Donald Trump indictment: Why these charges are the most serious ones yet?
Members of the media may directly contact the following experts:
Gilles Levasseur (English and French)
Faculty of Law - Civil Law Section; and Telfer School of Management
Professor Levasseur can comment on the impact of these accusations on the forthcoming presidential elections.
“The cases will take a long time due to procedural processes, delays and appeals. The cases will most likely have a minimal impact on the candidacy of Mr. Trump for the next presidential elections. In the USA, the political choices for leaders have already been made by the people, and it would take a new great presidential candidate to swing some votes.
For Canadians, the cases confirm their views of Mr. Trump, and they are looking for a politician focused on politics that has limited negative baggage. Mr. Trump does not fit that image for Canadians.”
Errol Mendes (English only)
Full Professor, Faculty of Law – Common Law Section
Professor Mendes has studied, taught and written on U.S. Constitutional law.
“Sad to say as a lawyer, but all the co-conspirators in the 2020 election probe case, except for one, are lawyers! They bring a sad reflection on the profession.
The rule of law especially with regards to the transfer of power is the most important foundation of democracy and if Trump still gets past this particular indictment and still wins the GOP nomination and the presidency, then the entire western democratic alliance and democratic coalition of states is hugely at risk.”
Daniel Stockemer (English and French)
Full Professor, Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences
Professor Stockemer’s areas of expertise include elections, public opinion and populism.
Ferry de Kerckhove (English and French)
Senior Fellow, Faculty of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Professor de Kerckhove can comment on this topic from the perspective of international affairs and the role of the three powers in the USA.
"Will the United States recover from one of the most serious political crises in its history, which seems to demonstrate that the much-coveted balance between the three powers - executive/legislative/judicial - can be broken by one man, while there seems to be no will on the part of the Republicans to consolidate the American political scaffolding?”