Here’s what I think happened. I think Trump took things that he thought he had a right to keep. The document he allegedly showed to a reporter shows why he did so: he wanted to refute claims by his political enemies.
The problem for him is that he seems to say on the transcript that he didn’t actually declassify the document before leaving the White House (though he could have). So he could be convicted.
My feeling is that this case never should have been brought and the investigation should have been handled with greater fairness and transparency. Raiding and then prosecuting a former president and opposition leader is so Third World that it really would only be justified in extreme circumstances. Selective prosecution is a reality.
I think DOJ can’t see how bad they look — “one law for all”? really? — because they hate Trump, because there was no accountability for past abuses, and because they see everything through the lens of January 6.
Here’s where we are. Trump could be acquitted and he will still face state charges in NY and soon GA that are purely political. He could face the rest of his life in prison or in court, largely for bullshit. He may have no choice but to leave the country, which is what happens in the Third World. In fact, if I were him that is what I would do, given that he has a plane and has places to go and live comfortably.
We have been brought to this point because people who hated Trump could not be satisfied by following the law and the constitution but sought every possible means to destroy him and humiliate his supporters. And for what? On the whole, he was a very successful president who gave up his private fortune and fame for public service. He is a casualty of our failed elite’s determination to hold onto power. Their policies have failed and and now they have doomed public faith in democracy.
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
