Trump is a convicted felon, but he got off scot-free. It's a travesty. | Opinion

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Judge Juan Merchan has delivered his sentencing in New York, if you can call it that.

Once again, Donald Trump will not be held accountable for his crimes. He has a sterling record, never paying a price for wrongdoing. The slap on his wrist by the judge makes a mockery of the jury that found him guilty on 34 counts. I expected a fine.

Pocket change to Trump, but at least something that shows trials and juries and felony convictions matter in America. What we got is an “unconditional discharge” with no penalty.

I remember how furious I was at Republicans like former Attorney General Bill Barr and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton who came out with harsh criticism of Trump – but much too late. Their books told of egregious corruption and incompetency in the Trump administration.

Apparently the sale of books was their motivation. Why didn’t they act when they could’ve made a difference? The police officers who died defending democracy on Jan. 6, 2021, might be alive today. So much might be different.

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Now it’s not just the likes of Barr and Bolton who will bear responsibility if our worst fears come to pass. Voters who elected a convicted felon as President, Attorney General Garland who couldn’t get his motor started, Democrats who think unity means turning a blind eye, and judges who hold Trump to a lower standard than you or me will have to look in the mirror someday and admit they might have made a difference.

But someday may be too late.

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