J’can Republicans stand by ex-president, adamant charges are trumped-up

NEW YORK:

Several Jamaica-born Republicans have condemned the indictment of former United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday, describing the charges brought against him as political victimisation.

In unsealing a historic 34-count felony indictment, New York prosecutors said on Tuesday that Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through a series of hush money payments designed to silence claims that he feared would be harmful to his candidacy.

The charges arose from a series of cheques that Trump or his company allegedly wrote during the presidential campaign to his lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, for his role in reportedly making a payment to a porn actor, who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump years earlier.

The arraignment in Manhattan, though largely procedural in nature, was nonetheless the first time in US history that a sitting or former president has faced a judge in his own criminal prosecution.

The indictment amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings, unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.

“I don’t think it will work. This is not the first attempt and like all the others, these charges will not stand. He will win in court,” Jamaican Donavan Sybliss told The Gleaner on Tuesday, reacting to the charges.

According to Sybliss, the charges are politically motivated. He vowed to continue supporting the former president, who was impeached twice by the US House but was never convicted in the US Senate.

“I voted for him in the elections and I will be voting for him again,” Sybliss said. “Even if he is found guilty by a New York jury, the verdict will be overturned on appeal.”

WITHOUT MERIT

Desmond Brown, who is now retired and was born in Jamaica, also believes that the charges are without merit.

“These charges were investigated by the previous Manhattan district attorney and no charges were brought. They were investigated by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and dismissed. Why are they being brought at this time if it is not political?” he pondered.

Brown, who previously ran in local government elections in Clarendon on a Jamaica Labour Party ticket some years ago, pointed out that when the current Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, campaigned for office, he did so on a platform of getting Trump.

“This is all a political vendetta,” he said, adding that if the district attorney had a strong case, he would not have brought 34 charges.

Bragg has pushed back at suggestions that the charges are politically motivated.

The investigation also concerns six-figure payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both say they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he got into politics. Trump denies having sexual liaisons with both women and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.

All 34 counts are linked to a series of cheques that were written to Cohen presumably to reimburse him for his role in paying off Daniels. Those payments, made over 12 months, were recorded in various internal company documents as being for a legal retainer that prosecutors say didn’t exist. Nine of those monthly cheques were paid out of Trump’s personal accounts, but records related to them were maintained in the Trump Organization’s data system.

“It’s not just about one payment. It is 34 false statements and business records that were concealing criminal conduct,” District Attorney Bragg told reporters, when asked how the alleged payments were connected.

Carla Spalding, a Republican candidate in the 2022 elections in Florida, has also decried the charges.

“Our republic is at risk and we cannot afford to lose our democracy. The laws are being weaponised against political opponents and we cannot be sheep,” she told The Gleaner.

The Holy Childhood past student charged that it is part of a scheme by Trump’s opponents who are trying to weaken his bid for the 2024 presidential election.

“He is the only one who can save America and the world. We need a leader who will not be a laughing stock on the world stage,” she said.

Spalding theorised that Trump’s indictment will increase his grassroots support, putting him in an advantageous position to win the Republican nomination.

Scherie Murray, a former Republican candidate who heads a non-profit organisation, said that she is hurt by the situation.

‘DEPRESSING DAY’

“It is a sad day to see him indicted. It is a depressing day where Americans are concerned, and I am concerned how our country is being seen around the world,” said Murray, who is a Republican committeewoman for the 29th State District in Queens.

“I believe that it is all political persecution. It is all based on getting Trump. It is a blatant disrespect for the rule of law,” she told The Gleaner, further accusing the district attorney of using the case to try and make a name for himself.

Ainsworth Powell, a registered nurse, believes the charges will backfire for the district attorney and the Democratic Party.

“No one wants to see anyone victimised and that is what they are doing to Mr Trump,” he said, adding that Trump will make full use of social media to make his case to the American public and this will win him the nomination and eventually usher him back to the presidency.

Educator Dr Rupert Green, who grew up in Waterhouse, St Andrew, was more ambivalent.

“Trump is a dangerous man, but the people in the Republican Party do not want to oppose him,” he opined.

Although noting that no one is above the law, Green believes that the American people will support Trump because he constantly challenges the system.

Green pointed out that he has never voted for Trump – nor does he intend to – but he believes the indictment will give him momentum.

“I hope that he will not be the nominee for the Republican Party,” he said.

Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed. He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade from Trump Tower, communicating in real time his anger at the process.

“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse,” he posted on his Truth Social platform. “Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

Afterward the process was complete, his lawyer Todd Blanche told reporters that it was a “sad day for the country”.

“You don’t expect this to happen to somebody who was president of the United States,” he said.

After his arraignment, Trump returned to his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, for a prime-time address to campaign supporters. At least 500 prominent supporters were invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans in attendance.

“There is no case,” he insisted last night.

“They can’t beat us at the ballot box, so they try to beat us at the law,” he added.

The next court date is December 4, although it is not clear if Trump will be required to appear.

– Additional reporting by The Associated Press.

editorial@gleanerjm.com