By Jesse Wegman
Over the past four years, Donald Trump and his supporters have been spreading perilous falsehoods throughout America, asserting without any substantial proof that the 2020 election he lost was marred by significant fraud.
Contrary to the claims of fraud, it turned out there was indeed substantial wrongdoing in the 2020 election. Recently, one individual involved in that misconduct was sentenced to nine years in prison for her actions. Tina Peters, the clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, in 2020, manipulated voting equipment in an attempt to demonstrate that the election had been rigged against Trump. The data that she permitted to be obtained eventually made its way to a presentation by Mike Lindell, the conspiracy theorist known for selling pillows.
“You exploited your position, and you are a fraud who utilized and continues to use your former office to promote a falsehood that has repeatedly been proven worthless,” Judge Matthew Barrett remarked as he reprimanded Peters for over 13 minutes.
Isn’t it remarkable how our judicial system can differentiate between genuine evidence and fabricated claims?
I derive no satisfaction from seeing individuals deprived of their freedom, particularly for an extended duration. However, sometimes it is imperative to safeguard the general public and to convey a warning to others who might commit similar offenses. Barrett highlighted this emphasis in deciding on the sentence, which he preferred over lighter alternatives like probation. Prison, he stated, is “where we place those who pose a threat to everyone, whether it be through written words, violence, or spoken rhetoric.” He added, “It’s especially harmful when such rhetoric comes from someone in a position of authority like you.”
“I firmly believe you would repeat this if given the chance,” he noted in a concluding argument for sentencing Peters. “You are one of the most defiant defendants I have encountered.”
Now envision that the individual in the defendant’s chair isn’t a local election official but rather the former president of the United States. Barrett’s statements could be directed verbatim to Donald Trump.
Currently, we can only speculate, for Trump has sidestepped any legal ramifications for his ongoing falsehoods, his fomentation of public mistrust, and his encouragement of violence. This situation is a result of the Supreme Court, which shielded the president from nearly all official actions in July, prolonging what could be the most pivotal trial in the nation’s history.
Encouraged by that unprecedented, extra-constitutional decision, Trump continues to be unapologetic. There’s no need to convince anyone that he would act in a similar manner again, as he is already doing so. The only remaining option is to ensure his defeat at the polls in a month, and subsequently, if he is found guilty at trial, he will finally encounter true accountability. As Barrett stated, prison is where we send those who pose a threat to us all.
