Trump and 2024
Regarding “Trump warns of ‘Pandora’s box’ of perpetual presidential prosecutions if charges against him stand,” (Jan. 9): Duh! On Monday, Donald Trump’s lawyers in Georgia offered a new reason to dismiss this case. Trump apparently hadn’t realized that he could be prosecuted for trying to twist Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s arm to find more votes. At that point in time, only one of Trump’s dozens of election fraud cases had ruled in his favor. As we heard in the Jan. 6 congressional investigation, several of his advisers had told him that he had legitimately lost.
The Georgia case is based on Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) laws, and Donald Trump is the head of the family. Of course, he well knew that what he was asking for was criminal, but then again, what he was asking for doesn’t seem to have been any different from the rules he had been operating under throughout his business career.
Once a bully, always a bully. It’s time this bully is reined in before the 2024 election season gets into full swing. Dave DiCamillo, Tomball
Just about every conspiracy claim, lawsuit and effort to alter the 2020 election result has been debunked. No significant fraud was uncovered by numerous investigations. Some have described 2020 as the most secure election ever. Regardless, state legislatures in conservative states passed numerous laws under the guise of making elections even more secure. Many of these laws merely make it more cumbersome and difficult to vote.
When Trump lost the 2020 election, actions and words contributed to a riot and attack on Congress to prevent certification of the election results. Just Tuesday, Trump spread more disinformation, claiming that the Biden administration has a conspiracy to steal the election from him by eliminating him as a candidate. He warned that if they are successful “that will be bedlam in the country.” Bedlam is frequently equated with violence.
Could this be a dog whistle to his supporters to be prepared for another assault on democracy? Some of the more extreme will most likely see it as such. P. Crane, Conroe
Regarding “Donald Trump defies judge, gives courtroom speech on tense final day of New York civil fraud trial,” (Jan. 11): So, the former resident of the White House wanted to play “pretend lawyer” and give his own closing argument in his New York civil business fraud trial. That’s hilarious. Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that he would have to abide by the rules that apply to real, “big boy” attorneys if he were to give closing arguments. So sad. That means he couldn’t spend his time behind the mic assailing the characters of his political adversaries, judges or others in the court system.
Trump’s legal team responded by saying those limitations would unfairly muzzle him. Well, yeah. No kidding! When the former resident of the White House opens his mouth, he is spreading unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, hurling insults like a middle schooler or just outright lying. I imagine his legal
team was secretly pleased and relieved with the judge’s ruling.
Gene Fisseler, Houston
In a fit of extortion, wannabe dictator essentially threatens “bedlam” if voters don’t select him. He’s already unleashed “bedlam” upon losing an election once, and he’s campaign-promising to do it again.
David Haim, Houston
What threat? I see Trump making an observation that he believes there will be “bedlam” if he loses — an opinion, but he makes no threat of inciting it. More of the mainstream media distortions to keep Trump out of the 2024 election. The media ought to focus on Biden’s incitements of bedlam when he refers to Trump’s MAGA supporters, numbering in the millions, as political hoodlums and worse. J. Jones, La Porte