Forget the Pardons, the Trumps Should Help 1/6ers With Legal Bills
mattamayer.substack.com
Every day I get a handful of emails from entities affiliated with the Trump family asking for money. Based on news reports, Donald Trump affiliated entities have raised over $120 million in the last year. Republicans have remained loyal to the Trump family through thick and thin—the Access Hollywood tape, the Clinton-Russia hoax, the first impeachment, the second impeachment, and countless other highs and lows over the last six years. They showed up when they were needed. They voted in record numbers. They donated their hard-earned money and still do.
Word is Donald Trump is big on loyalty. So am I. With Trump, however, Republicans need to ask: does that loyalty go both ways?
Over the last year, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Joe Biden have zealously pursued nearly anyone who stepped foot on to the Capital grounds and charged them with mostly process felonies (except, of course, Ray Epps). While we all agree those who hurt law enforcement officers or damaged property should face the consequences of their actions, hundreds of 1/6ers merely trespassed as part of a large throng. Those men, women, and their families are being bankrupted by prosecutors fanatically engaged in political persecutions of their perceived enemies: deplorable Trump voters.
In many ways, the prosecution of 1/6ers is like the prosecution of minorities for crack. Let me explain. Our penal system went after mostly poor black Americans aggressively for possession and use of crack while at the same time giving wrist slaps to wealthy white Americans busted for similar possession and use of cocaine. That disparity led to criminal justice reforms. Today, the system is going after Trump voting 1/6ers forcefully for rioting at a federal building while at the same time ignoring or giving wrist slaps to left-wing rioters who engaged in rioting at federal buildings like courthouses, Senate offices, and even The White House where thousands of police officers were killed and injured and billions of dollars in damage done.
Yesterday’s discriminatory racial prosecutions are today’s political prosecutions.
So, while Vice President Kamala Harris lent her voice to funding bail for left-wing rioters, including an accused murderer, one has to ask where are the Trumps when it comes to raising legal funds to help non-violent, non-destructive 1/6ers? Where is Trump’s loyalty to his people? Not only could Trump or his kids lend their voices in a way that would raise millions for the legal defense of 1/6ers, but each of them is wealthy enough to write generous checks to legal defense funds. Perhaps they have supported such funds anonymously so as not to create an issue. If so, then good for them, but where are their voices? If they haven’t though, perhaps it is time they stopped raising money for the various political funds and spent a few weeks helping save hundreds of families from bankruptcy and from having to cut plea deals to stop the financial hemorrhaging.
It is a sad commentary on America that countless lawyers from big name law firms eagerly offered to do pro bono work to defend real foreign terrorists locked up in Gitmo after the 9/11 terrorist attack, but not one stepped up to defend American 1/6ers from political over-prosecution. We expect that conduct from lawyers. From a former president who switched parties more than one can count and came very late to the political game, yet who still receives the love and loyalty of tens of millions of Republican voters, however, they should expect him and his family to have their back as much as they’ve had his back. His most ardent supporters desperately need help.
On a personal level, I voted from Trump in both primaries and general elections. I defended him countless times in writing, on air, and among friends and families. I overlooked his personality traits that caused so many problems because the policies pushed by his team mattered more. But, if he and his family fail to lift a finger for the 1/6ers whose lives are being ruined because they showed up when he asked them to, I simply will never support Trump or his kids again. Loyalty must be a two-way street and it must be a litmus test for Republican voters going forward.
Recently at a rally in Texas, Trump indicated he might pardon 1/6ers should he become president again in 2025. That pardon, however, requires Republicans to get behind Trump again in 2024. A great leader knows his greatness doesn’t come from what he does for himself; rather, greatness comes from what he does for others, especially those most in need. Trump’s people need him now, not in 2025. Will he be there for them? The answer to that question should matter come 2024.
Forget the Pardons, the Trumps Should Help 1/6ers With Legal Bills
Forget the Pardons, the Trumps Should Help 1/6ers With Legal Bills
Forget the Pardons, the Trumps Should Help 1/6ers With Legal Bills
Every day I get a handful of emails from entities affiliated with the Trump family asking for money. Based on news reports, Donald Trump affiliated entities have raised over $120 million in the last year. Republicans have remained loyal to the Trump family through thick and thin—the Access Hollywood tape, the Clinton-Russia hoax, the first impeachment, the second impeachment, and countless other highs and lows over the last six years. They showed up when they were needed. They voted in record numbers. They donated their hard-earned money and still do.
Word is Donald Trump is big on loyalty. So am I. With Trump, however, Republicans need to ask: does that loyalty go both ways?
Over the last year, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Joe Biden have zealously pursued nearly anyone who stepped foot on to the Capital grounds and charged them with mostly process felonies (except, of course, Ray Epps). While we all agree those who hurt law enforcement officers or damaged property should face the consequences of their actions, hundreds of 1/6ers merely trespassed as part of a large throng. Those men, women, and their families are being bankrupted by prosecutors fanatically engaged in political persecutions of their perceived enemies: deplorable Trump voters.
In many ways, the prosecution of 1/6ers is like the prosecution of minorities for crack. Let me explain. Our penal system went after mostly poor black Americans aggressively for possession and use of crack while at the same time giving wrist slaps to wealthy white Americans busted for similar possession and use of cocaine. That disparity led to criminal justice reforms. Today, the system is going after Trump voting 1/6ers forcefully for rioting at a federal building while at the same time ignoring or giving wrist slaps to left-wing rioters who engaged in rioting at federal buildings like courthouses, Senate offices, and even The White House where thousands of police officers were killed and injured and billions of dollars in damage done.
Yesterday’s discriminatory racial prosecutions are today’s political prosecutions.
So, while Vice President Kamala Harris lent her voice to funding bail for left-wing rioters, including an accused murderer, one has to ask where are the Trumps when it comes to raising legal funds to help non-violent, non-destructive 1/6ers? Where is Trump’s loyalty to his people? Not only could Trump or his kids lend their voices in a way that would raise millions for the legal defense of 1/6ers, but each of them is wealthy enough to write generous checks to legal defense funds. Perhaps they have supported such funds anonymously so as not to create an issue. If so, then good for them, but where are their voices? If they haven’t though, perhaps it is time they stopped raising money for the various political funds and spent a few weeks helping save hundreds of families from bankruptcy and from having to cut plea deals to stop the financial hemorrhaging.
It is a sad commentary on America that countless lawyers from big name law firms eagerly offered to do pro bono work to defend real foreign terrorists locked up in Gitmo after the 9/11 terrorist attack, but not one stepped up to defend American 1/6ers from political over-prosecution. We expect that conduct from lawyers. From a former president who switched parties more than one can count and came very late to the political game, yet who still receives the love and loyalty of tens of millions of Republican voters, however, they should expect him and his family to have their back as much as they’ve had his back. His most ardent supporters desperately need help.
On a personal level, I voted from Trump in both primaries and general elections. I defended him countless times in writing, on air, and among friends and families. I overlooked his personality traits that caused so many problems because the policies pushed by his team mattered more. But, if he and his family fail to lift a finger for the 1/6ers whose lives are being ruined because they showed up when he asked them to, I simply will never support Trump or his kids again. Loyalty must be a two-way street and it must be a litmus test for Republican voters going forward.
Recently at a rally in Texas, Trump indicated he might pardon 1/6ers should he become president again in 2025. That pardon, however, requires Republicans to get behind Trump again in 2024. A great leader knows his greatness doesn’t come from what he does for himself; rather, greatness comes from what he does for others, especially those most in need. Trump’s people need him now, not in 2025. Will he be there for them? The answer to that question should matter come 2024.