Trump Facing Justice

Published in El País
(Spain) on 15 June 2017
by El País (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Isabel Alvarez. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
The investigation of the special prosecutor's office can start a very serious political crisis if it is proven that the president committed a crime.

The decision of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller to investigate whether Donald Trump tried to obstruct investigations related to the alleged Russian plot during the 2016 presidential election campaign is an especially compromising setback for the resident of the White House, since it directly points to him as a possible perpetrator of a serious crime. It opens the way to the possible impeachment of the president, a long and tortuous path that is only fairly realistic in the event that Mueller manages to prove what, until yesterday, was only an accusation by former FBI Director James Comey.

The step taken by the American justice system is, however, of vital importance. The arrogance of Trump fulminating over Comey because of “this Russia thing,” in the words of the president, has become a dangerous boomerang for the populist politician. Trump denied Comey's accusations that Comey was dismissed because he resisted pressure to abandon the investigation into the alleged Russian plot. But it is no longer Trump’s word against that of his former law enforcement director. The evidence and testimony that Mueller seeks will settle the question, and, if proven, could create a very serious political crisis.

With the addition of Trump to the inquiry, which was opened as a consequence of the alleged Russian plot, the reputation of the American president, already impaired, is further damaged. In the just four months during which Trump has been in charge, he has built up a wide accumulation of nonsense, something that has mobilized society and its institutions in a positive confirmation of the fact that resistance works well on a first world power. The judiciary has stopped its anti-immigrant measures, and lawmakers have slowed the demolition of health care reform and the construction of the wall with Mexico. What is missing is a more forceful reaction from Republicans to Trump’s dangerous approach.


Trump frente a la justicia
La investigación de la fiscalía puede abrir una gravísima crisis política si demuestra que el presidente cometió un delito

La decisión del fiscal especial Robert Mueller de investigar si Donald Trump intentó obstruir las indagaciones sobre la trama rusa en la campaña electoral es un revés especialmente comprometido para el inquilino de la Casa Blanca, por cuanto le señala directamente como posible autor de un grave delito. Se abre así el camino hacia la hipotética destitución (impeachement) del presidente, un camino largo y tortuoso, solo medianamente realista en caso de que Mueller logre probar lo que hasta ayer era solo una acusación del exdirector del FBI James Comey.

El paso dado por la justicia americana es, con todo, de una importancia capital. La arrogancia de Trump de fulminar a Comey debido “a esa cosa rusa” —en palabras del propio presidente— se ha convertido en un peligroso bumerán para el populista político. Negó las acusaciones de Comey de que su destitución se debiera a su resistencia a las presiones para abandonar la investigación de la trama rusa. Pero ya no está en juego su palabra contra la de su antiguo director policial. Son las pruebas y los testimonios que recabe Mueller los que dirimirán ahora esta cuestión, que de confirmarse abriría una gravísima crisis política.
Con la incorporación de Trump a la investigación abierta por la trama rusa se socava un poco más la muy dañada reputación del presidente americano. En solo cuatro meses al frente del país acumula un amplio abanico de despropósitos que ha movilizado a la sociedad y a sus instituciones en una positiva confirmación de que los contrapoderes funcionan bien en la primera potencia mundial. La justicia ha parado sus medidas antiinmigratorias y los legisladores han frenado su demolición de la reforma sanitaria y la construcción del muro con México. Se echa en falta que los republicanos reaccionen con mayor contundencia a sus peligrosos planteamientos.
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