Merchan’s Verdict: A Conviction Without Consequence › American Greatness
Roger Kimball
I was at a dinner event on Thursday night when the news came that Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett decided to throw a sop to the left. At issue was whether the Democrat activist New York judge and Joe Biden contributor Juan Merchan should be allowed to sentence Donald Trump in the magic bookkeeping-error-non-disclosure-agreement case in which a possible misdemeanor underwent a legal transubstantiation and the bread of misdemeanor suddenly became a polished thirty-four-count felony. Amazing.
Along the way, Merchan issued gag orders against Trump, interfered with his campaigning, and generally made it plain that he was singling Trump out for unfair treatment. Still, Roberts and Barrett joined the Court’s left flank to render a 5-4 decision against Trump. Merchan could proceed with the sentencing of the past and now future president of the United States.
Merchan found Trump guilty, guilty, guilty last May. Thirty-four times did he pronounce “guilty.” The world was amazed. The entire case was unprecedented. Not only was Merchan himself a Democrat activist, his daughter Loren has made millions from consulting for progressive candidates from Kamala Harris on down. The highly publicized case against Trump was a boon to her business.
What a long time ago May seems. Joe Biden was still running for president in May. Donald Trump had yet to be shot by a would-be assassin. And Kamala Harris was still cackling in the wings.
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