I have a problem with Duncan Hunter deciding that he is going to enter a guilty plea on one charge rather than face trial in January.
I have not heard Hunter say anything about this case other than “fake news,” “witch hunt,” “deep state conspiracy,” “partisan prosecution” and all of the other Trump-like declarations about how unfair life has been and how he is a victim of persecution by corrupt prosecutors. Now, looking down the long end of a million $ trial and a prison term (he knows he is guilty and he will go to prison), his vociferous denials and attacks against the justice system have been replaced with “I will plead guilty for the sake of my children.” Oh, the sacrifices we make for our children. He has gone on to refuse to take responsibility or accept guilt other than claiming bookkeeping issues.
Hunter told KUSI on Monday that he wants the public to know he “did make mistakes” but that “not a single dime of taxpayer money is involved in this.”
“I did not properly monitor or account for my campaign’s money,” he said.
www.washingtonpost.com/...
But this a man in a position of power who has angrily called into question the integrity of our justice system, the fallback position of Republican politicians who are guilty of crimes. “It’s not me, it’s the SYSTEM!” And here is my problem. If he does not accept guilt, if he does not say “I committed crimes,” then the judge should not accept a guilty plea so he can do his ten months in prison with the littlest ramifications to him. He should not walk away from this so he can go on TV as some kind of martyr of the deep state, innocent as the day is long, and a hero who sacrificed his freedom for his family. It encourages other politicians and Trump operatives from doing the same thing. Tearing down our justice system to get out of their crimes and sleaze, have Fox News talk about how he was railroaded and have millions of Americans support him for it.
He should either accept his crimes, apologize for his accusations against the prosecutors, and he should plead “no contest” to the whole deal, or take it to trial so he can prove his innocence and that he is a marine and a fighter to the end.