This Just In — If you are running for president, we have some questions.
We’ve all seen enough cop shows to know … now that the Former Guy is a criminal defendant, he should actually listen to his lawyers and shut his mouth (about the case). The GOP candidates who are trying to run against him without criticizing him, are hoping to take that exact approach to avoid explaining their long-held support for America’s most thuggish president.
First, let’s just take a moment to appreciate that in recent interviews, Trump has repeatedly pointed out that he is no longer President of the United States.
In recent interviews, Former VP Mike Pence led a parade of others in responding to questions about the 45th president’s criminal case with various versions of “innocent until proven guilty” and “he deserves his day in court.”
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley added that she would likely pardon Trump if she’s elected president. She wants to “spare the country,” she said. “Spare me” is exactly what I thought, too.
All the criminal justice concerns aside, Trump is a political candidate and people running against him would not be interfering in his criminal case to comment on those areas that Trump has discussed on television and social media. The fact is, he is making things worse for himself because he won’t stop offering nonsense defenses for stealing nuclear secrets and other classified documents.
So, reporters, let’s not ask these GOP candidates about Trump’s legal case. Let’s ask about the political prospect of such a person returning to the White House. Ask these questions in the context of what Trump has said on television – in the public square. Here are some I’d like to see:
- Although he is charged with crimes that violate the Espionage Act, Trump falsely asserts that he is entitled to classified documents including nuclear secrets under the Presidential Records Act. Do you agree with that?
- For Mike Pence: Were you aware of Trump retaining documents that should have been returned to a secure location during his presidency? (He didn’t snatch these up all at once)
- For Pence: Did you testify fully and truthfully to the DC Grand Jury about the conduct of Trump on January 6th?
- For Pence: You received all the same briefing materials that Trump did. What’s the procedure for handling the most secure documents?
- If a military aide was ordered by Trump to leave documents with him and they were never returned, should that aide be prosecuted? What should (s)he do?
- Trump says that he will use the Department of Justice to seek vengeance against his adversaries. Is that an appropriate use of the DOJ? Likewise, will you pardon the January 6th rioters who sought to kill VP Pence?
- If you’re elected, will you share sensitive, classified material with Donald Trump? Will you give him a preemptive pardon?
- For Pence: You were Vice President. If you commit crimes against the United States tomorrow, should you be prosecuted?
- What will you do as president to ensure that highly classified material is more tightly controlled? Be specific.
- Do you think that White Supremacy is an ongoing security threat to the nation?
These are some of the questions that I’d like to nudge reporters to ask the candidates who want to be president, but can’t bring themselves to directly criticize their party’s frontrunner. Former governors Chris Christie (New Jersey) and Asa Hutchinson (Arkansas) have not had that difficulty. In the coming weeks it will be interesting to see if they start climbing in the polls (or falling off) as a result.
Jean Bolduc is a freelance writer and the host of the Weekend Watercooler on 97.9 The Hill. She is the author of “African Americans of Durham & Orange Counties: An Oral History” (History Press, 2016) and has served on Orange County’s Human Relations Commission, The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, the Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and the Orange County Schools’ Equity Task Force. She was a featured columnist and reporter for the Chapel Hill Herald and the News & Observer.
Readers can reach Jean via email – jean@penandinc.com and via Twitter @JeanBolduc
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