In Get The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process, and Our Constitutional Rule of Law, Alan Dershowitz—#1 New York Times bestselling author and one of America’s most respected legal scholars—analyses the unremitting efforts by political opponents of Donald Trump to “get” him—to stop him from running in 2024—at any cost.
Alan Dershowitz has been called “one of the most prominent and consistent defenders of civil liberties in America” by Politico and “the nation’s most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer and one of its most distinguished defenders of individual rights” by Newsweek.
Get Trump makes clear that unconstitutional efforts to stop Trump from retaking the presidency challenge the very foundations of our due process, right to counsel, and free speech. Those who justify these dangerous departures from the rule of law argue that the threat posed by a second Trump presidency is “different” and “immediate,” while the departures from constitutional norms are longer term and more abstract.
Dershowitz explains that defenders of Trump’s constitutional rights—even those like him who oppose Trump politically—are sought to be silenced; their free speech rights attacked, their integrity questioned, and their careers threatened. Much of the media substitutes advocacy against Trump for objective reporting, while many in academia petition and propagandize against rights they previously valued—all in the interest of getting Trump.
The essence of justice is that it must be equally applicable to all, Dershowitz notes. No one is above the law but digging to find crimes in order to influence an election does not constitute the equal application of the law. In order to assure equal application in comparable situations, he proposes two criteria for indicting a likely candidate of the opposing the Richard Nixon standard and the Hillary Clinton standard—and most recently, the Joe Biden standard.
Get Trump warns that regardless of whether this anti-democratic effort to stop Trump from running succeeds or fails, it is likely to create dangerous precedents that will lie around like loaded weapons ready to be deployed against other controversial candidates, officials, or citizens about whom it can be argued that the danger they pose “is different.”
Alan Morton Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator. He is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is known for his career as an attorney in several high-profile law cases and commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He has spent most of his career at Harvard, where, at the age of 28, he became the youngest full professor in its history, until Noam Elkies took the record. Dershowitz still holds the record as the youngest person to become a professor of law there.
As a criminal appellate lawyer, Dershowitz has won thirteen out of the fifteen murder and attempted murder cases he has handled. He successfully argued to overturn the conviction of Claus von Bülow for the attempted murder of Bülow's wife, Sunny. Dershowitz was the appellate advisor for the defense in the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Do your principles supercede your immediate political goals?
Our legal system is based on precedent, and there are only two alternatives: precedent will be followed and will end up compromising the rights of future public figures; or precedent will not be followed and will turn the law into an ad hoc weapon that can selectively target political opponents.
Partisan zealots don’t care about precedent because their goals are short term—immediate gratification of their political needs.
Alan Dershowitz is a fantastic constitutional lawyer, who does his best to not let partisan politics interfere with his legal opinion. In this book, he discusses in detail each of the current attempts to take down Trump, and his legal opinion on these attacks. Whether you are for or against Donald Trump this book is important to understand the partisan politics we live in today.
I found this book disappointing, despite the fact that the basic premise that Dershowitz puts forward is compelling and needs to be put forward in the public arena. As Professor Emeritus at Harvard Law School he is a well respected lawyer. As a liberal Democrat who has voted against Donald Trump two times, he is not a political partisan. Yet he puts forward the argument that much of the efforts to impeach, indict and even imprison Trump are unconstitutional and that these efforts on the part of mostly Democrat party officials are more dangerous to American democracy than anything Donald Trump has done. He makes a good case and I would tend to agree with him. What makes the book disappointing is that its chapters are largely reprints of articles and interviews that Dershowitz has done on other platforms. As such the book is uneven and repetitive. Anyone who has heard Dershowitz on TV or online in interviews would not be hearing anything new from the book, which could easily have been published in the form of a long-form article rather than a book. In addition, half of the book is not really about Trump, but about other cases in the past few years that Dershowitz has commented on or been involved with that have similarly, in his view, been detrimental to the rule of law and democracy in the US. Dershowitz’ message is, I think, a vital message that needs to be heard above all the partisan shilling in the media and politics. I just didn’t find this the best vehicle for that message. But for all the book’s weaknesses, I would recommend it if only to hear one of the few independent voices crying in the American media wilderness.
Get Trump: The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process, and Our Constitutional Rule of Law Published in 2023 & less than 200 pages. By Alan Dershowitz [maybe the last reasonable democrat]
BOOK BLURB: Dershowitz analyzes the unremitting efforts by political opponents of Donald Trump to “get” him—to stop him from running in 2024—at any cost. It's a concerted effort to ruin Trump, his family, supporters and associates, The rule of law, civil liberties and the Constitution be damned.
Using unconstitutional efforts to stop Trump adversely affects the very foundations of our liberty: due process, right to counsel, and free speech. Those who justify these dangerous departures from the rule of law argue that the threat posed by a second Trump presidency is “different” and “immediate,” while the departures from constitutional norms are longer term and more abstract.
Dershowitz explains that defenders of Trump’s constitutional rights—even those like him who oppose Trump politically—are sought to be silenced; their free speech rights attacked, their integrity questioned, and their careers and family threatened. In their determination to get Trump, the media now avoids objective reporting and many in academia petition and propagandize against rights they previously valued.
The essence of justice is that it must be equally applicable to all, Dershowitz notes. No one is above the law but searching for crimes to pin on one's political opponent does not constitute the equal application of the law. In order to assure equal application in comparable situations, he proposes two criteria for indicting a likely candidate of the opposing party: the Richard Nixon standard (a bipartisan effort because of obvious crimes) and the Hillary Clinton standard (absolved for mishandling and destroying classified info)—and most recently, the Joe Biden standard (mostly just a double standard).
Get Trump warns that regardless of whether this anti-democratic effort to stop Trump from running succeeds or fails, it is likely to create dangerous precedents that will be used in the future against other controversial candidates, officials, or citizens. The argument again will be they pose a dangerous threat that is "different” from ever before. - edited & expanded
The book has 5 chapters, an introduction and conclusion. The Intro. Chapter 1. The Search of Trump's Home 2. Investigating and Punishing Trump Supporters 3. Sacrificing Civil Liberties to Get Trump 4. Will Trump Be Indicted? 5. The Complicity of Media and Academia Conclusion
In the introduction the author makes the point that the ends (getting Trump at any cost) does not justify the means (weaponizing justice or making it up).
When the situation is so "different" and the threat so serious, the "get Trumpers" believe it calls for extraordinary measures--even setting aside the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In history there have been times when rights and civil liberties were trashed because people believed a situation was so "different" from ever before.
For example: President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus cuz he believed the Confederate threat was "different" and those thought to be a threat could then be arrested and held indefinitely. In World War II, Japan was a "different" kind of threat and so President Roosevelt had 110,000 Japanese Americans sent to US concentration camps. The 9/11 Twin Towers attack was "different" and used to justify waterboarding and permanent detention.
Now the left, the Democrats claim Donald J Trump's 2024 re-election would pose a grave threat that's so "different" it justifies doing anything to "Get Trump."
Dershowitz concludes with, "... we can survive Trump ... it is less certain that we can survive the current attacks on our basic rights ... by those who would try to get Trump at any cost."
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Alan Dershowitz may be a lifelong liberal Democrat and he never voted for Trump, but his call to avoid the folly of political prosecutions and a double standard of justice, etc, isn't being headed by his party. With this book and others that also referenced DJT, Alan is now being labeled a MAGA Trump lover, rather than being recognized as the persistent defender of civil liberties that he has always been.
Alan Dershowitz is a formidable lawyer and constitutional scholar and it shows in his book, “Get Trump.” Here, he demonstrates succinctly and successfully just why the Democrat Party’s and the Left’s constant attacks on President Trump through lawfare is both illegal and unconstitutional. He warns these actions will also lead our country on a downward spiral of political retribution that may eventually tear apart the United States. This book is brief and easily understood even by those without a law degree. The only thing that distracts the reader is Dershowitz’s constant reminders that he is definitely NOT a “deplorable” Donald Trump supporter and he most assuredly votes for Democrat candidates. He whines that his Lefty liberal friends are now mean to him because he represented Trump in a legal case. This comes off as a pathetic need to still be liked and accepted by the ruling class elites that are no longer inviting Mr. Dershowitz to their cocktail parties. He is very sad he’s been “cancelled” by the current oligarchy in power. Buck up Mr. Dershowitz. Over 75 million MAGA voters feel your pain.
The author himself is a Never Trump. Book is a tough read .Author is on target regarding unequal justice in our country but his bias taints his message.
I am not sure why Trump promoted this book. I don’t recommend it. He says all through the book about all the things Trump does is wrong and he didn’t vote for him and he won’t in the future. I am not sure why Trump would trust him to defend him legally either. I know he says he will defend to constitutional but all through this book he talks about how democrats are going against him and how he is desperate need to get back on the good side of democrats.
Wow…I was sorely disappointed by the case presented by this acclaimed lawyer. It will appeal to those who don’t have a college education and be easily fooled only.
I enjoyed reading this book, although as it is a collection of articles it was a bit repetitive. I agree with the main points of the book, that parties and politicians should be treated equally, and that cancel culture threatens liberties and we, as society, should be cautious when it comes to cancel culture in politics. However, the main argument centres around the importance of the constitution. But who is to say the constitution is right? The constitution is not meant to be political, and yet it inherently is. Dershowitz defends strongly the constitution, when perhaps there’s room to criticise it.
I'm obviously not the best person to review this book without bias but I still found it lazy, uninspiring and lacking in substance. It's just a bunch of wild gesticulating mixed with personal grievances and cherry picked examples of extreme behavior. He is quick to condemn the use of the word fascist but then happily throws around the word communist without a hint of self-awareness. He is quick to criticize "the left" and their excesses but then wholesale ignores the details so he can create a rather ridiculous strawman that is easy to fight and criticize.
He is a parody of centrism creating false equivalences between the sides all while putting the least amount of effort to the work. About 15% of the book is just a copy-pasted interview from the WSJ.
I picked it up because I wanted to evaluate the "case for Trump" but this book glosses over the subject and races to tell personal grievances and to showcase his parade of cherry-picked examples.
Another book I meant to read before election day 2024. I shouldn't have put it off, it is a quick read. The title is a bit misleading, the whole book is not about Trump lawfare. Other pertinent legal matters in current news is also covered. Dershowitz is not a Trump fan, but he believes in our Constitution and the rule of law. Many of our legal 'experts', media, and academia view the law through partisan tinted glasses. I don't always agree with the author, but he doesn't let being a lifelong Democrat influence his legal views. I didn't give the book five stars, because it seemed repetitive at times. I believe this is because the book is mostly a compilation of his writings that have appeared in other places.
A little repetitive but I appreciate the civil libertarian perspective on constitutional law. Prosecutors shouldn’t use creative applications of expansive and ill-defined laws with the intent of obstructing a political candidate. Weird that this needs to be explained but people really hate Trump. It seems obvious to me that he would lose in a general election to Biden, just like he did last time, but the Democratic obsession with “getting” him is boosting his popularity. I’m less concerned about Trump’s fate (I never thought he was going to prison, short of killing someone, and I still don’t) and more concerned about any future candidate, specifically a progressive outsider, who is considered dangerous by the establishment. Does hunting Trump pass the shoe-on-the-other-foot test? Dershowitz, and I, would say no.
Easy to read and super compelling. He basically makes the point that everyone is willing to sacrifice law and principle when it comes to getting the right outcome of locking up your enemy. In this case, the woke have convinced themselves that Trump is so bad all bets are off. It’s astounding to think of the audacity or maybe just sheer stupidity for dems to not realize that republicans will just turn around and do the same to their democratic enemies.
But Dershowitz does it part with this book and I’d highly recommend it. The irony is that, so far, of the couple of woke folks that I’ve mentioned it to, they’ve immediately called Dershowitz — lifelong liberal — a MAGA crazy that (defamation!) participated in all the worst of the Epstein crimes.
Interesting read. I was back and forth between wondering why he calls himself a liberal democrat and then appreciating his interpretation of the constitution. He's made a career of defending people who are essentially undefensible because of their actions, but who are protected by the constitution. I felt at times he was using the book more as a platform to complain about when he felt he was being treated badly, but his pointing out issues where public wants collide with what the constitution provides was a good education. His comments about Laurence Tribe struck me as personal and didn't really add to the book. Still, the educational aspects of the constitution are a value.
Despite its title, this book is not strictly about DJT. Dershowitz uses the current and recent past cases brought against DJT to illustrate how all American's civil liberties, due process, and application of Constitutional law are being turned upside down. Dershowitz is certainly not a DJT supporter but he is, first and foremost, a supporter and proponent of the Constitution. He is like a modern-day John Adams, who defended the hated British soldiers after the Boston Massacre. Dershowitz is not defending DJT as much as he is defending our Constitution. As it should be. No matter which side of the aisle you are on, this book is worth reading.
Persuasive arguments. Doesn't delve into his Democratic loyalty.
Notes: Hot books has 183 pages Dangerous precedents. ... Justice Dept should have subpoenaed Trumps docs instead of raiding his house. 44.. Representing Lindell over phone seizure, exceeded constitutional authority 52.. Requiem for ACLU. Prioritize abortion, race issues, and progressive politics over freedom of speech. 58.. Whataboutism ... Shoe must fit comfortably on the other foot if justice is to be done. 123.. Social media validates anti-Semitism by censoring everything but anti-Semitism. 177.. John Adams's defense in the 1770 Boston Massacre.
Whether you like or dislike Trump, this book raises valid concern about the protection of the Constitution
It is always pleasing to read a book that provides an objective analysis of events even though it may advance unpopular views. I am not a great supporter of Trump, but voters must decide whether he wins the next election or not. It should not be decided through the unconstitutional actions of those who dislike him. This book explains how and why this is a real threat, which is eye-opening for us who are not constitutional experts.
Highly recommend this to all who are interested in a lesson in civics. The author makes a compelling argument that by stretching our civil rights in order to achieve a political objective is dangerous and wrong. As he proceeds thru this based on the latest legal troubles faced by Trump, he reminds us a similar situation during the McCarthy hearing in the 50's. Dershowitz is not a Trump supporter by any stretch but he is a great constitutional scholar.
Interestingly this book is not an endorsement of the persecution OR the prosecution of Trump. It does attempt to explain how the endeavor to “Get Trump” is a threat to the American Constitution and the liberties of each American citizen. Similar threats to other citizens are addressed in the book. I recommend this book to anyone who is interesting in preserving our constitution and saving the liberties we have under that constitution.
This was a very interesting book, explaining the Constitution and how it should work. Dershowitz goes through a number of issues and explains the way the Constitution applies and how it is being abused and why he fights to defend individuals whose civil liberties have been violated.
I borrowed this book from the library but am considering buying a copy because of the wealth of information.
A compilation of op-eds from the last few years. Nothing new here. Dershowitz should be commended for defending the constitution even though it means defending clients he detests. He frets about anti semitism even though it has nothing to do with getting Trump. I wonder why. There’s some interesting stuff here but mostly old news
Thank you for giving a completely unbiased view of our current political state. Your opinion on the indictments, impeachment and the weaponization of our justice system was spot on. You helped me better understand the constitution and its missuse. A great read for anyone regardless of your party affiliation.
This is a collection of Op-eds by Dershowitz which is one of my least favorite genres. I think such a book should be properly advertised as such. dershowitz started out talking about the Get Trump movement then kid of wandered off onto other things, then back to get Trump. Had I known it was a collection of op-eds I wouldn't have purchased it.
I strongly suggest getting this book to save as a reference book for future use. This was clear legal and social evaluation of the dangers of a society that corrupts the legal system for political purposes. The examples are wonderful on how doors opened in the past.
Familiar in conversational style and in consistent logical application of basic principles. I wish our world was different, but I appreciate the Dershowitz perspective on the flaws of modern politicians and their associates.