Guilty

​You know it’s a big news day when Dianne Feinstein flies back to Congress, allowing Democrats to finally be able to appoint new judges, and it doesn’t get a blip in the news.

And when sitting Congressman “George Santos” gets criminally indicted by the Department of Justice, and it’s not even close to the lead story, and barely reported.

But then, it’s all understandable when the former president, the leader of the Republican Party, and the favorite for Republicans to nominate again as their presidential candidate gets a jury to unanimously declare Trump was guilty of sexual abuse – as well as defamation, and decide on a $5 million penalty.

I know there were some who were disappointed that Trump didn’t get a guilty verdict on the rape charge, but it came out today that during testimony (and I’ll try not to be as graphic as possible), that E. Jean Carroll couldn’t say whether it was Trump’s fingers that penetrated her or anything else.  And in New York state, the “anything else” is required for there to be rape.  So, if Ms. Carroll couldn’t say for certain she’d been raped, it was clearly difficult for a jury to say so, especially unanimously.  But a sexual abuse verdict is a very harsh one in New York law.

Reactions for the losing side have not been unexpected.  Though that doesn’t mean they aren’t problematic.

Trump went on his social media platform and left a long response in ALL CAPS, as if that makes it more meaningful, rather than just harder to read and a bit crazy-looking.  Among other things, he again claimed that he has “ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS.”  The thing is, however, since Trump continues to insist that he has "ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA” who  E. Jean Carroll is, despite a jury unanimously finding him guilty of sexually abusing her, it would seem to suggest that he is either lying or his memory isn't actually as spectacular as he insists is the greatest in the world -- or we can add dementia to his many issues.

As for his most loyal followers, I'm sure almost all will still vote for him and will contort themselves into knots in order to come up with reasons to dismiss the verdict. But convincing yourself of a fantasy doesn’t change the real world.  And the fact remains, no matter how hard one tries to deny it -- whoever votes for Trump (not just his fervent acolytes, but Republicans who don’t like the guy but, as their phrase always goes, “like his policies”) is voting for someone who was unanimously found guilty in court of sexual abuse.  And they should be reminded of that often.

Which leaves Republicans in Congress.  Now, of course, I understand why so many of them spent the day walking past reporters as if they didn’t hear the questions “Do you have any comments about the Trump verdict?!!” shouted at them from eight feet away.  But no matter how understandable it is that they were avoiding the awkward, embarrassing, difficult questions – it’s hard to express how craven and cowardly a politician looks refusing to answer a question about the leader of their party and likely presidential nominee being declared by a unanimous jury guilty of sexual abuse.   Clearly, the Republican members of Congress feel there’s less damage looking craven and cowardly, rather than answering.  But if they think they aren’t going to be asked about this when they’re on the campaign trail, they’re not only craven and cowardly, but also fools.  Indeed, the only reason it won’t be a leading question is because there are still five other major Trump investigations underway, including one indictment.  But even for all that, a sexual abuse verdict doesn’t get buried and lost.

In fairness, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) did speak to reporters and said he thought that no matter what you thought about Trump, he was now not electable and probably had to go.  Less admirable for Cornyn is that he seems more upset by Trump being unelectable, rather than being a guilty sexual abuse.

And after all that, just a pure guess, but I suspect that when Trump agreed to do the CNN Town Hall, he never remotely imagined that there would be a verdict before the event took place -- let alone that there’s be a guilty verdict for sexual assault and defamation.

And I'm guessing, too, that CNN didn't expect it either, now giving a national platform to a sexual abuser.  Which is never a great look for a news organization that wants to be seen with respect.  Though timing aside, this is who CNN knew it was dealing with.  But they went ahead with it anyway.  Which makes that whole “wanting to be seen with respect” a bit squishy.

By the way, a very critical aspect of the verdict which should send shudders through Trump (though won't, since he lives in malignant narcissistic denial) is that this trial showed that Trump does not have Teflon in front of a jury.  And a jury, swearing an oath to judge actions fairly, will do so and not add weight to the scales in favor of a former president who has gotten away with so much during his life.

And now, in the end, the trial over, there is Trump being seen for what he viscerally hates in the darkest reaches of his soul more than anything – no, not a sexual abuser, because (according to him) that’s okay when you’re a star.  But a loser.  Again.