If the charges in the indictment of Donald Trump are true, said presidential candidate Nikki Haley, the former president has been “incredibly reckless with our national security and has put all of our military men and women in danger.” The next day she added that if Trump is found guilty, she would be “inclined in favor of a pardon” because a pardon is “less about guilt, and more about what is good for the country.” Mike Pence, the former vice president, sounded a little bolder: “This indictment contains serious charges and I cannot defend what is alleged.” But Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, was best among Republicans at stating the obvious about Trump: “He is putting our country through this. Everyone is blaming the prosecutors. But he did this.”– Fletcher Farrar, editor
Cover photos by Zach Adams, 1221 Photography
This article appears in Juneteenth 2023.
