Too many people are missing a great contribution President Donald Trump is making to society, namely that of increasing our understanding of the Constitution and criminal law.
Consider, prior to Trump’s election, whether any of us even heard of the Emoluments Clause? The idea that our president could be influenced by foreign bribes never entered our consciousness. Now, we understand that they are illegal, enshrined in constitutional law, and we owe this to our president.
Who realized that there are three predicates to obstruction of justice, or that payments to strippers during an election would constitute a campaign finance felony, or that Congress has the power to demand a president’s tax returns? Who knew that the president’s power to pardon only applied to federal, and not state, convictions? Did the general public understand that foundations are subject to IRS rules and could be disbanded for criminality? Did anyone give a thought to the Hatch Act, which prohibits executive branch employees from trying to influence an election?
Mr. Trump’s political career has done so much to advance our understanding of criminal and Constitutional law. One has to marvel at his example, and wonder what else he has to impart.
