DEAR EDITOR:

The sidebar quotes from local political leaders included in last month’s front page article on the indictment of a former president illustrates the difference between political performance and political leadership.

Performing for the GOP, Sen. J.D. Vance and Trumbull County Republican Party Chairman Mike Bollas railed against the indictment, before even knowing what was contained in the then-sealed document.

Vance appears to believe the former president is above the law, and that his former office, lost in a free and fair election, should insulate him from being charged with misusing campaign funds to cover up a tawdry affair. The millions of voters Vance feels are targeted by this action were actually targeted by the coverup that, in part, enabled Donald Trump’s election in 2016 by keeping voters in the dark as to the character of their candidate. Still, Vance thinks Trump is a victim.

Chairman Bollas took a more MAGA turn using explosive rhetoric like “un-American” and GOP favorite “they,” (as in, “if they can do this to a former president…”). He should know “they,” members of the grand jury, are fellow Americans, possibly of many political parties, charged to determine if sufficient evidence of wrongdoing exists to warrant further investigation and prosecution of the wrongdoers at trial as provided by law. And so they have found.

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Christopher Anderson led by admitting that we really didn’t yet know the formal charges contained in the indictment, which had awaited revelation at Trump’s surrender for booking. He applauded the filing as indication no one is above the law. I agree. I hope the precedent this sets will make still-pending indictments less controversial and more readily moved to trial.

I am grateful the Trump presidency taught me the correct spelling and pronunciation of indictment, if not much else of value. I hope others will share my opinion.

JIM CARTWRIGHT

Canfield