Trump’s indictment was good. Courtesy | Wikimedia Commons.

When a Manhattan grand jury indicted former President Donald Trump, many right-wing news outlets argued the indictment was a purely political attempt to harm his chances in the 2024 presidential race and not based in fact or law. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene compared the indictment to the persecution of Jesus Christ. 

Once again, Republicans have shown their undying loyalty to a disgraced figure. In reality, the indictment of Trump is necessary for democracy, but it also serves as a boost to the president’s primary campaign within the Republican Party; in addition, the indictment is based in both fact and law. 

The indictment of Trump is a good thing for showcasing the strength of the American democratic system. Under a democracy, it is important that no one is able to resist the law through force, wealth, or power. In spite of his status as a former president, Trump is not above the rule of law, and this indictment proves that. This should serve as an example to others who seek to usurp the justice system through intimidation or other means.

Some have suggested that this political prosecution may open the door for the prosecution of Democrats in red states. If, as in Trump’s case, there was evidence that presidents Clinton, Obama, or Biden had committed felonies, I would also hope that they would be aggressively prosecuted. To reiterate, no one should be above the law in a democratic nation. Unfortunately for Republicans wishing to exact political revenge, no such evidence has been found.

Trump’s indictment, while it will hurt him in the general election, will also serve as a boost to his Republican primary campaign. As has been noted in the “Campus Speaks on Trump’s Indictment” piece in this publication on April 6th, some believe that Trump’s indictment will allow him to present himself as a martyr to Republican voters. Because of this indictment, Trump will be able to promote himself as someone so against the political establishment that he served jail time for it. While Trump was already the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, this indictment may push him even further over the top. 

Trump’s indictment is not  a political prosecution; the legal maneuver used by District Attorney Alvin Bragg is an attempt to find justice through the proper means. As stated by Bragg, “[u]nder New York state law, it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud, intent to conceal another crime.” Bragg would not have pursued the charges without believing there was at least credible evidence that a crime had been committed, and to suggest otherwise would be absurd. 

According to a recent piece written by NPR, the indictment is a culmination of investigation into the former president’s bribery of Stormy Daniels, the former porn star paid to keep quiet about sexual encounters with Trump, especially evidenced through the connected guilty plea of Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer who alleged multiple campaign finance violations. In this case, it is clear that there is too much evidence for the DA not to pursue prosecution.

More than political motivations have played into the prosecution of Donald Trump. Bragg found significant evidence showing the possibility of campaign finance violations and, in accordance with his job description, pursued the prosecution of potential crimes. Such a prosecution is important for the state of our democracy, to show that the rule of law is a principle which applies equally to all, no matter their wealth or power.