The news media do a disservice to the public when they inaccurately report that Donald Trump has been indicted for “paying hush money to a porn star.” Such sloppy reporting adds ammunition to Trump’s claims that the investigation was a political witch hunt, and that no other person in the history of the world has been treated so badly as he has. (It is a serious red flag when rich, powerful people portray themselves as victims, as Putin is doing over his reason for invading Ukraine.)

While the indictment has not yet been released and the specific charges spelled out, there is enough evidence that the principle charge will be violation of campaign finance laws or some similar law, and the media would better serve the public in stating exactly what the law says and what Trump is claimed to have done – facts. If they would only stick to the facts, the real news, then perhaps people who are unconvinced would realize that there is substance to the charge of a criminal offense.

Meanwhile, some Republicans in Congress, led by Jim Jordan, are leading a political witch hunt of Alvin Bragg, as they have tried so hard to do to Hunter Biden — names we would never have heard of if they had not been tied to powerful political figures in the news.

My prediction is that the trial of Donald Trump will not take place before the 2024 election. I hope I am wrong, but there will be delays, lawsuits to contest every step of the way, challenges to jurors, motions for a change of venue, and every effort to ensure that Trump gets a “fair trial.” (I wonder how many lawyers he will hire, and how many of them will get paid. Perhaps the honor and publicity will be enough.)

Some poor judge we have never heard of will become a household name with a target on his/her back. I wish someone would investigate what governments (state and federal) are paying to protect people who are the targets of Trump’s vitriolic diatribes and the violent inclinations of his millions of supporters.

Judith Truesdell

Shelburne

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