Vance Downplays Trump’s Promises To Use ‘Lawfare’ Against His Opponents
“That’s the way that Kamala Harris lies,” said Republican vice presidential hopeful J.D. Vance on Joe Rogan’s podcast last week. “Not only does her administration actively brag about trying to arrest her political opponents; she will go out and say that if Donald Trump is president, he’s going to arrest his political opponents, even though he already was president and he didn’t do that.”
Let us count the ways in which this statement by Ohio’s junior senator is dishonest—starting with the fact that his running mate has repeatedly and publicly promised to do exactly what Vance insists would be preposterous to expect from him.Â
Former President Donald Trump has said that President Joe Biden and his family should be prosecuted, that Vice President Kamala Harris should be also be prosecuted, that members of the House select committee on January 6 should be jailed (and that former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney should face “TELEVISED MILITARY TRIBUNALS”), that news outlets and tech companies that treat him unfairly should be shut down, that poll workers should be arrested, and that “Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials” should have “legal exposure” if they stand in the way of his victory in tomorrow’s election. (This is not an exhaustive accounting.)
Vance claims that Trump “has never said, ‘I want to arrest you because you’re a Democrat.’ He’s never said, ‘I want to arrest you because you disagree with me.’ He’s never said, ‘I’m going to censor you,’ even, ‘because you engage in disinformation.'” That rings thoroughly hollow. It may be true that Trump has avoided saying that he plans to target his political enemies because they are Democrats or because they disagree with him; nonetheless, he has indisputably threatened his political enemies with legal retribution on numerous occasions. Vance, of course, knows this.
Second, Vance wants us to believe that Trump can be trusted with executive power because during his first term he did not use that power in the particular way under discussion. But during his first term, Trump repeatedly ordered members of his administration to abuse the legal system for his benefit and was repeatedly thwarted by their noncompliance. As former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recalled in 2018, “I’d have to say to him, ‘Mr. President, I understand what you want to do, but you can’t do it that way. It violates the law.”
Trump told White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller, who was investigating the possibility of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia; McGahn refused. Trump told Attorney General Jeff Sessions to take over the same investigation and eventually fired him when he would not. According to former FBI Director James
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
