedented.
Now the preening by the (thankfully) ex-president, and his urging supporters to protest as he anticipates being arrested for illegally arranging payment to silence a former porn star about their relationship, are unprecedented. So how could these investigations not be unprecedented? M. Helene Smith, League City
The underlying reported crime the Manhattan DA is pursuing against Trump is about the misclassification of a hush money campaign expense as a legal expense in campaign filings, something the Federal Election Commission itself chose not to pursue. This is the same FEC that fined the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party for misclassifying its opposition research (which became known as the infamous Steele dossier) as a legal expense when it was a campaign expense the Clinton campaign tried to hide.
The Manhattan DA is attempting to turn a fineable offense, where the statute of limitations has run out, into a felony, while at the same time reducing over half of all felony arrests to misdemeanors. Maybe Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is correct in calling it for what it is: “pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.”
It appears one of Trump’s biggest crimes was upsetting the establishment class of both parties by being a non-politician who won the holy grail of all political elections.
Tim Graney, Katy
Trump is playing the victim again, and everyone seems to forget that the insurrection he caused is still impacting the minds of his believers. What happened to the verdict of the insurrection trials?
Everything the media does keeps him in the limelight, which he feeds on like a vampire, drawing strength from those in positions to put him (and those willingly involved) behind bars for life. Is there anyone sane left in politics?
V. Balog, Houston
Regarding “Trump’s unprecedented call for protests is the latest sign of his aim to degrade America’s institutions,” (March 20): Trump once openly bragged he could shoot someone in broad daylight and not lose voters.
Does the former president really believe he is above the law? If he does, he needs to be reminded that this is the United States of America, where no one is above the law.
If Trump honestly believes he is innocent of any wrongdoing, he should welcome his chance to prove that once and for all in a court of law. His acquittals would do him great favor in his current run for the presidency.
Steve Miller, Spring
Charges and a trial for what? Paying money to a prostitute to prevent her from selling her first-person, sordid story of her relationship with the accused? Sordid indeed, but not surprising and, in this potential juror’s mind, not illegal either.
If immorality and bad judgment become criminal, many more jail cells will be needed. Sinners in glass houses should never throw stones.
These charges are a complete waste of time. Drop it. Move on.
Rex Alfonso, Missouri City
Correction: The March 5 editorial “Why is Harris County paying private attorneys to do a public defender’s job?” misattributed the source of an estimate of how much money a managed assigned counsel system could save Harris County. That estimate came from the nonprofit legal services organization Restoring Justice. We regret the error.