Big Lies get destroyed in honest American courtrooms. Attorneys, judges and juries safeguard our rule of law, the key to America’s prosperity.
American courts stand up to criminals daily. Mob law is rejected. We have fair trials with established procedures, rules and only relevant evidence. Our judicial system’s goal is finding truth and imposing accountability.
On April 19, 1995, a white supremacist bombed the Oklahoma City federal building. Remember firefighter Chris Fields cradling dying Baylee Almon, one of 19 murdered infants, among the 168 people slaughtered? Our hearts ached. We wanted answers.
Law enforcement went to work. We learned Army veteran Tim McVeigh was obsessed with the April 19, 1993, federal siege at Waco. He sought vengeance for the deaths of Christian cult leader David Koresh, plus 75 others, including 25 children who died.
McVeigh was also fixated on The Turner Diaries, an apocalyptic white supremacist novel. Banned last week on Amazon, the book culminates with white supremacists attacking the Capitol to overthrow the U.S. government.
The OKC bombing trials took place in Denver where our justice system performed magnificently. American law was well administered by experienced, life-tenured U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch. Twelve Colorado jurors voted unanimously for McVeigh to be executed, and so he was, four years later.
McVeigh’s accomplice and Army pal, Terry Nichols, barely escaped capital punishment, and now lives permanently in Florence, Colorado. Nichols’ tiny Supermax prison cell is in the isolated D-unit, near Eric Rudolph, the murderous ex-Army, Olympics bombing, radical pro-lifer.
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“They are taking our babies!” is a timeless battle cry. Such grievances, real or imagined, incite violence. QAnon is deeply dedicated to this Trump Insurrection. QAnon adherents believe a cabal of Hollywood actors, Democratic politicians and high-ranking government officials (Chief Justice Roberts, Pence, etc.) snatch children for perverse rituals.
Who can stop these atrocities against babies? “President Trump alone!” says Q and you-know-who. Ashli Babbitt, a military vet, died for her Trumpian/QAnon faith, shot to death while storming the House.
Our president cultivates QAnon support. U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene are two Trump favorites. And why not? Their conspiracy theories always make Trump their hero and savior.
Sen. Ben Sasse just discovered QAnon is destroying his GOP. Here’s a newsflash, senator. Trumpism ruined Republicanism. And now, you’ve allowed QAnon to endanger our children.
Right-wing media, chasing advertising revenue, caters non-stop to Trumpism. James Murdoch just eviscerated his family for their spawn, Fox News: “Those outlets that propagate lies to their audience have unleashed insidious and uncontrollable forces that will be with us for years.”
Author/historian Brian Rosenwald told me how talk show fans love Trump because Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin and money-grubbing local hosts love him, too. Proud Boys and Groypers revel in respect received from America’s outgoing president and his media partners.
Pomposity, stupidity and bigotry all merge in Trumpism. These maskless Trump insurrectionists invaded a building with world-class security cameras. Video should exist of Officer Brian Sicknick being bludgeoned.
The reported weapon: a fire extinguisher. Who’d use such a weapon, and against a cop? One possible, distressing answer is Robert Sanford, 55, a retired firefighter, who is accused of violently hurling a fire extinguisher at numerous unsuspecting uniformed cops. Police and firefighters must reject Trumpism and value evidence.
A superabundance of courtroom-worthy evidence exists against the Trump insurrectionists. Prosecutors need only push play buttons. Trump’s insurrection was televised and live-streamed.
This Senate impeachment trial may be epic. This time, the Dems get to put on evidence! The old prosecutor in me envies the House managers, featuring fine Colorado attorneys Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse.
Every day, more Trump insurrection criminal conspiracies are revealed. Facing prison, frightened people spill beans. By the conclusion of the impeachment trial, Trump’s guilt will be overwhelming.
When Mitch McConnell visited me in Craig’s Lawyers’ Lounge on June 4, 2016, he was selling his memoir, The Long Game. He’s a pragmatic strategist who knows that the mob was coming for him, too. McConnell shamefully appeased President Trump. I expect he may turn tables on ex-President Trump.
The prosecutor overseeing Denver’s OKC bombing trial was our next Attorney General, Merrick Garland. America’s Department of Justice will put together slam dunk cases. Our 45th president is exposed like never before.
The impeachment trial should move at a pace to give Trump time and rope to further hang himself. Evidence against Trump will only get stronger.
Trump is an all-time master at obstructing justice. He’s weathered bankruptcies and divorces, plus multiple frauds and business transgressions. He never goes to trial. He knows evidence is king in a courtroom. Trump plainly incited a riot that killed five, including Officer Sicknick. This is murder, sedition, insurrection and conspiracy.
Trump’s Big Qanon-embraced Lies about Denver’s Dominion Voting Systems factor into impeachment. No antifa call involving Dominion’s Dr. Eric Coomer ever happened. That lie was born in Colorado and broadcast repeatedly on Denver Trump Radio. Truth will emerge in civil lawsuits filed by Coomer and Dominion.
If Trump’s anticipated self-pardon ever reaches the Supreme Court, expect resounding rejection. You don’t need a legal education to understand such power would mean an imperious president. We just tried that. Never again.
Craig Silverman is a former Denver chief deputy DA who also has worked in the media for decades. Craig is columnist at large for The Colorado Sun. He practices law at the Denver law firm of Springer & Steinberg, P.C. and is host of The Craig Silverman Show podcast.
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policyand submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com.