Dear Editor,

Now that former US President Donald Trump was arrested following his indictment on over 30 charges, including business and tax fraud and violation of campaign financing laws, Trump is back in the news.

The arrest is not surprising, considering that two companies within the Trump organisation were recently found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud (17 counts to be exact) and falsifying business documents over a period of 15 years. The companies were fined US$1.6 million. Trump’s former lawyer and one of his closest confidants Michael Cohen also pleaded guilty to similar charges of fraud and violation of campaign financing laws. He served three years in jail, and much of his testimony is expected to be used against Trump. Trump organisation’s chief financial officer also served a short time behind bars for fraud, and another employee, an attorney, was also arrested. What a tangled web they weaved? Did Trump really think he would be immune and stand above it all?

Although Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and is presumed innocent until proven guilty, this case will be very interesting to watch. We expect Trump’s legal team to attempt to dismiss the case, but there are too many charges to consider dismissing. New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg would not have proceeded without compelling evidence.

The links to Cohen might be difficult to dispute, but we expect Trump’s team will argue that Cohen lied to secure a plea deal with a reduced sentence. They could also argue that the hush payments to women were personal to avoid embarrassment, more so to Trump’s wife.

The jury may also include Trump sympathisers and there is always the question: What if Trump is found not guilty after all of this? The repercussions would be severe and this could propel him back into the White House if Americans see the arrest as malicious and politically motivated.

Trump has managed to evade prosecution on various charges over the years despite the fact that, to date, 11 of his closest associates have been charged for various white-collar crimes linked to corruption and business and tax fraud.

Trump uses his imposing stature to exude an air of power, authority, and fear to control his audience and outcomes. Even as he stepped into the New York courtroom following his arrest, it was about power. How dare they. Trump is known for using gaslighting techniques and bizarre rhetoric to control the narrative.

He has been twice impeached in office as president and both times he was acquitted by a Senate voting along party lines. Now the walls are closing in, and behind the facade Trump must be nervous. The former president had stated before his arrest that an arrest could result in problems for the nation … ” the likes of which perhaps we’ve never seen”, whatever that means.

We can only wait to see what happens next. No one can presume to be above the law unless he or she is a dictator – and even dictators know that power has limits.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com