In recent remarks online, Donald Trump Jr. effectively ignored the long history of supporters of his father calling for the jailing of one of his leading political opponents, Hillary Clinton.
Trump Jr. characterized a condemnation from Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the Russian prosecution of opposition leader Alexei Navalny as hypocritical considering the treatment former President Donald Trump has faced. There remains, however, no substantial evidence that Trump’s multiple criminal cases were in procedural terms handled in any significant way differently from the many cases that move through the grand jury system in the U.S. on a regular basis. And with the former president himself and his supporters, they often advocated for what observers found amounted to extrajudicial action, chanting to “lock up” Hillary Clinton (or other opponents) without evident regard for the ordinary processes of law.
“Exactly ZERO self awareness!!! You really ceded the moral high ground here… Wonder where they got the idea that it’s acceptable to jail your political opposition?” Trump Jr. posted, responding directly to Blinken.
Gail Helt, who worked as a CIA analyst for just over a decade, responded. “From your father, for one,” she told Donald Jr. “You know him — the guy who isn’t in prison, who gets ample time to lawyer up, who gets months of discovery, and who gets a fair trial. Tell me again who has zero self awareness, Junior?”
Others responded similarly, sharing a screenshot in support of the “lock her up” stance from Donald Trump Jr.’s own Twitter account.
As for Trump himself, he now must answer in court for recent comments he made online that appeared threatening potentially towards prosecutors and others involved in the cases he’s faced, which now include a set of charges related to his attempts after the last presidential election to stay in power despite losing the race. “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” Trump said Friday. A spokesperson associated with the ex-president claimed these comments referred to special interest groups and super PACs that have challenged him as he seeks another term as president.
From your father, for one.
You know him — the guy who isn’t in prison, who gets ample time to lawyer up, who gets months of discovery, and who gets a fair trial.
Tell me again who has zero self awareness, Junior? https://t.co/5FX3Zz43ho
— Gail Helt (@ghelt) August 5, 2023
https://t.co/ml9OQuyxqb pic.twitter.com/3dgo6XEuNy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 5, 2023
