Michael Brenner The previous essay on executive abuse of authority was cast broadly. The few, brief specific examples alluded elected leaders in Washington, their senior appointees and the federal judiciary. Overshadowing all was the culture of criminality and illicit conduct that pervaded the Trump administration. Understandably so since by both example and precedent he encouraged the current, accelerating trend toward unaccountability and impunity. It would be erroneous, though, to focus exclusively on the Trump tenure and its aftermath. His predecessors did much to prepare the ground. In this regard, the…
