Donald Trump’s recent gathering at Mar-a-Lago to promote a new documentary about John Eastman, a key figure in the legal efforts surrounding the January 6th attack, has been condemned as a “clear slap in the face to democracy” by former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.
Earlier in the day, Vance had highlighted an “interesting footnote” in Judge Juan Merchan’s filing regarding Trump’s upcoming sentencing for felony convictions in New York. Vance later appeared on MSNBC to discuss both the case and the controversial Mar-a-Lago meeting, where Trump and his “MAGA cohorts” celebrated Eastman, who has been indicted for his involvement in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The host on MSNBC asked Vance about the message being sent by Trump’s attendance at the premiere of Eastman’s documentary, especially in light of accusations of “lawfare” made by Eastman and other MAGA allies.
Vance did not mince words, responding, “This is a clear slap in the face to democracy.” She further explained, “I think it suggests that Trump believes he has completely normalized what happened on January 6th, and although Americans have notoriously short memories, it’s important for us to dredge up the feelings of where we were, what we observed and how we felt.”
The former prosecutor also pointed out the sharp contrast between Trump’s actions and the reactions of many Republicans at the time. “We know Republicans in the Senate and the House were outraged by what happened on January 6th at the moment,” she said.
“Many of them issued stinging condemnations of Donald Trump,” Vance emphasized the significance of Trump’s decision to honor Eastman, calling it a telling moment in light of Eastman’s role in the January 6th efforts. “For him to sit in Mar-a-Lago honoring John Eastman, one of the architects of January 6th, someone with a legal education who failed to honor his obligation to uphold the Constitution, speaks volumes about where Donald Trump is as he embarks on this second presidency,” Vance added.
Her comments underline the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump’s actions and the symbolic impact of his public support for those connected to the January 6th insurrection.