The Hypocrisy of the “Lock Her Up” Crowd
As Former President Donald Trump prepares to face arraignment in a Manhattan courtroom later today amid accusations of Republican cries of 'political bias,' it is vital to recall that Mr. Trump and his allies once demanded Hillary Clinton's incarceration without adherence to due process. Subsequently, following Trump's election victory, the Trump Department of Justice engaged in a thorough probe into both Clinton and her eponymous foundation, only to cease their efforts two years later, following fruitless attempts to uncover criminal evidence.
After nearly eight years of fervently chanting "Lock her up," supporters of former President Donald Trump applauded when his Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into his claims that Hillary Clinton was corrupt. In 2017, bolstered by President Trump's calls for investigations into "Crooked Hillary & the Dems," the DOJ initiated an inquiry into Clinton and the conspiracy theories surrounding her and her career, including the baseless "Uranium One" theory championed by conservatives. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked U.S. Attorney John Huber to investigate concerns that the FBI had not fully pursued cases related to the Clinton Foundation and Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State.
Huber's investigation finally concluded and the results were unsurprising: there was nothing to show for it. After combing through documents and conferring with federal law enforcement officials investigating the Clinton Foundation, the probe "effectively ended with no tangible results." Huber found nothing worth pursuing, let alone any criminal charges.
This outcome came as a disappointment to Trump and fellow Republicans who repeatedly made a collection of allegations against Clinton, claiming that her behavior as Secretary of State and involvement with the Clinton Foundation were corrupt.
Despite the lack of evidence, Trump continued to return to these subjects, devoting considerable effort to pursuing them. However, the results of the investigation suggested that there was no basis to these allegations. It was a reminder that political rhetoric does not necessarily translate into reality, and that unfounded claims can lead to wasteful and fruitless investigations.
Now, three years later, supporters of former President Donald Trump are outraged that a genuine investigation has led to the indictment of the former president by a Grand Jury, based on sufficient evidence of crimes committed. This is in stark contrast to their calls to "Lock her up" for Hillary Clinton, which seemed to disregard due process and a fair trial.
The irony of this situation is not lost on many observers. Trump's supporters, who once demanded the imprisonment of Clinton without evidence, are now up in arms over a legitimate investigation that has led to their own leader's indictment. It is a reminder that the rule of law applies to all, regardless of political affiliation, and that due process must be afforded to all individuals, regardless of their status or power.