Trump’s Conspiracy and Campaign Troubles

Your editorial “Another Troubling Trump Indictment” (Aug. 2) says the election conspiracy “had no chance of success.” Didn’t it? What if former Vice President Mike Pence hadn’t been a hero? One reason a conspiracy to do an unlawful act is illegal is that it could succeed.

Former President Donald Trump did more than “lobby” Mr. Pence. He repeatedly ordered Mr. Pence to violate the law to overturn an election. After Mr. Pence said he wouldn’t, Mr. Trump tweeted to the angry mob that “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our Constitution.” Members of the mob shouted, “Hang Mike Pence!” and built a gallows. Might Mr. Pence have been intimidated?

Em. Prof. Candace Kovacic-Fleischer

American University College of Law

McLean, Va.

You write that “Democrats want Mr. Trump to be the Republican nominee.” Well, not this Democrat, and not most of the Democrats I’ve asked. Given the nontrivial chance that Mr. Trump could beat President Biden, I’d prefer several of Mr. Trump’s GOP challengers, especially those with the bravery to call out the former president and his threat to democracy.

George Hager

Washington

Irrespective of the outcome of the various indictments, Mr. Trump is consumed by legal troubles of an unprecedented magnitude. At the same time, he is running for president, the most demanding and all-consuming job there is. Something has to give.

Mr. Trump, 77, simply can’t devote the care and attention that these conflicting and, frankly, surreal agendas require simultaneously. Both his defense and his campaign will suffer. The prudent and statesmanlike recourse for Mr. Trump would be to drop out of the race to focus exclusively on clearing his name. Given his proclivity for grandiosity, however, Mr. Trump will more than likely soldier on in his quest for a second term, particularly if he deduces that this is his only realistic means of avoiding a lengthy stint in prison.

Mark Godes

Chelsea, Mass.