trial – mackaycartoons

Thursday May 30, 2024

May 30, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 30, 2024

Awaiting an update to Trump’s Temple of Scandal

May 7, 2024

The waiting game for a verdict often feels like a slow-motion dance of anticipation and speculation. As the jury deliberates on the fate of Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels affair, the echoes of past scandals reverberate through the corridors of power, underscoring the profound challenges of navigating a legacy already sullied by controversy and scandal.

Trump’s attempt to conceal his involvement with Stormy Daniels through hush money was a calculated move born out of the fear that revelations could torpedo his 2016 Presidential campaign. Now, as he gears up for another shot at the White House in 2024, the same scandal looms large on the public stage, exposed for all US voters to scrutinize.

News: At Trump Trial’s Closings, Lawyers Weave Facts Into Clashing Accounts

February 13, 2024

But this scandal is just one thread in the tangled tapestry of Trump’s political legacy. From allegations of collusion with Russia to impeachment proceedings and everything in between, Trump’s tenure as President was marked by a litany of scandals that would have sunk a lesser politician.

The spectre of Russian interference in the 2016 election continues to cast a long shadow over Trump’s presidency, with lingering questions about his campaign’s ties to Moscow and his efforts to obstruct the subsequent investigation. The impeachment proceedings in 2019 and 2021, stemming from allegations of soliciting foreign interference in elections and inciting insurrection, further tarnished Trump’s reputation and underscored the fragility of his grip on power.

June 19, 2018

And let’s not forget the family separation policy at the US-Mexico border, which resulted in the cruel and inhumane treatment of migrant children and sparked outrage and condemnation both domestically and internationally. The mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by a lack of leadership, misinformation, and failed response efforts, further eroded public trust and confidence in Trump’s leadership.

In the face of such damning revelations and controversies, one might expect Trump’s political ambitions to be dead in the water. Yet, amidst the chaos and turmoil, there exists a curious sentiment: the belief that Trump’s past behaviour may not hinder his political ambitions in 2024.

Opinion: What Trump Looks Like to Historians

March 26, 2019

It’s a notion that speaks to the peculiar dynamics of contemporary politics, where scandal and outrage seem to have a fleeting impact on the trajectory of political careers. In an era where the boundaries of acceptability are constantly being pushed and reshaped, Trump’s resilience in the face of adversity is both confounding and fascinating.

But as we await the outcome of the Stormy Daniels trial and ponder the implications for Trump’s political future, one thing is abundantly clear: the drama of American politics shows no signs of abating anytime soon. And Trump’s legacy, already sullied by scandal and controversy, hangs in the balance, awaiting the judgment of history. (AI)

Tuesday May 7, 2024

May 7, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 7, 2024

A Tawdry Ratings Stunt or a Descent into Disgrace?

March 22, 2023

As the trial of Donald J. Trump unfolds in Manhattan, it becomes increasingly clear that what began as a legal proceeding has devolved into a tawdry spectacle of ratings-chasing and denial. Trump’s relentless pursuit of attention, coupled with his flagrant disregard for the rule of law, paints a damning picture of a presidency steeped in scandal and deceit.

From the outset, Trump’s trial has resembled nothing so much as a reality TV drama, with each twist and turn carefully choreographed for maximum impact. The involvement of Stormy Daniels, a porn star at the centre of allegations of hush money payments, adds a lurid dimension to an already sordid affair. Trump’s former fixer Michael D. Cohen’s testimony only serves to underscore the depth of deception that permeated the Trump administration.

News: Trump fined $1,000 for violating gag order again and threatened with jail time

January 25, 2024

But while Trump may see the trial as an opportunity to burnish his image or rally his base, the rest of us must not lose sight of the real issues at stake. The fines and threats of jail time that Trump faces for violating the gag order are not just the consequences of a legal technicality but a reflection of a broader pattern of behaviour that seeks to undermine the very institutions that uphold the rule of law.

Trump’s repeated violations of the gag order, resulting in fines and threats of jail time, seem almost calculated to keep the spotlight firmly fixed on him. With each admonishment from the judge, Trump’s narrative of victimhood and persecution grows stronger, appealing to those who see him as a crusader against a biased legal system. To them, the fines and threats of jail time only reinforce the idea that Trump is being unfairly targeted by his political enemies.

News: Trump quickly fundraises off judge’s contempt ruling in hush money case

December 9, 2023

But to many others, Trump’s behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful. His flouting of court orders and attacks on witnesses and jurors undermine the integrity of the justice system and erode public trust in the rule of law. It’s a spectacle that not only tarnishes Trump’s own reputation but also reflects poorly on the state of civility and respect for institutions in modern society.

In the end, Trump’s trial may indeed be remembered as a ratings stunt, but it will also be remembered as a descent into disgrace for a president who placed his own interests above those of the country he swore to serve. As the trial continues to unfold, it’s essential to remember the real victims in this sordid saga: the American people, who deserve leaders who are accountable to the law and to the truth. No amount of ratings or attention-seeking can obscure the fact that Trump’s legacy will forever be tarnished by his actions, and the sooner we reckon with that reality, the better off Americans will be. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

Tuesday September 12, 2017

September 11, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 12, 2017

Liberals enduring two scandal trials

Two Ontario Liberals went to trial last Thursday on Election Act bribery charges stemming from a 2015 byelection in Sudbury, but the stakes are also high for Premier Kathleen Wynne herself.

December 18, 2015

The Sudbury trial happens nearly simultaneously with another Liberal trial – related to the cancellation of two gas plants – which makes for terrible optics for the party. But while that second trial involves staffers for former premier Dalton McGuinty, the Sudbury scandal is one forged entirely under Wynne’s tenure.

The premier herself is set to testify on Sept. 13.

“Politically, it’s not good,” said Nadia Verrelli, an assistant political science professor at Sudbury’s Laurentian University.

Regardless of the outcome, it may focus the provincial election campaign – with a vote nine months away – on questions about the Liberals’ integrity rather than their policies, she said.

Pat Sorbara, at the time the Ontario Liberal Party CEO, faces two charges and Gerry Lougheed, a Sudbury Liberal fundraiser, faces one charge. They both deny wrongdoing.

September 29, 2015

In late 2014, the Sudbury riding became vacant when the New Democrat who won it five months earlier stepped down for health reasons. The Liberals had their eye on winning back a riding that until 2014 they held for about two decades.

Andrew Olivier, who was the Liberals’ candidate in the riding in the general election, wanted to run again, but Wynne had other ideas. She ended up successfully luring the riding’s NDP MP – Glenn Thibeault – to run for the provincial Liberals.

One of Sorbara’s charges relates to an allegation she promised to get Thibeault “an office or employment” to induce him to become a candidate, which both deny.

Sorbara and Lougheed are alleged to have offered Olivier a job or appointment in exchange for stepping aside for Thibeault, who was ultimately given the post of energy minister last year.

Wynne has said that she had already decided Olivier would not be the byelection candidate by the time Sorbara and Lougheed spoke to him, therefore anything offered was not in exchange for stepping aside. Rather, Wynne says, she was trying to keep him in the party fold. (Source: Global News)

Friday April 22, 2016

April 21, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 22, 2016

Judge clears Mike Duffy of all charges

A judge in an Ottawa court has cleared Senator Mike Duffy of all 31 criminal charges and delivered a scathing indictment of the political operations of the office of former prime minister Stephen Harper.

He called the actions of the Prime Minister’s Office under Harper “mind-boggling and shocking.”

Justice Charles Vaillancourt said Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright and other PMO staff executed operations with a precision that would make any military commander proud, all with the objective of containing political damage.

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Duffy was another “piece on the chess board,” and the unwilling partner in a scheme to cover $90,000 in expenses, even though they were likely legitimate, Vaillancourt said.

“Could Hollywood match their creativity?” he asked.

Vaillancourt called the senator a “credible witness” and said the Crown failed to prove the case on any of the 31 charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.

While some of the actions might be seen as “unorthodox,” they were not criminal, he ruled.

Duffy’s lawyer Donald Bayne said the “vindication” should cause those who rushed to judgment like a “political herd” to give serious thought about their actions.

“Political figures, public figures are also entitled to due process,” he said. “Senator Duffy has been subjected in the last two-and-a-half, three years to more public humiliation than probably any other Canadian in history,” he said.

Vaillancourt said Duffy’s travel claims had no financial or “sinister” motive and no “criminal intent,” the judge said.

He also concluded that payments made for third-party services funnelled through his friend Gerald Donohue to pay for editorial services, makeup and fitness training were “appropriate.” And he said there was no evidence of kickbacks or altered invoices. (Source: CBC News)

Posted to iPolitics

Wednesday August 19, 2015

August 18, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 19, 2015

The back and forth continues at the Mike Duffy Trial

As the leaders of Canada’s three main political parties continue on their respective campaign trails, Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff and the lawyer for disgraced senator Mike Duffy were expected to continue their sparring in an Ottawa courtroom on Tuesday.

Duffy, who was appointed to the Senate in 2008 by Harper, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges in connection with his Senate office, living and travel expenses.

Duffy’s lawyer, Donald Bayne, spent much of Monday trying to show that it was not Duffy who demanded money and set conditions to rectify the matter but the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kerry Kolodiazny, a member of the public following the trial, left, uses his laptop to film himself with Nigel Wright, as he leaves the courthouse in Ottawa on Monday. We see Kolodiazy dressed in a flowered sports coat right out of the 1960s with a hat to match, holding his computer as he leans in to address Mr. Wright, who, as usual, is dressed in a fancy, dark suit and tie. Mr. Wright is smiling broadly.

2011-2015

Bayne pressed Nigel Wright, who served as Prime Minister Harper’s chief of staff from 2010 to 2013, to explain a “scenario” co-ordinated between top aides in Harper’s office and Duffy that included having the senator publicly admit he made a mistake with his expenses and promise to repay them.

The initial plan was to have the party cover the bill, as well as Duffy’s legal expenses and Wright has said he told Harper shortly afterward that Duffy would repay the expenses.

Wright wound up writing a $90,000 cheque to Duffy to cover the expenses, telling several people in Harper’s office as well as some Conservative Party leaders.

Wright repeated that he never told Harper about the check.

Meanwhile, the campaigns roll on. (Source: Radio Canada)

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