The new indictment is clearly intended to legally advance the narrative of Trump’s threat to liberal democracy while avoiding questionable claims and unnecessary delays. That makes sense. On balance, I agree with the way Smith is handling the issue.
But this is the third indictment. Appalling as it will seem a few years from now, the drill is depressingly familiar to us. Trump will portray himself as the victim of the vengeful deep state; he will successfully make use of the indictment as a fundraising tactic; and there will be lots of GOP screaming about the politicization of the judicial system and vows of retribution.
And we know there is a fourth one in the offing. I’m becoming uncomfortably numb to the new routine. My guess is that the rest of America feels the same way.