The Guardian’s view on Trump and the law: Executive restraint is turning into its weapon | Editorial
“H“He who saves his country breaks no law,” Donald Trump wrote after he began his second term – perhaps encouraged by the Supreme Court’s surprise ruling on presidential immunity last year, which many say gives the incumbent the powers of a king.
Millions of Americans are expected to oppose the president’s growing power in “No Kings” protests across the US on Saturday. The demonstrations come as former intelligence and national security officials warn that the country is sliding toward “competitive authoritarianism,” where elections and courts persist but are systematically manipulated by the executive branch.
The justice system is not a nice addition to democracy, but rather an essential and foundational element of it. This is now at risk not only because of Trump’s amassing of judicial power, his pardon of the January 6 rioters who assaulted police, and his ignoring of provisions constraining the actions of executive power, but also because of his misuse of it for political purposes. The United States is descending from the rule of law toward Ruling by law: From the law as a restriction on executive power, applied without fear or favour, to the law as its weapon.
Thursday saw the announcement of the trial of John Bolton – the third high-profile political target of Trump in a month to be charged with criminal charges. Letitia James, the New York prosecutor who successfully sued Trump for fraud, was charged with alleged mortgage fraud; Former FBI Director James Comey, under whom the bureau investigated Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, for alleged false testimony to Congress. They both deny all charges.
Trump said the quiet part out loud Social media sharing Apparently published Unintentionally“, which urged Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, to take legal action against Ms. James, Mr. Comey, and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff: “They impeached me twice, indicted me (5 times!) Nothing. Justice must be served now!!!”
The indictment of Mr. Bolton for mishandling classified information — he denies the charges and draws comparisons to the Stalinist purges — is an indictment. Somewhat different. The other indictments followed the appointment of Trump’s former personal lawyer as prosecutor. This case was pursued during the Biden presidency and the prosecutor signed off on the charges.
However, the administration ignored the matter when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of the planned military strikes with relatives and a journalist via a commercial messaging app. Trump has repeatedly made clear his animosity toward Bolton, the former national security adviser turned outspoken critic, including by dispensing with his security detail. He regularly calls for the imprisonment of opponents, including judges who obstruct his administration, as well as J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, and Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, after Democrats opposed the deployment of troops in the city.
Trump has sold personal revenge as political righteousness, campaigning with the slogan “I’m your revenge.” It has been remarkably successful. In a recent poll, a third of Republicans He supported the idea That American citizens who oppose the president should be deported.
The administration has already lodged protests on Saturday As a threat to the system. Trump’s political victory was built on inciting the crisis to divert attention from erasing or justifying democratic guarantees. This is an old playbook, and it’s no less terrifying to know. Weaponizing an essential part of American democracy constitutes a true emergency.