Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things make you late for dinner.
~Bilbo Baggins
The above title is taken from J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy book, The Hobbit. The quote is from the protagonist of the book, Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo was a reluctant, humble adventurer who is often thought to be an example of the everyday person. He didn’t ask for the journey that would reveal ‘nasty disturbing uncomfortable things’ and make him late for dinner. But once he knew the stakes, he agreed ‘to go on the adventure’. It could be said that the twelve jurors and six alternates channeled their inner ‘Bilbo’ when they agreed to serve in the election interference trial of a former President.
On May 30, 2024, the former president of the United States was found guilty on thirty-four felony counts related to election interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. The convictions were handed down by a jury of his peers after about nine hours of deliberation. The jury decided that the former president created fraudulent business records to illegally influence the 2016 election. The guilty verdict on all thirty-four felony charges was unanimous. Donald J. Trump was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of his fellow New York peers—everyday citizens who were willing to ‘be late for dinner’.
The jurors sat through five weeks of testimony that took them through a sordid journey of sexual encounters, conspiracy theories, and a series of gag orders directed to the defendant for his defamatory lies and accusations about the judge, the judge’s daughter, prosecutors and witnesses. Inflammatory allegations were also made about the jurors, but they were protected by the veil of anonymity. Because of the untrue statements made by Trump and other MAGA loyalists, those connected with the trial were harassed and threatened, including numerous death threats. The behavior of Donald Trump during his trial put an inordinate amount of stress on the judicial system and was an attack on our country’s rule of law. Nevertheless, the judge, the prosecutors, witnesses, journalists and jurors persisted—even when they were certain they would be ‘late for dinner’.
Did you Know:
There has been a lot of ‘noise’ following the verdict, with many of the GOP saying that the trial was unfair and contrived. They say that the process of holding Donald Trump accountable for his illegal actions is an act of ‘weaponizing’ the judicial system. They repeatedly state that the trial was influenced by President Biden and the Democrats. There is NO EVIDENCE to suggest that these statements are true. This moment calls for all of us to take a deep breath and to know what is true and what isn’t.
Vladamir Putin and Viktor Orbán have both said that Trump’s verdict is an example of his political rivals seeking revenge. Both men are dictators, have rigged elections and have taken over the free press and universities in their countries. Vladamir Putin has murdered his political enemies and imprisoned journalists who disagree with his policies. These two dictators are coming to Donald Trump’s defense. Why would they do that? Why would they care?
If you want to know what weaponizing the Judicial System looks like, here are three examples from our Top Ten favorites:
The normative relationship between the office of the President and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is a ‘hands off’ policy of not interfering in ongoing investigations. Unfortunately, that norm was a ‘gentleperson’s agreement’ and not codified as law. Trump violated those norms. He became openly involved in investigations that were occurring in the DOJ and attempted to exert undue influence over that department. Trump fired his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, over a disagreement about how Sessions was running the investigation into possible Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election—an investigation that involved the president and many in his orbit. Trump then installed Matthew Whittaker who was considered an unlikely and unqualified appointee. Matthew Whittaker was widely known to be a Trump loyalist. After a short and contentious tenure, Whittaker was forced out, and William Barr was confirmed as Attorney General.
When serving as the Attorney General of the United States, William Barr created a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s final report of his years long investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His summary downplayed Mueller’s findings about Russian contacts with Trump campaign associates as well as the damning evidence of the president’s obstruction of justice that Mueller had assembled. This summary was an attempt to manipulate public opinion about the findings to favor Donald Trump. This is highly unprecedented behavior for an Attorney General. The mission of the DOJ is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. The mission is not to protect the president if he is being investigated for violating the constitution or the rule of law.
In the summer and early fall of 2020, prior to the election, the DOJ was a revolving door of top ranking officials leaving and being replaced. William Barr resigned due to the ‘stop the steal’ movement instigated by Trump. Jeffery Clark, a little known lower ranking official, in an attempt to gain favor and privilege from Trump, proposed a scheme for the Department of Justice to officially question the results in Georgia, thus handing the electors to Trump and reversing the election outcome. There was an oval office confrontation on January 3, 2021 where top DOJ and White House officials threatened to resign en masse if Trump proceeded with Clark’s scheme. This plan included invoking the Insurrection Act if there were public protests of an overturned election.
The above examples are what weaponization of the judicial system looks like. The election interference trial involving the former president was fair and NOT an example of weaponizing the judicial system for political revenge. The American public is being gaslighted by MAGA Extremists. Political gaslighting involves the subversion of reality and twisting of facts on a mass scale thus making it difficult for citizens to agree on what is true. It is a propaganda tool for authoritarians.
Why It Matters:
For the first time in the history of the United States, we have a presumptive presidential candidate who is a convicted felon. On November 5, 2024, MAGA extremists will be on your ballot. We are spotlighting three high profile Indiana GOP candidates and their responses to Trump’s conviction. We must pay attention to the stories our state candidates are telling about this trial. As informed citizens, we need to be grounded and confident in the facts.
On Friday, May 31, 2024, following the verdict on the felony charges against Donald Trump the day before, Senator Mike Braun, our gubernatorial candidate for governor released the following official statement:
“Our justice system is being abused as a political weapon to go after former President Trump and affect an election. This indictment is clearly a politically-motivated prosecution by a DA who ignores murders and carjackings but will contort the law to attack his political enemy.”
On the same day, Representative Jim Banks who is now running for U.S. Senate released this media statement:
“It’s a sad day for our country, as Joe Biden and his liberal cronies have advanced their election interference plot. Joe Biden is behind all of this because he knows he can’t beat him at the ballot box. It’s a complete and total SHAM, and it has been since the beginning.”
Jim Banks went on to post on the social media platform X that “New York is a liberal sh-t hole”.
Victoria Spartz, US Representative from Indiana’s 5th district, was interviewed on the Lars Larson National Podcast on May 30, 2024, the day the guilty verdicts were announced. Lars Larson is an ultra-conservative radio and podcast host based in Portland, Oregon. He promotes conspiracy theories and hosted Representative Spartz on his ‘Conspiracy Theory Thursday’ segment. When asked about the guilty verdict, she said:
“Unfortunately, we are turning into a ‘banana republic’. Unfortunately, we are now using the judicial system under this administration to take down political opponents. They tried to do it in 2016… they tried to do it through the whole impeachment process of President Trump…and now they are trying to do it again; trying to steal the election by using the judicial system…..it’s not surprising what is happening in the state of New York, unfortunately that state is too far gone…”
The responses from these three candidates are examples of political gaslighting and misinformation. Their statements serve to delegitimize our democratic institutions, erode trust in our democratic processes and undermine the rule of law in our country. Donald Trump was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of his peers. The judge, prosecutors, witnesses and jury were defamed and threatened by a former president of the United States. Mike Braun, Jim Banks and Victoria Spartz are aiding and abetting this defamation. Their words are reckless and delegitimize the faithful work of the twelve everyday citizens who served for seven weeks on the jury.
What You Can Do:
Most Hoosiers do not agree with Mike Braun, Jim Banks or Victoria Spartz. It is not worth our time nor energy to try and influence those who do believe the talking points of the MAGA extremists. We must stay faithful to the facts, believe that our democratic institutions, while not perfect, are legitimate and worth preserving. Each of these candidates are running against ordinary, everyday people who believe in the constitution. Channel your inner Bilbo and go on a grand adventure of making sure non-extremists are the victors in November. If not now, when? If not you, who?
(Brand New Ideas)
The day after the New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts, Stephanie Gerber Wilson posted on her Substack newsletter Freedom Over Fascism, that our work is to reach out to the people we know who are outside of our bubbles (echo-chambers) and remind them that Donald Trump was convicted by a jury of his peers—ordinary citizens . The jurors were approved by Trump and his lawyers. Ordinary people indicted him, ordinary people tried and judged him. This is the counter narrative that we must be telling in response to the gaslighting, lies, misinformation and propaganda that Trump and MAGA extremists are spouting. This is our work as ordinary citizens. This is ‘our adventure’ over the next several months.
Monday, June 24, 2024 is the second anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Women’s March, the group that organized the Women’s March in 2017 following Trump’s inauguration, are organizing a national Women's Strike to commemorate this momentous and devastating ruling. No spending, No work, No school as a protest to this ruling and a statement of solidarity that we won’t go back. Let’s stand together on that day to make a statement about our commitment to fight extremism and protect our personal and collective freedoms. Follow the above link and sign up to participate. Our families will have to ‘make their own dinner’ that day. Spread the word!
It is our responsibility as citizens of this democracy to be informed of the facts and avoid repeating misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. Social media can be a black hole of echo-chambers and a firehose of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. Limit your time on these platforms. Use discretion when referring to sources of information. Become skilled at distinguishing between fact and opinion.
Here is a video from Tara McGowan, publisher of Courier Newsroom, a digital news platform that is dedicated to facts related to politics, public policy and politicians. This video succinctly tells us what we must do as ordinary citizens.
We recently found another amazing grassroots organization/movement that empowers citizens to advocate and take action on behalf of democracy. They offer great tips and ideas for taking action —ideas for everyday citizens. (We’re looking at you. ) Check it out! It’s called Building Bridges for America.
(Old Favorites)
Speaking of building bridges, become a ‘builder’ and not a divider. We must understand that extremism is a mindset, not a person, and our work is to resist that mindset and to move beyond ‘us and them’ thinking. Daniel Lubetzky, co-founder of KIND energy bars and founding partner of Starts With Us has co-created a global platform called Builders. Here he is on TED Talk explaining the new global movement. Once you listen, commit to being a builder and do something–yes we mean you!
Subscribe to Red, Wine & Blue’s podcast The Cost of Extremism. While you are at it, subscribe to Red, Wine & Blue. They are an advocacy organization focused in five swing states, but their resources are portable and can be used anywhere. They are a wealth of ideas for activism, focusing on ‘suburban moms’ and their issues. Just scroll down from the home page and fill in the information to get on their mailing list. You won’t be sorry!
Volunteer to be a campaign supporter in local elections, especially in those districts with new faces challenging the status quo. We are particularly excited about the US Senate race between MAGA loyalist Jim Banks and Valerie McCray and the Governor’s race between Mike Braun and Jennifer McCormick.
Another significant race for Hoosiers is District 69, where Jim Lucas is facing a highly qualified Democratic candidate Trish Whitcomb. Jim Lucas, the incumbent, is most known for his racist social media posts and flashing his gun in the State House to a group of concerned high school students advocating for greater gun safety. We can support non-extremist candidates even in districts other than our own, because if a MAGA extremist is elected in any district, they sit on important committees and influence legislation that impacts all Hoosiers. Volunteer and/or donate for Whitcomb’s campaign.
Host a ‘giving circle’ for candidates that support women’s rights to reproductive health care, those supporting public school teachers beyond arming them for possible mass shootings, candidates standing up for our LGTBQ+ young people. A ‘giving circle’ is a gathering of friends and neighbors for the purpose of fundraising, but instead of giving individual donations, you collect small donations from the ‘circle’ and give a bigger amount to your favorite candidate. It’s a fun way to connect with others, to raise public awareness about a local candidate and to make a difference in their campaigns.
Please forward this newsletter to friends, families, and community organizations that you are involved with. It is important to reach across race, place and party on your invitation list. Encourage others to subscribe.
Hearts and minds are changed through community, connection and authentic conversations. Help us grow this movement as we prepare for the election of our lifetime.
Debbie, Rachel and Barbara
Notes
For more information on how other Indiana Senators and U.S. Representatives reacted to the verdict, many of whom are up for re-election click here
The American Constitution Society (ACS) is a progressive legal organization that functions as a counterweight to, and is modeled after, the Federalist Society. Here is a PDF fact sheet that describes the disparity between Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Final Report and Attorney General William Barr’s summary.
For a summary of both President Biden’s remarks following the verdict and former President Donald Trump’s comments, see the BBC’s commentary.
For more information about Lars Larson, and his evolution from award winning journalism to conspiracy theory radio host, click here
For more information about Jeffrey Clark and his plan to support the overturning of the election, click here