Former president Donald Trump has turned our justice system on its head. If he is convicted of various felonies, the question isn’t whether we should send him to prison, but, rather, how do we avoid doing so and still maintain the integrity of our system?
We might think of a few exceptions, but as a rule we don’t hold wealthy, famous, white men to the fullest account for their actions. Richard Nixon committed crimes and misdemeanors but avoided impeachment by resigning the presidency; he even finagled a modest rehabilitation of his reputation before he died.
Former Vice President Spiro Agnew was credibly accused of bribery, extortion and tax evasion, but he escaped prison with a plea deal that included resignation.
