Just in time for the holiest period on the Christian calendar, as millions worldwide celebrate the most sacred day of the year, Easter, and to recognize Christ’s resurrection, president Donald Trump proves that nothing is off limits. Because, after all, Trump’s riding shotgun and hanging with the King of Kings could rev his base and resurrect his political standing.
At a time when the Country is a cauldron of antigovernment sentiment, racism, and nationalism, Trump’s attempt to reach heavenly bounds via a rally in Waco, Texas, nearing the 30th anniversary of the federal government’s siege on the Davidian compound is very concerning. But, as a person of faith, I must believe that if Jesus were looking for a ride-or-die partner, he could do much better than a delusional, twice-impeached, now-indicted, sore loser.
April 19 ushers in memories of the fiasco, intense blaze, and horrific news that 76 Branch Davidians, including 28 children, two pregnant women, and four federal agents, died during the 51-day siege. It’s a reminder of the explosive nature of politics and religion colliding. Trump’s edgy rhetoric, a dog-whistling to violent insurrectionists, dangerously ratchets up the potential for violence.
However, it’s within the realm of possibility that the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican Party presidential nomination, and king of carnival barkers, whose cheapened attempt to hitch a ride on the Easter vigil, with claims of unfair persecution, even predicting the day and hour of his arrest, albeit incorrectly, could benefit from criminal charges.
Ironically, the indictment of the former president, a seemingly lifetime sufferer of temporal chauvinism, the king of bullies, may finally pay the piper for his alleged affair with adult film star, Stormy Daniels. The tribunal, shepherded by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, if successful in proving the charges alleged in the 34-felony- count indictment, to Trump’s chagrin, is substantially fueled by the testimony of his former disciple and fixer, his now Judas, Michael Cohen.
A sobered Nation will see the former president face a civil rape and defamation lawsuit brought by the alleged victim, E. Jean Carroll. Trump’s attempts to conflate what prosecutors hope is a trifecta in three different jurisdictions and the possibility of convictions for his purported criminal activity, with unfair prosecution, aren’t likely to end. However, to the chagrin of those comparing his circumstance to Christ’s crucifixion is futile, as a humiliated Nation realizes that Trump’s legal problems are only beginning.
Trumpeting a reversal of allegiance, Michael Cohen paid dearly for his part in a scheme to compensate adult star Stormy Daniels with hush money for keeping quiet about an affair with the former president. However, instead of 40 pieces of silver, Cohen was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance violations. In addition, the Empire State ruled that the former New York City attorney could no longer practice law.
As John McCain, a lifelong Republican whose life of courage is a testament to many, forthrightly stated, “The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, or party, and our country.”
Anthony Stanford is a columnist, publicist, and author of the book, “Copping Out the Consequence of Police Corruption and Misconduct.”