Trump gets 'breaks' and 'luxuries' the 'average criminal defendant' doesn’t: conservative

28 March 2024

Despite the fact that he is facing four criminal indictments and a variety of civil lawsuits, several polls released in March suggest presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has a good shot at returning to the White House on January 20, 2025.

Trump has had narrow single-digit leads over Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden in many March polls, although some polls released in late March show Biden with small leads of 3 percent (Quinnipiac) or 1 percent (Morning Consult).

Veteran conservative consultant/strategist Stewart Stevens, a so-called "Never Trumper," has predicted that Biden will enjoy a major surge as November draws closer and voters get a really close look at Trump. But as of late March, the election is still looking like a very close race and a major dogfight.

In her March 28 column, Washington Post conservative commentator Jennifer Rubin laments that Trump has enjoyed way too many "luxuries" and "breaks" in his legal cases. And for that reason, she says, the only real accountability may come when Americans vote in November's presidential election.

"Understandably, many Americans are frustrated by the interminable delays in four-times-indicted former President Donald Trump's criminal trials and enforcement of New York's massive civil judgment for fraudulent valuation of his properties," Rubin argues. "Trump can pay for a fleet of lawyers to file every imaginable defense and appeal. Certainly, the average criminal defendant would not enjoy 'luxuries' such as the freedom to bad-mouth judges, prosecutors and court personnel practically without consequence, as Trump has."

Rubin adds, "The latest Trump break: The New York appellate court reduced from $464 million to $175 million the bond required while he appeals the New York civil case, although the judge-assigned monitor and ban on borrowing from New York banks stand. Trump was given 10 days to come up with the money."

The Washington Post columnist notes that Trump's attorneys have "thrown up one frivolous defense after another."

"In the federal classified documents case proceeding in Florida, Trump has been effective in slowing the wheels of justice almost to a halt, because Judge Aileen M. Cannon — who he appointed, remember — keeps entertaining frivolous arguments," Rubin observes. "Worse, she has demanded briefing, held oral arguments and then refused to rule."

Trump's trial in special counsel Jack Smith's election interference case, Rubin points out, has been delayed by the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear his presidential immunity argument. But thanks to Justice Juan Merchan, jury selection in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.'s hush money case is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 15 — assuming there are no more delays.

"In sum, some Trump cases will likely get pushed beyond the election," Rubin concludes. "He might even wriggle out of the Mar-a-Lago documents charges. The New York civil judgment against him could get reduced. Less-wealthy defendants would not get such breaks. However, with tough-minded judges doing their jobs in the D.C. court and in Manhattan, plus major civil judgments — including two in E. Jean Carroll’s favor — already in the bag, Trump will not escape justice entirely."

Rubin continues, "In less than three weeks, he will face a jury in a criminal case — something he has sought to avoid for so long. Only voters can spare Trump the consequences of his conduct — by electing him president again in November. That would be the true miscarriage of justice."

Jennifer Rubin's full Washington Post column is available at this link (subscription required).

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