Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has led 28 Senate Republicans in sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, condemning what they describe as the evisceration of the American judicial process and the conviction of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan.

The letter states: "The conviction of President Trump in Manhattan is nothing short of the evisceration of the American judicial process. In their zeal to imprison Donald Trump, Democrat prosecutors successfully dissolved the constitutional protections afforded to defendants and the barriers that protect every American from the abuses of arbitrary rule."

The letter highlights concerns about due process, referencing constitutional protections under the Fifth, Fourteenth, and Sixth Amendments. It argues that these protections were compromised during Trump's trial. "Due process requires that a defendant be given notice, the opportunity to be heard, and a neutral decision-maker," it reads.

The letter also questions Judge Juan Merchan's impartiality due to his financial contributions to Democratic candidates and causes. The Senators argue that prosecutors converted alleged time-lapsed business records misdemeanors into felonies without clear justification.

"Due process cannot exist when the defendant is accused of a secret crime," the letter continues. "No American – not even a President – can defend himself fairly in a court of law if he is deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to know what crime he is alleged to have committed."

The Senators further criticize the Biden Administration's role in this matter, stating: "The Biden Administration is complicit in the destruction of due process of law." They allege that Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) violations may be involved but assert that New York State prosecutor Alvin Bragg lacks jurisdiction over federal election law.

"We condemn this show trial," concludes the letter, emphasizing its potential threat to due process and individual liberty within a constitutional republic.

Senators who joined Dr. Paul in sending this letter include Mike Lee (R-UT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), JD Vance (R-OH), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hoeven (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Josh Hawley (R-MO).