I hope that the institution of political journalism doesn’t manage to tear democracy down and allow the substitution of fascism as our form of government, which is a distinct possibility this November. We’re not getting the unvarnished truth, with the notable exception of a few outlets like the Associated Press and Reuters. “The problem, as usual, is that the journalists covering the trial are writing for each other and their editors, rather than for the public at large. And to that narrow audience, it isn’t news that Trump won’t testify. They’ve assumed that from the beginning,” reports Dan Froomkin in his Press Watch column.
This is a major story which is undercovered. Donald Trump lied that he would “absolutely” testify at trial. His shill, Alina Habba, lied about the same. His cult members expected it. And now it won’t happen. Testimony ends Tuesday and Trump’s not on the list.
Clips of Trump pledging to testify in his NY criminal trial, where the state is about to rest their case. pic.twitter.com/vPHhrCkndP
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 19, 2024
Habba: We know Trump wants to testify. He's willing, he is able, he is nothing to hide it all. He's absolutely ready to tell the truth. pic.twitter.com/9RMgtzVpuA
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 20, 2024
Right-wing interviewer says he is so excited that Trump promised to testify: “It’s the right thing to do. The man wants to get up there, look those jurors in the eyes, and fight. That’s what he does. He’s gonna get up there, say what he has to say, and fight to his last breath.” pic.twitter.com/zKZeveuKd1
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 20, 2024
Only in your dreams, deluded little MAGA. Only in your dreams. Big Powerful Donald is not going to get on the stand, now or ever, because to do so would destroy him. He cannot withstand straightforward examination on anything factual. It’s like throwing holy water on a vampire, it burns their flesh. Back to Froomkin’s piece:
Ordinary people might well ask:
- If he’s innocent, why isn’t he speaking up in his own defense? (Or as Trump himself has said: “The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”)
- What is he afraid of?
- What about his obligation, as a public figure, to explain this to the voters?
- And if he gets convicted, won’t it be his own fault for not testifying?
These are all reasonable questions. But they won’t be asked if the media doesn’t even bother to take notice of what may eventually be the single most memorable element of this trial.
To be clear, there are legitimate legal reasons for a defendant in a criminal trial not to testify on their own behalf, starting with the fact that it’s their constitutional right not to be forced to incriminate themselves.
Also, since it’s the prosecution that has to prove the criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt, the best defense often amounts to asserting that the prosecutors failed to make their case, rather than trying to prove the defendant’s innocence.
That’s why juries are prohibited from considering in any manner that the defendant did not testify.
But the court of public opinion is under no such obligation. And, notably, it is the court of public opinion that is voting in November.
This is journalistic malpractice, plain and simple. This is a huge story. For the first time in American history we have a “defendant in a criminal case [who] has promised to testify, complained about being gagged, and been in the middle of a presidential campaign. That brings with it some extra responsibility to explain oneself,” says Froomkin. I concur. Yet is this getting explained? No. This is getting whitewashed and minimized, if not buried.
Donald Trump is running for president of the United States. He is a criminal defendant. He owes it to the American people to testify in his own defense and explain himself. But will he? Hell, no. And the only greater outrage than that, is that the media is passing it off as ho hum, nothing to see here, and normalizing it.
This is where the media has been complicit in the menace to America that Trump poses from the beginning. They started out normalizing him and they keep normalizing him. There is nothing normal about a candidate from one of the two major political parties being involved in four different criminal trials, not to mention the two civil ones, while running for office. This should be screamed from the rooftops daily. But instead you get crickets.
Our national discourse and our moral fiber are being eroded by this tacit acceptance of the unacceptable. I fear for our way of life if this continues. And I see no signs of it stopping.
The main actor is missing, in Don Don’s melodrama, titled: ‘Gutless in NY’. What’s the issue? Can’t use untruthful lines because the script can’t secure and promote the desired lying delusional picture? Any demand for a review and reedit won’t change a thing, either. ‘Gutless in NY’ will prevail and the main actor will eat porridge.