Former President Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records from a jury trial. There remain 57 additional felony counts that have yet to be adjudicated. These numbers sensationalize the legal woes faced by the former president. Yet the number of felony counts is less significant than the fact that there were any such counts at all.

The only acceptable number should be zero for a person who has served in the nation’s highest office and as its commander in chief.

Independent of this verdict and those yet to be determined, any person in such a position of power and authority should display behavior and ethical standards that would never lead to actions that would risk being so accused. If such transgressions would occur, expressions of remorse and actions of restitution would be appropriate, which do not appear forthcoming. This is a sad time for our nation.

The jury deemed that the evidence was sufficient to rule him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Note the court rulings are not “guilty” or “innocent,” they are “guilty” or “not guilty” for the charges levied. If there are any “reasonable doubts,” the jury is obliged to rule “not guilty.” In this case, there were no such doubts.

The verdict will of course be appealed, as it should be, with new eyes giving it a second look. That is a right that should be exercised.

No........

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