Ralph Nader, the Green Party’s presidential nominee in 2000, has urged Judge Juan Merchan to sentence former President Donald Trump to prison, calling the judge the “last best hope” to preserve the republic.
Nader, in a letter co-authored with attorney Bruce Fein, argues that Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records warrants a prison sentence. They claim that Trump’s actions, including his alleged threats of a counter-revolution against the U.S. Constitution and his embrace of authoritarianism, make him a clear and present danger to American democracy.
The letter, dated June 28, 2024, stresses the importance of Trump’s sentencing on July 11, 2024, in the context of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law. Nader and Fein argue that Judge Merchan has the discretion to impose a sentence of up to four years, highlighting that the case for prison time is “open and shut based on the character of the offender alone.”
They further criticize Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that Trump “covets dictatorial powers” like Putin’s. Nader and Fein emphasize the need for a sentence that reflects Trump’s dangerous character and his potential to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power.
The letter comes as Trump is facing an uphill battle to overturn his conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a former president has substantial immunity for official acts committed while in office, a decision that could impact Trump’s appeal.
Trump’s sentencing date is set for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. The outcome of his sentencing could have significant implications for the upcoming election.
