OK, Donald Trump fans, let's play a game: Truth or Dare — Election 2024 Edition

Let's engage in a game of Truth or Dare, Election 2024 style. I'll start with a truth.

Truth: Donald J. Trump has been charged with a total of 88 felony counts across four criminal investigations. He has already been found guilty of 34 of them.

True! Trump’s legal troubles began with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This involved his attorney, Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to silence her allegations of an affair with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump reimbursed Cohen during his presidency, falsely recording these payments as legal fees. Prosecutors argued that these falsifications were felonies intended to conceal an unlawful scheme to influence the election.

Next, another Truth.

Truth: Donald J. Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 over his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

True! In June 2023, Trump became the first U.S. president to face federal criminal charges. The indictment followed an FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022. The National Archives had revealed that Trump retained 15 boxes of documents that should have been surrendered at the end of his presidency. The charges focus on Trump’s actions after federal investigators issued a subpoena for their return, alleging obstruction and mishandling of classified information.

Another Truth.

Truth: In August 2023, Trump was indicted a third time, on four counts, by a federal grand jury investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

True! The August 2023 indictment centers on Trump's alleged attempts to remain in power following his 2020 election loss. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct an official proceeding. The indictment also implicates several unnamed co-conspirators, including attorneys and a Justice Department official who orchestrated a scheme to submit fraudulent electoral certificates.

Continuing with another Truth.

Truth: Trump was indicted in a fourth criminal investigation in mid-August 2023, after Georgia prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury regarding his efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

True! In mid-August 2023, Trump faced his fourth indictment from Georgia. A 23-member grand jury issued a 41-count indictment covering 19 defendants, including Trump, who initially faced 13 felony counts, including racketeering and conspiracy to commit election fraud.

One final Truth.

Truth: In 1989, five Black and Latino boys were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York City. Donald J. Trump called for the death penalty in full-page newspaper ads.

True! Trump spent $85,000 on ads in four major NYC newspapers, demanding the reinstatement of the death penalty. His inflammatory ad called for the execution of the Central Park Five, despite the lack of conclusive evidence.

A Dare.

Dare: Republicans, I dare you to do better than Donald J. Trump.

Travis John Richard lives in Springfield.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Trump fans, let's play a game: Truth or Dare — Election 2024 Edition