photo credit: WOSU PBS
The upcoming presidential election is one of the most controversial that the United States has seen. While each candidate’s public policy goals are highly polarizing, moral issues may further absorb the interest of the electorate when casting their ballots this year. The dark past of former President Donald Trump overshadows his policies, everything from criminal convictions to sexual abuse convictions.
Reestablishing himself on the ballot this year is Republican candidate Donald John Trump. He is returning to the presidential mainstage with 34 criminal convictions, liability in a civil sexual assault trial, as well as two impeachment charges – the most any president has seen.
In May 2024, Trump was found guilty of “falsifying business records in connection with a payoff to Stormy Daniels, a porn star,” according to Politico. In this sex scandal, Trump “bought” Daniels’ silence with falsely accounted election campaign money, making Trump the first U.S. president in history to become a convicted felon. He was fined a total of $10,000, after being found guilty on all 34 counts. Trump never served prison time, but his former attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced to 36 months of prison time as well as owing “$1.39 million in restitution, $500,000 in forfeiture and 100,000 in fines” for his relation within this case, according to CNN.
Stretching the truth is a common tactic that even the most beloved politicians utilize, but blatant lies and false information are different issues entirely and not something voters should condone, especially from a possible future leader of the nation.
One instance of sexual misconduct is one too many. However, Trump has allegations against his conduct that date back to the 1970s, according to The 19th website, and one case, in particular, caught the general public’s attention: in January 2024 Trump was “found liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll”, according to the Washington Post. Though Carroll claimed that she was raped by the former president, the trial jurors’ verdict stated that what occurred was “sexual abuse”, not rape. Throughout the length of his trial, Trump’s continual defamation of Carroll’s reputation led to him owing money “adding up to over $90 million”, according to Forbes Magazine, which is a mere amount for the emotional damage that he inflicted upon the life of Carroll.
Cheating scandals are not a new to the White House; from President John F Kennedy to President Bill Clinton, several presidents have alleged or confirmed affairs with women. However, sexual abuse allegations are another issue entirely, as they’re nonconsensual and illegal. While Carroll is the most well-known case of misconduct in his past, former President Trump has, throughout his adult life, had women speak out against his sexually inappropriate actions toward them.
For example, in 2016 Jessica Leeds told the New York Times about an instance when Trump “reached his hand up her skirt and grabbed her breasts”, according to The 19th website. In 1997, Jill Harth stated that he had attempted to kiss her while “pushing her up against a wall and putting his hand up her dress”, according to The 19th website.
These allegations reside among many, and with a simple Google search, anyone can reveal a few of the many disgusting statements about the man that Americans are considering the most prestigious governmental position in the country. On the infamous Access Hollywood Tape, Trump is recorded admitting to inappropriately groping women, following up with “And when you’re a star, they let you do it,” and “You can do anything.” I believe that anyone, especially one holding a political office, should be held to a moral standard far above the appalling actions of this man.
Furthermore, and more directly within the realm of politics resides Trump’s 2019 impeachment charges. Within the Articles of Impeachment Against Trump, the Congress of The United States of America resolves that Trump “is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors” on grounds of “Abuse of Power” as well as “Obstruction of Congress”. As if being a convicted felon and abuser wasn’t enough to ostracize his following, Trump was also impeached from office during his first presidential term.
As for his opponent, democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, she currently has no sexual abuse allegations nor any criminal convictions. However, the Biden administration is facing “low approval ratings on immigration”, a weak point Republicans have targeted Harris for, attributing her lack of efforts to a “border invasion”, according to NPR. Her struggle with immigration issues has long since been a weakness exploited by the republican party, but at least she’s not a felon. Switch to active voice, the last sentence
With some issues on both ends of the ballot, this election is vital to maintain the morals of the country, an expression that would be extremely invalidated by the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump.
