The relentless persecution and ridiculous prosecution of President Trump has been beyond surreal. The zany Soviet style show trials surely surpassed all legality and logic and exposed the abject absurdities of these cases against Trump. These obvious witch hunts are struggling, so most Americans expected the salacious silly hush money case in New York City to also collapse. Yes, the judge was compromised, the prosecution was corrupt, and the jury was extremely biased, but the case was so insane that many Americans still wondered how even a jury in deep blue New York City could find him guilty. They did, and Americans were stunned and incensed. How can this be happening in America?!

It’s hard to imagine much less accept that our judicial system could be so acutely abused, but a sober reflection indicates this miscarriage of justice was planned and predetermined. After federal prosecutors declined the case long ago, a hyper-partisan District Attorney resurrected misdemeanor charges past the statute of limitations. Despite ample exculpatory evidence, Alvin Bragg somehow manipulated these federal charges in a state court into a felony indictment.

By Democrat coincidence, the most compromised partisan judge, Juan Merchan, was assigned the case. He denied defense witnesses while allowing prosecution witnesses to incessantly smear Trump about matters not relevant to the charges. Merchan even issued a gag order against Trump to keep him from defending himself.

Americans saw through this political persecution, but many still had faith in our judicial system – surely the jury would be fair. The judge made it easier to convict by instructing the jury that it did not have to be unanimous. Do what?! And even after closing arguments, no one was sure what the crime was and still no one understands the charges. But the jury quickly found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of essentially mislabeling accounting categories!

Democrats have gone to great lengths and obliterated the law to get Trump, so the fix was in. The notes from the jury to the judge were probably asking when they could come out with their forgone conclusion, and he probably had to tell them to wait a couple of days to make it less obvious. But it was painfully obvious. The trial was rigged from beginning to end.

Despite a few idiot media pundits and celebrating Democrats, everyone knows the court proceeding and conviction will not withstand appeal. There are so many legal problems with the case against Trump that real legal scrutiny by even nominally honest judges will certainly overturn the conviction, but that won’t happen until after the election.

Democrats know they made a mockery of our judicial system, but they got what they wanted for the time they need it. They don’t care that this travesty of justice will be overturned because until the election, they can repeat all day long that Trump is a “convicted felon.” That’s all they want because that is their entire strategy – malign Trump.

Democrats know Biden cannot campaign, and they cannot defend his record. Biden has failed miserably on every issue. Trump will secure the border and control illegal immigration, but Trump is a convicted felon. Trump will cut spending and taxes to reduce inflation, but Trump is a convicted felon. Trump will enforce the laws and make our streets safe again, but Trump is a convicted felon. Trump will face down our enemies and restore American influence and prestige in the world, but Trump is a convicted felon.

That is all Democrats have! Their candidate is cooked, so their entire strategy is to convince voters it’s better to suffer misery with an incompetent dementia patient than risk peace and prosperity with a convicted felon. Orange man bad; bumbling old man not so bad.

It won’t work and already is not working. After the ludicrous conviction, Americans rallied to Trump, and he raised a record breaking $200 million in 3 days! Americans see through this nasty weaponization of our judicial system, and they reject it. Americans also loathe unfairness. They remember how Hillary Clinton was unilaterally absolved by former FBI Director James Comey and Special Counsel Robert Hur let Joe Biden off the hook for being unable to stand trial, so both evaded indictment and trial. Trump has faced all manner of overcooked schemes to get him, but none of it has affected his standing in the polls. If anything, it has strengthened him and made him more popular.

In incredible cynical irony, Biden Campaign Co-chair Mitch Landrieu claimed “Trump has to destroy democracy to be president” when it’s Democrats that are weaponizing federal powers to oppress and even imprison their political opponents. Democrats abandoned democracy and the rule of law long ago and this sham trial made that clear to even more Americans. Even El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said, “We don’t jail the opposition.”

Trump will be fine and win again, but Democrats have done grave damage to our judicial system. No one can trust our judicial system and that scares Americans, but to their credit, the morning after conservative Americans just got up and went to work. They did not riot or even protest; they just resolved to vote.

The felony conviction of Trump was shameful, but the real decision will be November 5th when the American people speak at the ballot box. However, the danger remains that when Trump wins again, Democrats will burn, loot, and riot on November 6th. Americans must prepare for the coming carnage and work to restore justice to our tattered judicial system. America certainly needs Trump, but in the long run, the rule of law must be reestablished.

“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15).

Pete Riehm is a conservative activist and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.