Donald Trump has faced more than 30 charges for keeping classified documents illegally and other alleged crimes in various cases. Recently, three more charges were added against him, but they were not expected to have a significant impact on his legal or political situation.
However, these new charges could change things for Trump. He now faces two counts of obstruction of justice for trying to erase security footage at Mar-a-Lago and a violation of the Espionage Act for allegedly possessing a secret Iran war plan.
The new evidence presented in the indictment shows that Trump directed his assistants to delete a computer server that held security footage, suggesting that he knew he was doing something wrong and tried to cover it up. This evidence could be crucial for the special prosecutor, Jack Smith, in getting a conviction.
Donald Trump Richard Nixon Moment
The parallels between Trump and Nixon are clear to many experts. Trump’s alleged coverup could be more damaging than the original crimes he’s accused of, just as it was for Nixon.
The indictment details how Trump, upon learning that the feds had subpoenaed camera footage from Mar-a-Lago, asked to speak to his Diet Coke valet, Walt Nauta. Later, Nauta and a maintenance worker scoped out the cameras, and the IT director was allegedly asked to delete the server by Trump’s lackeys.
If proven at trial next year, this plan to destroy evidence could greatly impact Trump’s reputation and may hinder his chances of returning to the White House in 2025. Experts see Trump as following in Nixon’s footsteps when it comes to lawlessness and questionable actions during his presidency.
Both Donald Trump and Richard Nixon were driven by an unwavering obsession to retain power, according to scholars. They had a strong desire to be president and stay in that position, which led them to engage in illegal actions.
The scholars note that both men seem to suffer from some form of personality disorder, which they refer to as a “mental aberration.” This condition influenced their decisions and behavior, ultimately leading to their involvement in unlawful activities. The situation is compared to a Shakespearean drama, where Nixon’s actions brought about his downfall, and the outcome for Trump remains uncertain.
Additionally, both Nixon and Trump justify their actions in a self-serving manner. Nixon believed that his crimes were justified because he thought the Democrats were doing similar things. Similarly, Trump is portrayed as using the same type of justification, as evidenced in the recent indictment, where he reportedly encouraged his lawyers to resist federal investigators by misrepresenting the actions of an attorney associated with his political rival, Hillary Clinton.
According to presidential scholars, there are striking similarities between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon. Both men believed that others were breaking the law, which they saw as justification for their own illegal actions. Nixon’s downfall came when he got deeply involved in covering up the crimes committed by his subordinates. Similarly, investigators seem to be collecting evidence and information from various individuals close to Trump, including Mar-a-Lago employees.
Nixon’s decision to cover up evidence was driven by his fear that a White House lawyer, John W. Dean III, would expose his involvement. The public may learn more about Trump’s alleged tape-deletion scheme during his trial scheduled for May 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida.
However, the outcome for Trump could differ from Nixon’s. Nixon faced a Republican Party that turned against him when he became a disgraced politician. In contrast, today’s GOP has remained loyal to Trump, despite any embarrassment or accusations against him.
Presidential scholars point out that the key lesson from Nixon and Watergate is the power of partisanship. Reagan, during the Iran-Contra affair, mounted a strong defense and garnered support from his base, which ultimately helped him. Likewise, Trump’s loyal base could play a crucial role in shaping the outcome for him, whether through winning an election and pardoning himself or influencing the Department of Justice’s actions.
Ultimately, the future for Trump is in the hands of American voters, and the parallels between Nixon and Trump could lead in different directions depending on how events unfold.
