Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

4 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

4 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

5 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

5 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

5 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

5 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

5 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

5 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

5 days ago
'Boss' Trump Should Go to Prison: Opinion
Inside-Sources
By InsideSources.com
Published 1 year ago on
June 10, 2024

"His defenders argue that he has no previous record and should not be incarcerated. However, the case for imprisonment is strong," opines author and retired psychologist Robert Pawlicki.

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The day after Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies, he stood before a camera and repeated a litany of lies. Lies we have all heard a multitude of times: The judge is corrupt, his conviction is a conspiracy orchestrated by Joe Biden, and New York is a crime-ridden sewer that has never, never been more unsafe.

Robert Pawlicki

Opinion

Of course, each of these is untrue. Judge Juan Merchan is a highly respected New York state supreme court justice. President Biden has meticulously stayed away from involvement in any prosecution of the former president. New York ranks in the top 15% safest of more than 800 U.S cities.

We did not hear an admission of guilt, contrition or remorse. These are emotions often expressed by those found guilty, especially at a juncture before sentencing.

The combination of politics and legal prosecution makes this case unprecedented and extraordinary, given that Trump is the presumptive Republican candidate running for election to the presidency.

From a political standpoint, Trump continues his stance of grievance while representing himself as a victim who is fighting for all Americans against a corrupt government that has abused them. He alone can rescue them from their malaise.

From a legal perspective, Trump was convicted of extensive fraud and mastermind of a conspiracy to alter the 2016 presidential election. More specifically, he was found guilty of covering up a sex scandal that threatened his 2016 presidential campaign.

Case for Imprisonment Is Strong

As difficult as it can be, the decision of whether Trump should be incarcerated should be separate from politics. Is Trump above the law? Should his penalty be less than his minions who carried out the conspiracy.

His defenders argue that he has no previous record and should not be incarcerated. However, the case for imprisonment is strong.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, served three years in federal prison, a term likely reduced because of remorse and cooperation with the prosecutor. He had no previous criminal record.

Alan Weisselberg, Trump’s longtime chief financial officer, served five months in Rikers after testifying as the state’s witness against the Trump Organization. He was convicted of falsifying documents for the benefit of Trump. His lawyer pleaded for a shorter sentence given his age, military service and many hours working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office. Weisselberg is just one year younger than the former president. He had no previous criminal record.

Trump is not remorseful or contrite, has no military service, and has been anything but cooperative. If anything, he has been hostile and found guilty of breaking 10 gag orders, which is criminal behavior.

It would seem illogical that those serving under “the boss,” called so by subordinates in the Trump Organization and the White House, should receive prison sentences, and the person responsible for ordering their criminal behaviors should go free.

Many critics think the former president has received preferential treatment. “No one above the law” should have a corollary — the most powerful, when found guilty, should not be treated differently than those who have done their bidding.

Trump has been found guilty by a jury of his peers, guilty by presentation of evidence and arguments between the prosecution and defense. As the process moves forward to sentencing, additional factors come into consideration: his dictating others to act criminally and their conviction and imprisonment; his lack of remorse and contrition; his courtroom hostility, and threats to the well-being of others while in court.

Trump Shouldn’t Be Treated Preferentially

Many of these behaviors have been considered in other judgments, such as those related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. They should be considered and Trump should not be treated preferentially.

Our country’s political divisions are intense: divisions that contribute to a deep malaise that pervades our nation. Allowing the man who led a conspiracy to alter the outcome of an election to the presidency while his co-conspirators go to prison would be an egregious mistake. It would convey the message that we are not all equal under the law.

A decision to incarcerate the former president would cause short-term outrage. In the long term, it’s the right thing to do and the right thing for our country.

The “boss” should go to prison.

About the Author

Robert Pawlicki is a retired psychologist and author. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

Make Your Voice Heard

GV Wire encourages vigorous debate from people and organizations on local, state, and national issues. Submit your op-ed to bmcewen@gvwire.com for consideration.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

DON'T MISS

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

DON'T MISS

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

DON'T MISS

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

DON'T MISS

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

DON'T MISS

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

DON'T MISS

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

UP NEXT

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

UP NEXT

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

UP NEXT

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

UP NEXT

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

UP NEXT

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

UP NEXT

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

UP NEXT

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

UP NEXT

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

UP NEXT

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

14 hours ago

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

14 hours ago

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

14 hours ago

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

14 hours ago

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

15 hours ago

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

15 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

15 hours ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

16 hours ago

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July

16 hours ago

US Proposes Rules That Could Boost Oil, Gas Output in US West

17 hours ago

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told President Donald Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace ...

13 hours ago

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a bilateral dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured), at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
13 hours ago

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
13 hours ago

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

A wind farm is shown in Movave, California, U.S., November 8, 2019. (Reuter File)
14 hours ago

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies before a Senate Appropriations hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's budget request for the Department of Education, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

United States Department of Veterans Affairs logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

A group of search and rescue workers paddle a boat in the Guadalupe River in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Sergio Flores)
14 hours ago

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

14 hours ago

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

Attendees visit the 23andMe booth at the RootsTech annual genealogical event in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 28, 2019. (Reuters File)
15 hours ago

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend