Dem Group: Voters In The End Did Not Really Care That Trump Instigated Jan. 6 Attack
www.huffpost.com
Priorities USA polling post-election found that Trump’s coup attempt was not a major factor, particularly for younger, non-white voters.

Summary

A post-election survey by Priorities USA found that voters in key swing states prioritized economic concerns like inflation over Donald Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

Many did not view Trump as a continued threat to democracy, including key Biden-to-Trump voters.

Efforts by Kamala Harris’ campaign to highlight Trump’s authoritarian tendencies failed to resonate, as Trump’s image as a “successful businessman” persisted.

Democrats underestimated voters’ lack of hostility toward Trump, particularly among younger non-white voters, complicating their strategy in the 2024 election.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    72·
    7 months ago

    The day that Garland got sworn in, there should have been a warrant issued for Trump’s arrest on treason charges.

    That would have been foolish both legally and politically.

    Garland should have appointed a special prosecutor immediately rather than delaying for a year and a half. Direct involvement of the administration would have raised questions of political bias and revenge with both the courts and the public. A prosecution for treason, which is defined very narrowly would raise similar questions.

    The charges against him for January 6 would have likely derailed his campaign and could have led to a lengthy prison sentence had they been filed 18 months earlier. He is not a young man; chances are strong it would have been effectively a life term.

      • Zak@lemmy.world
        1·
        7 months ago

        the President would be essentially immune from prosecution

        What is it you think a special prosecutor does?

        The man stole countless boxes of national security secrets, stuffed them in a golf club bathroom, and his son-in-law magically got $2 billion out of nowhere. The man held meetings in the white house with foreign representatives, behind closed doors, without allowing US translators or note-takers in the room.

        The first of those things is very much illegal, and the special prosecutor who was appointed too late did indict him for it. On a different timeline with a different judge, it likely would have resulted in a conviction and a lengthy prison term.

        The other two are very suspicious. It’s very likely there were crimes surrounding those events, but they are not, themselves crimes. They certainly aren’t treason against the United States, which

        shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

        Now it’s possible some of those foreign representatives could be considered “enemies”, and possible he gave them secret information, which would qualify as “aid and comfort”. The next thing the constitution requires is

        No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

        And sure, if that burden is met, he should be charged. Otherwise, charges that are actually likely to hold up in court are more appropriate.

          • Zak@lemmy.world
            1·
            7 months ago

            exactly what the fuck did you think Donald Trump was going to do with a room full of national security secrets

            Something very crooked, for which he should be in prison.

            Most things that are crooked and harmful to the country are not treason, and many things that might be treason are difficult to prove as treason due to the unique constraints on prosecuting that crime. We have other criminal charges for those acts, and Trump was, in fact charged with felonies for them. The prosecution was started too late, for which I do blame the Biden administration and specifically Garland.