Just as Trump has forsaken the law, Republicans should forsake him
Joseph Moreno
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Former President Donald Trump was indicted again this week for his alleged mishandling of classified information, and the details are damning. According to the indictment, Trump not only illegally took and stored classified information after he left the White House, but openly bragged about his having done so. The disregard for the law and the office of the presidency that Trump displayed ought to disqualify him in Republican primary voters’ eyes once and for all.
When making electoral decisions, we each have our priorities in vetting candidates and casting votes. As a fiscal conservative and military veteran, I look for a consistent track record and clear vision for limited government, a low-tax economy that encourages job creation and upward mobility, and a strong national defense. As an attorney, I place tremendous emphasis on personal integrity, support for the police and military communities, and fair but vigorous enforcement of the law. It is also important that my candidate has a track record of public service, but is not a career politician who lacks experience in anything but holding office.
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There is no doubt that as a member of Generation X, I was highly influenced by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Each of them served in World War II, had careers before entering politics, and personified many of the traits I looked for. They also exhibited character and a respect for the office of the presidency.
My views were solidified following the first election I could participate in, in which a young draft-dodging Bill Clinton managed to defeat Bush for reelection. Not surprisingly, Clinton initially governed from the far Left until he was later checked by a Republican Congress. His tenure was marred by a highly inappropriate relationship with a White House intern, which he then lied about under oath. He was impeached and limped out of office in disgrace.
Fast forward nearly two decades, and it is understandable why, after losing two elections backing mainstream candidates such as John McCain and Mitt Romney, Republicans tried something different. Those of us willing to give Trump a chance the first time hoped that perhaps his business experience, personal wealth, and populist appeal could bring something to the table that professional politicians could not. And following his surprise win, Trump governed in a way that was far preferable to how Hillary Clinton would have done things. He cut taxes, appointed conservative judges, secured the border, backed law enforcement and the military, and generally governed from the Right.
But Republicans are now considering returning to office a man who clearly has no personal respect for the law. Throughout his term, Trump displayed an incredible lack of self-discipline or regard for legalities. His erratic behavior drove out those few serious Republicans willing to take a chance serving under him, and by the end, his administration was being run by the “C-team.” His claims of election fraud following the 2020 election were completely unsupported, and his behavior instigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was shameful. His retention of highly classified documents and seeming willingness to lie under oath in retaining them was just another chapter in a long saga of disregard for the legal system.
If the party doubles down by renominating Trump, we will not only likely lose the election to President Joe Biden, but we will have lost any basis to argue that we are the party that embodies respect for the rule of law.
None of this changes if Trump manages to evade the charges he currently faces. Frankly, the first indictment of Trump from Alvin Bragg in New York City appears to be a complete overreach relying on stale and wobbly charges that will likely be dismissed. And this latest indictment by special counsel Jack Smith does raise an important question about why similar cases involving Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden were not pursued.
However, the federal government’s failure to appropriately apply the law in past cases is no excuse for Trump’s behavior.
Moreover, Republican primary voters should ask themselves whether it’s worth supporting a candidate who will need to simultaneously defend himself against multiple investigations and a prosecution that presents real criminal exposure for the former president. Keep in mind: additional federal and state insurrection and election fraud charges against Trump remain a real possibility.
At the end of the day, Republicans need to ask themselves what they stand for. Are we truly the party of respect for the law and national security? Or are we willing to get in line behind anyone who has a chance of bringing us to power? Trump was given an understandable pass by the GOP the first time. This time around, Republicans should not just walk away from Trump — they should run.
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Joseph Moreno (@JosephMoreno) is a former federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice in the National Security Division, a former staff member with the FBI’s 9/11 Review Commission, and a U.S. Army combat veteran.