When sufficient contortions are made in the 'rule of law' to weaponize it and target specific individuals, it is no longer law, but a weapon. We see this on a daily basis, with Trump, with Smirnov, and with others. While egregious violators of other laws, arguably far more a threat to the populace--or even the rule of law itself than those pursued, when one group is attacked on a political basis and the verdict is more concerned with politics than guilt or innocence (four policemen in Minneapolis), we effectively have a politically driven series of show trials, not the rule of law.
The rule of law died in the streets of Minnesota, or Missouri, or Maryland, years ago, the necrosis has just reached the highest levels.