To the editor: Scott Jennings' attempt to demonstrate a political motivation for the prosecution by the Manhattan district attorney's office because neither the Justice Department nor the Federal Election Commission carried out the prosecution is specious reasoning. (“Guilty verdict only strengthens Donald Trump,” Opinion, May 30)
The appropriate standard is whether the prosecutor can obtain a conviction based on the evidence. If the Manhattan district attorney believed he had evidence to convict him but did not prosecute him simply because the federal government did not have it, that decision could have been suspect as a political decision.
By obtaining unanimous verdicts on all 34 charges, the Manhattan district attorney showed that he was simply doing his job.
Donald Payne, Santa Ana
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To the editor: We should all applaud the bravery of 12 citizens who discerned the truth “beyond a reasonable doubt” despite the confusion.
Given former President Trump's MAGA supporters' history of threatening anyone who goes against this now-convicted felon, we owe these jurors a huge debt of gratitude.
The rule of law still stands. Bravo and blessings to the jurors.
Eileen McDargh, Dana Point
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To the editor: Jennings illustrates the problem with the media that has led to the political dominance of Trump and his ilk.
Normalizing and justifying Trump's criminal activities by claiming that no one else would be prosecuted or convicted for his fraudulent cover-up of adultery, in the service of influencing an election, is like saying that Al Capone should not have been taken off the streets through his indictment. . for tax evasion.
Whatever legal means are necessary to remove this proven criminal and traitor from public influence, it is a moral and ethical imperative for America and democracy.
Steve Leyton, Palmdale
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To the editor: As a longtime reader, I have always praised the Times for its fact-based reporting and extensive coverage of important events. I know opinion columnists give their opinion, and while I may not agree with Jonah Goldberg, I can still appreciate his perspective.
Not so for Jennings, a former Republican operative whose comments often appear in The Times.
He manipulates the facts and bases them on half-truths. It specializes in false comparisons. I have no problem listening to opinions from the other side, as long as the authors are honest and do not engage in false equivalences.
Richard Kaufman, Irvine
