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The press has to point out that former VP candidate John Edwards was indicted for the same thing [1]

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Date: 2023-03-30  

John Edwards Mug Shots

Following news of Trump’s indictment in NYC, Republicans obviously are yelling that this is an abominable corruption of the justice system and a dangerous, irresponsible criminalization of politics.

I’ve learned that it is beyond vital not to roll our eyes and ignore such rhetoric. To the contrary, these false narratives often become accepted wisdom, or at least accepted framing, precisely because they are not directly confronted and refuted.

So, it is important for the Democrats to make sure that the press acknowledges that former Democratic Senator, presidential primary candidate, and general election VP candidate John Edwards was indicted and tried for very similar charges — violating campaign finance laws by not reporting donations and associated payments to silence a former girlfriend:

John Edwards, the former vice-presidential candidate who wrecked his political career with an extramarital affair, walked free from court on Thursday after a chaotic end to a month-long trial for using campaign funds to cover up his infidelity. . . . . The trial provided an insight into the dramatic events behind the scenes as Edwards, 58, fought with his dying wife, Elizabeth, his aides and ultimately his political ambitions as he sought to keep a lid on his relationship with his pregnant mistress, Rielle Hunter, while trying to run as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2008.

The DOJ failed to obtain a conviction against Edwards, and many people — including Republicans — will soon cite the Edwards criminal case as evidence to support the argument that it is unwise to bring criminal charges based on a politician’s surreptitious, “hush money” payments related to sexual peccadillos. Maybe that is correct; maybe not.

But the Edwards case is an important example to refute the notion that similar charges against Trump are “unprecedented,” “wrong,” or “corrupt,” Like Edwards, Trump is free to mount his most vigorous defense in court.

And, more starkly, we already know that criminal charges based on the exact same facts were brought against former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen — and Cohen served jail time over this.

So, when you consider the Cohen case, and the Edwards case, it is preposterous to argue that anything sordid, much more corrupt or threatening to American Freedom, is going on with a similar indictment of Trump.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/30/2161232/-The-press-has-to-point-out-that-former-VP-candidate-John-Edwards-was-indicted-for-the-same-thing

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