Trump's Falsehoods Threaten Democracy

 Trump's second major falsehood poses a nearly equal threat to the future of American democracy as his initial one did.

One cannot rule out the chance that Trump's threats could frighten juries, prosecutors, and judges, or that his tirades could quiet possible witnesses.

Not content with merely attempting to erode Americans' faith in the US election system through his initial falsehood claiming that the 2020 presidential election was unlawfully taken from him, Donald Trump is now striving to undermine the public's trust in the US judicial system with another significant untruth. This secondary falsehood alleges that judges, prosecutors, witnesses, and juries are engaging in corrupt practices to prosecute Trump, all in an effort to prevent his potential re-election.

Late on Monday, following a comprehensive investigation spanning two and a half years led by Fulton County's district attorney, Fani Willis, a grand jury in Georgia brought criminal charges against the former president and 18 co-defendants. These charges revolve around their alleged attempts to illegally reverse Joe Biden's victory in Georgia during the 2020 election. This fourth indictment marks another advancement in the gradual process of criminal justice in the US. It underscores the principle that no one is immune to the law's reach.

Willis and her team warrant the nation's gratitude, as do special counsel Jack Smith and his associates at the justice department, who have presented evidence to other grand juries detailing Trump's endeavors to subvert the 2020 election results across the nation and abscond with classified documents. None of these efforts can be classified as simple tasks, even under the most favorable conditions. When combined with the tumultuous behavior of a former president inciting hostility and blame, this work takes on an element of potential hazard. Trump has labeled Willis as "corrupt" and utilized even stronger language. Similarly, he has accused Smith of being "deranged," resorting to an array of unsubstantiated allegations. He has extended these allegations to judges who have been assigned to preside over his cases. We are well aware of the propensity for violence exhibited by a portion of Trump's followers. His incendiary remarks put individuals at risk. Notably, both Willis and her team, as well as Smith and potential witnesses, have already received threats. For instance, on Monday morning, even before the Georgia grand jury convened, Trump claimed to have "come across reports" suggesting that former Georgia lieutenant governor Jeff Duncan would provide testimony before the grand jury.