Donald Trump’s blackmail
We’re finally getting to the reason (at least one of them) Trump took documents from the White House: Blackmail. Only Donald Trump would even think that he could blackmail a governmental entity. With each bit of news, we are hopefully nearing the end of his reign of terror. If blackmail doesn’t buy an indictment for Trump, nothing will.
When the National Archives implored Donald Trump to return documents he stole from the White House, he went to his team to inquire about “trading” the requested documents for the FBI’s file on the 2016 Russian probe. Trump is neither “cunning” nor “cagey.” He’s just plain stupid. Who tries to blackmail the FBI? Only a fool. Daily Mail reported that Trump’s legal team never acted on Trump’s ridiculous idea “because the government had a right to take back documents” that Trump stole. Yet, they are fighting in court as if Trump has some right to the documents. He must be paying (this time) to put their bar licenses at risk, but most lawyers aren’t that daft.
As New York Times reported, Trump’s aides refused to get involved in Trump’s scheme to “cut a deal.” Trump could never let go of the investigation into his ties with Russia. He was convinced that if he could see the FBI’s files, he could once and for all prove that the investigation was a “hoax.” The problem for Trump is that he was typically involved in wrongdoing, and while Mueller could not charge him, he was specific that the evidence did not exonerate Trump. Then and now, Trump thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Trump is an idiot, and in the White House, he was the worst type of idiot: An idiot with power. Even though Trump’s aides refused to get involved in Trump’s madness, he held onto documents-that he had no business taking in the first place-in his unthinkable scheme of blackmailing the FBI.
It has also been reported that the DOJ believes Trump continues to hold onto records that don’t belong to him, so blackmailing the FBI isn’t the only reason he took documents. It is certainly not above the realm of possibility that some are for sale or for blackmailing others. This issue is far from over.
Prosecuting Donald Trump might well be the best thing for the country. Maya Steinitz, a law professor at the University of Iowa, penned an opinion piece for Washington Post, discussing how just this type of issue can help to heal a country. She gives classic examples from around the globe, but the most important thing she writes is this: “Trials are about the establishment of truth through evidence, beyond reasonable doubt.” Should the DOJ decide to prosecute Donald Trump through irrefutable evidence, there will be no more questions surrounding such nonsense as “political persecution” or “hoaxes.” Indeed, it is likely that the DOJ is at this very moment thoughtfully, methodically putting together the evidence that will, once and for all, take Trump down.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years