Former President Donald Trump continues to complain online as he faces the serious possibility of more criminal charges, including in a new criminal case from Special Counsel Jack Smith at the federal Justice Department. Observers are anticipating charges from Smith that relate to attempts after the last presidential election to secure another four years in office for Trump despite his comprehensively documented loss to Biden.
Close to midnight on Monday, meaning when it was still Sunday in the eastern U.S., Trump took to his personal account on Truth Social with an almost entirely capitalized rant. “How many times can Crooked Joe Biden’s DEPARTMENT OF INJUSTICE, TOGETHER WITH THEIR LOCAL DEMOCRAT D.A.’S & A.G.’S, INDICT HIS POLITICAL OPPONENT DURING THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN?” Trump asked his followers. “DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO AMERICA? IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. WE MUST STOP THESE “MONSTERS” FROM FURTHER DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY!”
The criminal investigations that have preceded the charges Trump has already faced across two cases were started and publicly known well before he confirmed the 2024 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination that he was expected to launch.
“Do you think that A.G. Garland, and Deranged Jack Smith, understand that we are in the middle of a major political campaign for President of the United States?” Trump added. “Have they looked at recent poll numbers? Why didn’t they bring these ridiculous charges years before – Why did they wait to bring them NOW – A virtually unheard of scenario? PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!”
Many have contested the underlying idea that a candidate running for federal office as Trump is currently doing ought to be generally exempt from the kind of criminal scrutiny he’s facing. On a related front, it’s already been determined that investigative action against legislative allies of his isn’t entirely unwarranted under the Constitutional rules that ordinarily protect such figures from investigations related to official duties. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was directed to testify despite the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which provides such legislative protections, in the Georgia investigation into Trump and others. And the same clause was overcome as federal investigators sought testimony from Trump’s former second-in-command, Mike Pence.
