Two myths about Trump’s civil fraud trial

3/26/24
 
   < < Go Back
 

By Catherine Rampell,

from The Washington Post,
3/26/24:

Donald Trump’s real estate empire shall live to grift another day. So declared a court Monday in ruling that the former president does not have to put up the full $464 million legal judgment against him while he appeals a civil fraud case.

Even so, that eye-popping sum has fueled criticism that prosecutors are pursuing Trump too zealously. The objections usually boil down to two arguments: First, that Trump’s white-collar cases are “victimless” and therefore not worth enforcement. And second, that every lawsuit and charge against him plays into his persecution narrative, thereby strengthening him as a presidential candidate.

Both criticisms are off-base, at least in a society that values rule of law.

Let’s take each objection separately.

More From The Washington Post (subscription required):