Staff Reports
Despite an avalanche of legal troubles, former President Donald Trump continues to press forward in his campaign for a second term, defying predictions that multiple indictments and a conviction in Manhattan would derail his political ambitions. With four criminal indictments under his belt and an astounding 91 felony counts to boot, Trump has become adept at navigating the legal labyrinth that various Democratic prosecutors have set in his path. While some may see troubles ahead, it seems like Trump’s attorneys are working a magic act, artfully delaying proceedings to stretch them well past election day.
Last year alone, Trump’s legal team faced a barrage of charges, but now, with election day just around the corner, much of that legal firepower has fizzled out. Judges are weighing pretrial issues, and pending appeals are effectively putting the brakes on any significant courtroom drama. Legal analysts suggest that, rather than sinking his campaign, these legal challenges may merely be a speed bump for Trump, with the former president potentially emerging unscathed from these trials.
Trump Continues To Stack Up Wins In Court As The Campaign Continueshttps://t.co/n6ogt9VtqG
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) September 16, 2024
The Democratic Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, known for being the first to go after Trump, managed to secure a conviction but not without causing more headlines than actual harm. A jury found Trump guilty of allegedly covering up payments to his former attorney related to a hush-money scandal involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Talk about a plot twist worthy of Hollywood! As if that weren’t enough, speculation was rampant that Trump might have to accept the Republican nomination while behind bars. But thanks to a Supreme Court ruling establishing presidential immunity for official acts, Bragg’s legal efforts are now gasping for air.
Delays continue, with sentencing adjourned multiple times, now postponed to a date conveniently after the upcoming November elections. Judge Juan Merchan, seemingly aware of the political implications of dragging out the legal proceedings, is doing his best to ensure that no one can accuse the courtroom of being a player in the political landscape. Ironically, this could mean that those directly involved in the case are now trapped in a legal limbo, even as Trump stumps for votes.
Meanwhile, the federal prosecution efforts led by Jack Smith appear more like a sitcom than a serious judicial pursuit. Trump’s appeals have effectively stalled progress as Judge Tanya Chutkan proceeds slowly with a case that remains well out of reach of the election calendar. If recent comments from legal scholars are anything to go by, a Trump victory could turn this election into a historical spectacle defined not by ballots cast but by jury verdicts never issued. Smith may start to think that the only thing slower than justice is his legal strategy.
As for the Georgia case against Trump, it seems to be falling apart under scrutiny. Questions about the integrity of District Attorney Fani Willis and her relationship with a special prosecutor have raised eyebrows and cast doubt on the entire prosecution narrative. With charges against Trump already reduced and old relationships under the microscope, it’s becoming increasingly clear that legal entanglements in Georgia may not hold much water, leaving the door wide open for Trump to claim yet another victory against what has become a shattered legal assault.
