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In 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for our nation's highest office after riding down an escalator in Trump Tower. On Tuesday we saw his vehicle ride down a ramp to an underground garage, conveying him to his arraignment ("Trump is arraigned as historic case begins," June 14). I'm struck by the parallel between these two images of descent.
The first seemed to foretell coming lows in candidate conduct, such as his egregious invitation to a rival power to become involved in our presidential election ("Russia, if you're listening ... "). The second seemed to represent depths reached during and after his presidency, such as his contribution to the events of Jan. 6 and now his indictment on numerous felony counts persuasively alleging his mishandling and "willful retention" of classified material, obstruction of justice and other criminal acts.
To me, these two downward slides — one on an escalator, one in a black car — symbolize the direction this man has taken us, and would again, if given another chance.
Jim Kaufmann, Burnsville
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Concerning Nick Akerman's June 15 opinion republished online from the New York Times, defending Judge Aileen Cannon for the document trial: I will accept most of Akerman's defense of Cannon. Being appointed by former President Donald Trump does not disqualify her. Nor does her membership in the Federalist Society. He also gives credit to her legal qualifications, being a magna cum laude graduate of a top-tier law school, which is great. Then he mentioned her lack of experience (four cases that went to trial in two years). But, when he goes on to say she should be given the "benefit of the doubt" and includes that judges learn "from episodes like this," I do begin to question his reasoning. (Would Akerman feel the same if she was the judge for his murder trial?)