In a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove, a former aide to President George W. Bush, predicted dire consequences for former President Donald Trump after his federal indictment for mishandling classified documents. Rove, however, cautioned that both Trump and the nation would pay a high price for his reckless behavior.
Rove said the indictment, which consists of 37 felony counts, has plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Trump has dismissed the case as a politically motivated “witch hunt” orchestrated by the weaponization of the government.
According to Rove, this indictment carries far more weight than Trump’s previous indictment for falsifying business records in a Manhattan court, where he also pleaded not guilty to 34 counts. Rove emphasized that the current charges are more severe in terms of the evidence and the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
“Unlike Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s charges of falsifying business records, this indictment is devastating in its rigor of evidence and the seriousness of the alleged crimes,” Rove wrote. “Even so, the case will further tear our country apart, as it has a heavy impact on the presidential campaign and—wrongly—undermines confidence in our justice system.”
Rove squarely placed the blame for this calamity on Trump’s own impulsive behavior, specifically his refusal to abide by the law and his desire to keep mementos from his time in the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the case is likely to further divide the nation, impact the upcoming presidential campaign, and unjustly undermine confidence in the justice system.
“The blame for this calamity rests solely on Mr. Trump and his childish impulse to keep mementos from his time in the Oval Office, no matter what the law says,” Rove stated.
Looking ahead, Rove predicted a future marked by anger, division, and recrimination once Trump’s trial concludes. He noted that some Republicans may even call for the elimination of law enforcement agencies like the FBI, leading to further turmoil while emphasizing the dangerous implications of such actions.
Rove suggested that if Trump had not clung to his “precious keepsakes,” the aftermath of his indictment could have been less divisive.
It is worth noting that Rove, who serves as a Fox News contributor, has previously criticized Trump, describing his tendency to mock rivals as unwise.
