---

Trump (and many of his allies) are using every delaying tactic and deception to avoid criminal prosecution on an ever-growing set of federal and state charges. Just as Putin is avoiding criminal prosecution for clear and present war crimes, so will Trump attempt to hogtie the legal system in hopes of regaining the presidency.

Due process is a cornerstone of our country. But so are opportunities to “game the system” with legal maneuvers, delaying tactics, and anything requiring adjudication or consideration. Trump and his minions filed 60-plus court challenges in an effort to overturn the 2020 election.

While he ultimately failed and, in concert with a dubious legal team, looked like a bunch of bungling buffoons, his efforts did major damage to US voter confidence.

First, he showed how delaying, deception, and outright lying tactics can be used to confuse and confound. Partly as a result of these efforts, current midterm concerns about the ability to conclude free and fair elections in a timely manner have proliferated and sown seeds of doubt throughout the nation. In a similar vein, he (and his allies) are fighting current legal investigations.

Re-establishing confidence in free and fair elections starts with holding Trump accountable via legal proceedings to address legitimate charges and indictments. Anyone who believes in our system of justice and has a brain can see that multiple charges against Trump merit letting the trial system runs its course for “guilty” or “not guilty” verdicts from juries and, if applicable, judges.

Regardless of those verdicts, the proceedings will show that he ultimately was called to account for his acts, tactics, tricks, and documentable, incessant lies. In turn, that shows that our revered cornerstone of fair jurisprudence still works at some level—despite delays and dysfunction.

One can argue that, even if inexplicably found not guilty of any or all charges, Trump escapes punishment for the crime. I disagree. There’s a great ending scene in the movie “Princess Bride” that explains how bad guy Prince Humperdinck will suffer for his wrongdoing. Our hero, Westley, says “to the pain.”

Humperdinck replies, “I don’t think I’m quite familiar with that phrase.”…Westley says, “I’ll explain and I’ll use small words so that you’ll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon…To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose… The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.”

When Humperdinck adds “ears” to the list, Westley responds, “Your ears you keep and I’ll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, ‘Dear God! What is that thing,’ will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.”

There are punishments worse than incarceration. For Donald Trump, trial proceedings themselves for one or more criminal offenses will certainly leave him suffering anguish, angst, and anger galore.

###

Before voting, take the time to research facts and use your brain to connect the dots—instead of blindly drinking the Kool-Aid peddled by Trump and his hogwashing allies. In the same vein, avoid mindless consumption of the extreme left’s Kool-Aid.