Alberto Gonzales, legal professional common throughout former President George W. Bush’s administration, endorsed Vice President Harris on Thursday, citing partly the Supreme Courtroom’s immunity choice in calling former President Trump “perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation.”
Gonzales, who additionally served as White Home counsel, wrote in an op-ed in Politico that “the character of the person we elect in November is particularly important today” because of the courtroom’s choice in addition to a Congress “spectacularly incapable or unwilling to check abuses of executive power.”
Gonzales mentioned Trump’s present convictions and pending felony prices likewise point out the previous president wouldn’t keep inside the bounds of the legislation whereas in workplace.
“Standing alone, these charges, convictions and judgments show that Trump is someone who fails to act, time and time again, in accordance with the rule of law. There is little evidence that he has the integrity and character to responsibly wield the power of the presidency within the limits of the law,” he wrote.
“And no amount of rationalization to support Trump because of his policies can overcome the disqualification of this man based on his lack of integrity.”
He additionally described the unwillingness of Trump nationwide safety leaders to endorse him as “an indictment of his character at a level equal to his many, many criminal indictments.”
The significance of integrity in a president is getting renewed consideration after the Supreme Courtroom dominated that when exercising core constitutional powers, a president is immune from felony prosecution and presumptively immune when participating in any official act. However the courtroom additionally barred use of a protected motion as proof in any felony prosecution, one thing Gonzales wrote “might allow a president to take official actions for personal, self-serving reasons.”
“It is the president’s integrity, honesty and respect for our institutions that may be the most important and reliable check on abuses of power,” Gonzales wrote.
“Power is intoxicating and based on Trump’s rhetoric and conduct it appears unlikely that he would respect the power of the presidency in all instances; rather, he would abuse it for personal and political gain, and not on behalf of the American people.”
Gonzales described Trump’s function in inciting the Jan. 6 riots as essentially the most “revealing example” of how the previous president wields the workplace.
“He failed to deploy executive branch personnel to save lives and property and preserve democracy. He just watched on television and chose not to do anything because that would have been contrary to his interests. Trump still describes that day as beautiful,” he wrote.
“And as for those subsequently convicted of committing crimes, he describes them as hostages. He also has promised to pardon the convicted rioters if elected. Why? Because they were acting in his interests.”
Gonzales wrote that the function of the vice presidency affords little alternative to steer coverage, however mentioned that whereas some might even see Harris as an unknown amount however praised her because the “best suited, able and committed to unite us in a manner consistent with the rule of law.”
“Casting a vote for Harris will require the American people to place their faith in her character and judgment. Some may see her as too progressive and worry she would be too easily manipulated. There is little mystery or doubt, however, about how Trump will act and govern based on past behavior and comments,” Gonzales wrote.
“He will help those who help him and his family for personal or financial reasons. He will likely pull back from our leadership role among other democracies in the fight against authoritarianism. Based on spending levels during Trump’s first term, his policies will likely increase the national debt.”
