A wary US watches Trump in criminal court, hoping for justice

NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) – Former President Donald Trump’s surrender on Tuesday to criminal charges came after clashes broke out between his fans and opponents outside a courtroom in downtown Manhattan. himself marked by a cycle of badmouthing and anger from familiar lawmakers and Trump.

But many Americans who say they see this case and other Trump investigations hold out hope that American democracy will bring justice, not political scores. .

Carla Sambra said she drove an hour from her home in Rockland County, New York, to line up outside a Manhattan courthouse so she could witness Trump’s indictment in person. “It’s hard to say if they’re right, especially as a woman of color,” said Sambra, who is black, adding that she hasn’t voted since she voted for President Barack Obama.

Americans’ trust in institutions such as Congress, the TV news and the presidency dropped last year to the lowest average level in more than 40 years, according to a Gallup poll. Only 14% said they were “extremely” trusting, half the level they were a decade ago.

The case of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is the first of several involving Trump as the country gears up for the 2024 presidential election, in which he is the frontrunner for the Republican Party. Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer and a law professor at the University of Minnesota, said, “There’s a lot of irony between the far right and the far left. Both sides say, ‘The law is not about law, it’s about politics and power.'” It is based on the idea that

Trump himself has long complained that law enforcement targets him for political purposes, and his rhetoric has increased since the New York incident surfaced.

On Wednesday, Trump called on his fellow Republicans in Congress to cut funding to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. He has expressed concern that this is a test to see if it can be weaponized against.

About half of Americans believe the Republican investigation into Trump was politically motivated by Democrats, according to a new Reuters/Izpos poll, including 36% of Democrats. increase. Meanwhile, half of Americans, including 30% of Republicans, believe Trump and some members of the Republican Party are trying to deny law enforcement legitimacy to prevent charges against Trump.

But Americans say they want accountability, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing that nearly 70% oppose the idea that the U.S. president should be immune to all but the most serious criminal charges. It turns out that there is Even higher-level people agree that no one should be “above the law” in America.

The U.S. justice system will come under intense scrutiny in the coming months as multiple follow-up investigations continue.

A Manhattan lawsuit related to hush money to porn stars could drag on for more than a year. The Justice Department is investigating related transfer-of-power issues and the retention of classified Trump documents. A trial could begin this month.

“One of the pillars of democracy is holding elected leaders accountable. Usually this is considered political, but it also applies legally when crimes are committed. ” support groups.

The spate of legal action against Trump “may signal an era when the president’s actions will be subject to legal accountability going forward,” Warren said.

Noting the disproportionate incarceration of minorities and low-income people in the United States, Amir Ali, executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center, said the system “has routinely given free passes to those in power. He said.

“It’s clear that the criminal justice system can beat. It’s been proven and overwhelmingly so,” Ali said.

Youssef Salaam, one of five black teenagers wrongfully convicted in a 1989 rape case, called for the death penalty for Salaam and others, dubbed the “Central Park Five”, by Trump. wrote the same full-page newspaper ad as the one paid for decades ago.

“Thirty-four years ago you effectively demanded my death and the death of four other innocent children, and I hope you were harmed,” said a Democrat now on the New York City Council. Candidate Salaam wrote in his ad. “Rather, I trust the justice system to seek the truth.”

The issues raised in multiple Trump-related lawsuits “reflect the fragility of democracy,” said Adav Noti, vice president of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog. may try to stay in power illegally,” he said.

At least two ongoing investigations into Mr. Trump address the question of whether Mr. Trump tried to block a legal transfer of power to his successor, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump continues to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him by voter fraud.

The way to prevent future election sabotage is for “prison sentences for high-ranking officials who tried to overturn the 2020 elections,” Notty said.

“There are good reasons” for Americans to be cynical, he said. But “it shouldn’t be like this”.

(This article has been resubmitted to remove the incorrect year reference in paragraph 3)

Reporting by Trevor Hunicutt and Heather Timmons of Washington and Tyler Clifford of New York. Additional reporting by Anna Gratzer, New York.Written by Heather Timmons Editing by Donna Bryson and Sri Navaratnam

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