Trump — The Lawbreaker Part 2

Abuse of Power in Practice by Mark M. Bello Last week, in Part I of ‘TRUMP THE LAWBREAKER,’ we discussed the erosion of equal justice in America. In Part II, we’ll discuss what that erosion looks like in real time. Not in theory or law school hypotheticals, but in the daily exercise of presidential power. […]

Trump: The Lawbreaker

Part 1: Equal or Selective Justice? by Mark M. Bello Trump 2.0 and the Collapse of the Rule of Law: Justice for Some, Not All The rule of law promises something simple: The same rules apply to everyone and apply the same way. Not sometimes, not when it is convenient, and not only when the […]

Law, Morality, and the Collapse of the War Powers Act

A Wimpy Congress Enables an Overly Agressive President by Mark M. Bello The debate over America’s latest military action against Iran raises a constitutional question that should never be controversial: Who decides when the United States goes to war? The Constitution answers clearly: “The Congress shall have Power To declare War . . .” Not […]

When the Government Shots First, Distorts Second, and Covers Its Ass Third

What ICE is and What it is Not By Mark M. Bello When the government kills a citizen it had no lawful reason to stop—and lies before it investigates—the Constitution is already bleeding. Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, was recently shot and killed by an ICE agent during a […]

Venezuela: Drugs, Oil, and the Politics of Power

Questions about America’s Motives and Interests by Mark M. Bello In the early hours of January 2, the United States did something extraordinarily dangerous. Was it in our country’s national interest? Time will tell. A foreign head of state—Nicolás Maduro—was seized, removed from his country, and transported to New York to face criminal charges. Shortly […]

The President and the Writ: Trump’s Threat to Foundational Freedom

The United States is still a constitutional republic governed by the rule of law. While most of us watch one cable news channel or another— moderates, right leaners, or left—we don’t often hear stories that feature the writ of habeas corpus. That’s because the writ is settled law, a sacred protection, not bipartisan, not controversial, perhaps the most profound and ancient guarantees of liberty in the history of Western civilization.

Trump’s Appalling Hypocrisy on Constitutional Rights Endangers Our Freedom

by Mark M. Bello Donald Trump fashions himself a fierce defender of the Constitution—he once said that “protecting our Second Amendment will make America great again.” Appointing pro-life, pro-gun Supreme Court Justices was a legacy of his first term as president. His image as a stalwart protector of gun rights earned him unwavering support from […]