Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s hysterical response to the indictment of former president Donald Trump is beyond the pale. She writes: “Alvin Bragg’s witch-hunt targeting President Donald Trump is a political persecution.” First, Mr. Trump is not the President. Second, Mr. Bragg presented evidence to a grand jury that found sufficient evidence of a crime, and then the grand jury voted to indict the former president. Mr. Trump can now present the evidence of his innocence (if he has any). That is how our justice system works. That is the system Ms. Tenney swore an oath to defend and protect. Her remarks are an attempt to discredit the justice system and the rule of law. Her claiming that Mr. Trump’s former position exempts him from the rule of law undermines our justice system and our democracy.
What I find most disturbing is her racist and anti-Semitic dog whistle: “Soros-backed District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s witch-hunt.” George Soros conspiracy theories follow the centuries-old pattern that Jews are running an evil international cabal. There is no evidence that Mr. Soros donated directly to Mr. Bragg’s campaign or in any other way supported Mr. Bragg. Is Claudia Tenney a racist and anti-Semitic? Her paroxysm response to Mr. Trump’s indictment would indicate that she is both. At the very least, her frantic, agitated response shows how little she understands or respects the rule of law.
