The truth will set (most of) us free

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..for some folks, not so much.

It's to be expected that there is cynicism and real concern over whether Donald Trump will ever face justice. Trump has many ways at his disposal to avoid prosecution. That's just the reality.

The political system, with Trump's party auguring obsequiously to defend him, is primed and oiled for a free ride for all of his crimes and transgressions. The prospect of corrective elections ahead, the promise of a 'blue wave,' is a hope and a prayer, expecting that this same political system which fosters and protects such deep and corrosive corruption can somehow set our democracy right again.

Even the courts hold out promise for Trump's campaign to subvert justice. Money and prestige work wonders in affording prominent defendants wide benefit of the doubt, the elixir of acquittals.

However, there is another, overriding factor in court cases which is almost always inviolable. It's the integrity of the court, itself - to be more exact. It's basic respect for the rule of law which most animates jurists and others who sit in judgment.

It's precisely that flagrant abuse of and disregard for the law Trump has demonstrated that's sure to set any court's hair on fire which sits in his judgment. If the judge revoking Manafort's bail agreement and jailing him is any guide to the future, Trump and his carefree romp through the criminal code, is in deep trouble.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson of United States District Court for the District of Columbia, delivering what should be the operating guide to jurisprudence concerning anything Trump, gave an iconic admonition to Manafort before jailing him:

“This is not middle school,” she said. “I can’t take away his cellphone.”

“This hearing is not about politics. It is not about the conduct of the office of special counsel. It is about the defendant’s conduct.”Jackson said.

“You have abused the trust placed in you six months ago, I’m concerned you seem to treat these proceedings as another marketing exercise.”

More important, though, are the other reasons Judge Jackson gave for her ruling:

"The law is clear that I can't impose pretrial detention to punish this defendant for the alleged conduct in the new allegations..." she said. "While the grand jury has found probable cause to believe the defendant has corruptly persuaded people to lie, there's been no evidence of even a threat of harm to any person."

"We don't have what one might consider the typical sort of harm to the community at large; dangerous substances being peddled on the corner; unlawful possession of firearms."

"The harm in this case is the harm to the administration of justice. It is the harm to the integrity of the court system... The indictment alleges a corrupt attempt to undermine the integrity and truth of the fact-finding process upon which our system of justice depends."

The truth, or rather Trump's aversion to it, is the reef upon which his ship of state will eventually run aground. We can only hope and pray that there are jurists like Judge Amy Berman Jackson out there to deliver the respect for the law that the vast majority of courts expect and demand from defendants and prosecutors alike.