For Trump, the Fat Lady never sings

 For Trump, the Fat Lady never sings

Over 400 citizens of Trump Nation have been arrested on charges related to their insurrection of the Capitol January 6. They took to heart the pleas of their leader, losing re-election candidate Trump, storming the seat of government to overturn the election at his direction.  Hundreds were injured and 5 died. Two Capitol police committed suicide shortly thereafter.

They nearly succeeded. Had congresspersons they hunted been captured, injured, even killed, the certification of Biden’s win may have caused enough chaos for Trump to retain, at least temporarily, the presidency.

Trump’s words and deeds before, during and after insurrection all establish probably cause for charging him with conspiracy to overturn the election. It includes Trump’s recorded call to Georgia election officials to simply change the vote in his favor.

That is possibly the gravest crime a sitting president could commit.  

 

Yet, three months out, Trump continues telling his millions of remaining supporters, indeed the entire nation, he won an election stolen from him, the violence he incited notwithstanding.  

One might surmise the perpetrator of such an existential threat to our polity would keep a low profile regarding his criminality. Not Trump. Apparently, the lure of millions pouring in from his true believers, the drive to retain control of the GOP; indeed, even a return to power, have short circuited any rational, patriotic thinking.

His continued promotion of a fraudulent election has caused federal prosecutors to argue against bail for some rioters based on potential of their being incited by Trump to further violence. It has empowered the GOP to embrace Trump; even submit hundreds of legislative initiatives to suppress the Democratic vote in the 2022 election.

Those of us still concerned about the future of our democracy continue to ponder: Why, 114 days after the worst crime of domestic political treason in our history, Trump has not been arrested?