It is not hyperbole to say that without a strong third branch of government, including elected state judges, we wouldn’t have a democracy right now, perhaps never again. Had it been left up to the Senate (as composed at the time), or had it come down to a House vote, one vote per state (by the Constitution), we would have had our elections circumvented for the first time (in an obvious one. The Bush-Gore election was close enough that one couldn’t call it “stolen” by Bush, not at this level).

Yet again today, we saw a federal judge impose a sentence on a relative lightweight and use the opportunity to tell the truth about Donald Trump.

From CNN:

A federal judge took aim at former President Donald Trump on Monday for lying about voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election, saying that former Vice President Al Gore had a better standing to challenge the 2000 election results but that he was “a man” and walked away.

“Al Gore had a better case to argue than Mr. Trump, but he was a man about what happened to him,” Senior District Judge Reggie Walton said of Gore’s decision to end his presidential bid following weeks of legal battles. “He accepted it and walked away.”

The comments from Walton came during a plea hearing for Capitol riot defendant Adam Johnson, Johnson was a relatively low level criminal who the judge admitted had done all he could to lessen his sentence, and yet still had concerns:

What concerns me, sir, is that you were gullible enough to come to Washington, DC, from Florida based on a lie and the person who inspired you to do what you do is still making those statements, and my concern is that you are gullible enough to do it again.

And we all share the same concerns, especially having heard the statistics that even more Republicans believe the election was stolen presently than they did just after the election, and more Republicans believe Trump will be reinstated than just months ago (as if rough times for a president make it more likely that one will be thrown out and replaced.)

Yes, there are still reasons to worry as the judge seems to know all too well and perhaps that’s why he’s sending Trump messages.

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