The Statement Iowa Gov. Reynolds Should have Released

on the indictment of Donald J. Trump

Governor Reynolds and other Republican candidates campaigning in Pella before the 2022 midterms.

Below is the statement Governor Reynolds released shortly after word of the Trump indictment came down on Thursday. Below the original, I have annotated it with my comments in italics. Finally, I present an alternative statement that would have been better for her, for Iowa, for America, and for the world to have made.

Gov. Reynolds Statement on the Indictment of Donald J. Trump 

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to the politically charged indictment of President Donald J. Trump:  

“This sham indictment only serves as a reminder to Americans that there is a two-tiered justice system under Joe Biden. 

“While New York faces an open season for crime, the Manhattan DA is focused on arresting a former president. This is what an assault on democracy looks like – using government power to go after your political opponents – and it’s coming directly from those who proclaim to ‘defend’ it. 

“This isn’t normal, it isn’t ‘justice,’ and it’s certainly not what America stands for.” 

Now my annotations are in italics below.

Gov. Reynolds Statement on the Indictment of Donald J. Trump 

DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to the politically charged indictment of President Donald J. Trump:  

Yes, it is a “politically charged” indictment. She could have even said, “politically motivated.” It may well be. It doesn’t matter. The evidence is the only thing that matters, and as the process plays out, we will learn of the strength of that evidence, and the court will come to a verdict. That’s how courts work. That’s the rule of law.

“This sham indictment only serves as a reminder to Americans that there is a two-tiered justice system under Joe Biden. 

What is the evidence that it is a “sham” indictment? Governor Reynolds has not seen the evidence that would indicate it is a “sham” indictment. Without the evidence, we don’t know if it is a “sham” indictment or not. 

And what is the evidence that “there is a two-tiered justice system under Joe Biden? The indictment of Trump is no such evidence, which she seems to imply. This phrase is being used by the right to undermine the judicial system and any current and forthcoming prosecutions of Trump. While her accusation falls flat, there is, however, vast evidence of a two-tiered justice system under Donald Trump. Son-in-law Jared Kushner’s two billion dollar payout from the Saudis, trademarks granted by China to daughter Ivanka and Trump during his administration, and Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s $2.5 billion investment fund propped up by the Saudis come to mind. These are only three examples out of many.

Governor Reynolds is projecting.

And notice it is “President Donald J. Trump” and only “Joe Biden.” Subtle, but an attempt to minimize President Biden.

“While New York faces an open season for crime, the Manhattan DA is focused on arresting a former president.”

A red herring and irrelevant. I don’t think it’s an “open season” on crime in Manhattan. I suspect the Manhattan DA and the police are doing their best to fight crime and put criminals behind bars. And, if the allegations in Trump’s indictment are true, Trump is part of that crime wave. So, the rich and famous and former presidents go scot-free while the rest of us go to jail? Not a good look, Governor. 

This is what an assault on democracy looks like – using government power to go after your political opponents – and it’s coming directly from those who proclaim to ‘defend’ it. 

Indicting the high and mighty--even former Presidents-- when there is evidence of criminality isn’t an assault on Democracy; it’s a defense of it. Again, if this were true, that “government power” was being used to go after political opponents, the evidence matters, not the motivation. And need I remind you, it is Republicans, including Trump, who chanted, “lock her up” for years. Reynolds is projecting again. To be clear, Trump isn’t the political opponent of the Manhattan D.A., and President Biden has no power over the D.A. And yes, Democrats not only proclaim to defend democracy, and they do so every day. They have to, because Republicans are dismantling it.

“This isn’t normal, it isn’t ‘justice,’ and it’s certainly not what America stands for.” 

No, it isn’t normal. Trump’s apparent criminality isn’t normal. And whether or not it is justice is up to the courts.

And this is exactly what America stands for, where no man is above the law.

Now here is the statement Governor Kim Reynolds should have issued. I’m putting it in italics to make sure that everyone knows it’s mine.

DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement in response to the politically charged indictment of President Donald J. Trump:  

Donald Trump is the best president of my lifetime. I’m proud to call him friend. Together, and with like-minded Republicans across the land, we have accomplished amazing things, and we hope to do more. We need to make America great again. Please stand with us. Please stand with President Trump.

No man is above the law; I believe the charges against President Trump are politically motivated and unfounded.

I also believe in the American justice system. I believe in the rule of law. And when President Donald Trump is exonerated, America will stand stronger than we ever have before. 

God bless President Donald Trump, God Bless Iowa, and God bless America.

With this kind of statement, Governor Reynolds could have chosen to support Trump and the rule of law at the same time. And no matter the outcome, she’s a winner. A leader.

Instead, she decided to be part of the mob, which will eventually hurt her, the rule of law, Iowa, and America.

How sad is that? I expect more statements from the Iowa congressional delegation, but I doubt they are better than Governor Reynolds offered. I hope I’m wrong.

(update: much of the same from Iowa Republican leadership. KCCI has their statements compiled here. A school of red herrings and no leadership.)

This is the first indictment. More will come. With each forthcoming indictment, will Reynolds and other Republican leaders issue the same message over and over again? Maybe angrier? Further weakening confidence in our judicial system and Democracy? Republicans have a choice. To follow Trump to the ends of the earth, likely destroy the Republican Party, and further damage American democracy.

Or, they can say that “no man is above the law”--including Trump, and let the courts rule. 

This is a Republican off-ramp from Trump. They have had others, e.g., January 6, but have declined to take them. Eventually, they will be forced to. But rather than be humiliated by their supplication to Trump while he took a wrecking ball to democracy, they will act like it never happened.

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