Donald Trump is officially a criminal. The former president has been found guilty in the hush money trial. This isn’t just the end of a high-profile saga; it’s a resounding affirmation that the rule of law remains intact.

For far too long, Trump and his gaggle of sycophants have peddled the ludicrous notion that his actions were shielded by presidential immunity. This brazen bullshit has been nothing short of a trial balloon for authoritarianism.

The American legal system, often maligned but fundamentally sound, has proven its ability to withstand the pressures of power and money. Trump’s defense team, a clown car of legal mediocrities, tried to spin the trial as a politically motivated witch hunt, Trump’s favorite golden oldie.p. They painted themselves as martyrs, wronged by a system out to destroy their client. Yet, the meticulous legal process laid bare their lies.

The verdict delivers a much-needed kick in the teeth to the delusional notion of presidential omnipotence. The presidency isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card. Trump’s conviction is a potent reminder that the office is a public trust, not a personal playground for criminal activity.

Trump’s assertions of absolute immunity and his incessant efforts to undermine the judicial process were naked power grabs.

The judiciary’s response reaffirms that in America, the rule of law is sacrosanct. We must acknowledge the indispensable role of an independent judiciary.

Or, in a few months, we’ll lose it entirely.