In a world as volatile as our current politics, it’s only natural to hear endless debates between partisan candidates. In the 2024 presidential election cycle, both camps are gearing up to make their voices heard in every way possible. But the recent conviction of former president and Republican front-runner Donald Trump is just the latest scandal to rock the nation’s political landscape.
That Trump paid hush money to quickly quell allegations of infidelity was covered up four years ago but is now acknowledged by numerous sources, including people with ties to Trump. In the hyped-up run-up to the 2016 presidential election, while Trump won the Republican nomination and made national news, Trump and his lawyer, Michael Cohen, were doing all they could to protect his image as a good businessman. As this drama unfolded, Trump’s criminal trial and conviction in New York only reinforces the growing evidence that the broader future of American politics is seriously tainted by Trump’s actions.
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Two of the most notable hush money payments are Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The large bribes (over $100,000) were paid to stop the pair from publishing damaging information that could have damaged Trump’s chances of winning the 2016 presidential election. Daniels had previously spoken publicly about her so-called relationship with Trump, but nothing significant enough to warrant indictment occurred. However, Trump was formally indicted once local prosecutors in Manhattan gathered enough information about a vast web of lies. While paying hush money to keep quiet is not necessarily a crime, falsifying business records to hide money paid in secret is illegal. The messiness of this cover-up has Trump’s supporters worried, as it could negatively affect his prospects in the 2024 election.
Trump’s lawyer, Cohen, bought Daniels’ silence for $130,000. After Trump ultimately won the presidential election over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Trump’s companies were able to reimburse Cohen with staged payments for “corporate legal fees.” Cohen was convicted of the conspiracy and sentenced to prison, but was later released. He was a key witness in Trump’s trial.
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However, it would be unfair to pin the blame for the current tarnished image of American politics solely on Trump. Simply put, Trump is just a small example of a larger national problem that subtly permeates politics. The extreme partisanship we see today is deeply rooted in American society and history, creating an environment filled with harmful and subjective narratives rather than truthful debate. Without forgetting our unwavering commitment to the foundations of our democracy, we must trust our core values and strive to ensure a fair and honest political process for all Americans, regardless of their political leanings.
From the Watergate scandal under former President Richard Nixon to today, Americans have received a stern wake-up call in the political sphere. This time, we must demand greater transparency and honesty from our leaders. We cannot prosper together as a nation unless we hold our politicians accountable. What is wrong is indisputably wrong. The future health of our democracy depends on steps taken to restore integrity and integrity to the American political system.
Alex So-Joon Kim is a Stillwater High School student.
