Destroying the Evidence

Historian Jill Lepore wrote a thought-provoking and interesting article in the November 23, 2020, issue of The New Yorker (link here) about how Donald Trump and his inner circle, in violation of the law, are quite likely to destroy a good number of documents in these final weeks that provide a record of his presidency.

Like all of Lepore's articles, she provides lots of fascinating context and history. The piece details how the law requires Presidents and their staffs to save every document and record of a presidency, whether it be paper or digital, and how that law in the current and former administrations has been ignored.

This documentation is essential for more than just historical reasons. It's necessary in the event of any post-presidential prosecutions. Hence, this is the reason Trump and his minions may destroy much of what exists, to make prosecution more difficult. Destroying potential evidence is committing the crime of obstruction of justice, but proving a case is not easy when the ones who know what the record was refuse to speak.

Many times the Trump presidency has served as a warning for what must be changed and reformed about the presidency, as happened after Richard Nixon's great fall. Where Trump has bent or defied the law, then the law must be strengthened so that another President cannot abuse it as he has done. But reforming the law will be all but impossible if Republicans retain control of the Senate, which is still in doubt, because of two pending Senate seat elections in Georgia in early January.

Which serves as an excellent reminder that you can help with the campaigns for these two Senate election, even if you don't live in Georgia. Click here to learn more.