New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s indictment of former President Donald Trump last week was a blow to America’s status as a democratic republic. Although Bragg alone brought the indictment, he would not have taken such a momentous step without the full backing of party leaders. So, it’s fair to say he acted on behalf of the Democratic Party, which has become increasingly emboldened after evading responsibility for countless unprecedented, unethical, and un-American deeds for so long.
But Democrats have overplayed their hand. Trump’s indictment will permanently mar our politics and even our justice system because it sent the message that the U.S. government, created to preserve and protect liberty, is not above using the nation’s law enforcement apparatus as a weapon against a political opponent, a tactic commonly employed by authoritarian leaders seeking to maintain power.
As damaging as the optics of this move have been domestically, its implications go well beyond our shores. With this move, the United States has further lost moral authority, and foreigners are quickly losing respect for America.
