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Trump just offered a revolting defense of the claim that Rod Rosenstein 'belongs behind bars' --
demonstrating his authoritarian instincts
But when the New York Post interviewed Trump Wednesday, he didn’t distance himself from supporting the image and the idea that Rosenstein should be locked up.
“He should have never picked a special counsel,” Trump told the Post when asked why Rosenstein should be behind bars.
This was, of course, a preposterous explanation. There’s nothing illegal about appointing a special counsel — Rosenstein has the authority under the law. There’s certainly nothing treasonous about it. Importantly, when Mueller was first appointed, even many Republicans and allies of the president praised the pick, viewing the former FBI director as a reliable and upstanding public servant. These allies of the president only started criticizing Mueller when it became clear that Trump was at serious risk of being caught in a crime.
But aside from the specifics of the tweet, everyone should object to the fact that the president has become completely comfortable with demanding that people he disagrees with politically should be locked in prison under the thinnest of pretenses. It’s a disturbing and dangerous habit that he has acclimated his followers to and encouraged them to embrace. Even once Trump is gone, they may demand it of future GOP leaders, and the country could slouch toward authoritarianism.
“He should have never picked a special counsel,” Trump told the Post when asked why Rosenstein should be behind bars.
This was, of course, a preposterous explanation. There’s nothing illegal about appointing a special counsel — Rosenstein has the authority under the law. There’s certainly nothing treasonous about it. Importantly, when Mueller was first appointed, even many Republicans and allies of the president praised the pick, viewing the former FBI director as a reliable and upstanding public servant. These allies of the president only started criticizing Mueller when it became clear that Trump was at serious risk of being caught in a crime.
But aside from the specifics of the tweet, everyone should object to the fact that the president has become completely comfortable with demanding that people he disagrees with politically should be locked in prison under the thinnest of pretenses. It’s a disturbing and dangerous habit that he has acclimated his followers to and encouraged them to embrace. Even once Trump is gone, they may demand it of future GOP leaders, and the country could slouch toward authoritarianism.
[link:https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/trump-just-offered-revolting-defense-claim-rod-rosenstein-belongs-behind-bars-demonstrating-authoritarian-instincts/|
Has democracy ever been at bigger risk that at this moment in time?
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