The radical right is already trashing Jeffrey Toobin for his op-ed piece in the New York Times denouncing Trump's grant of clemency to George Santos. Writing in the conservative platform Townhall, columnist Jeff Charles criticizes Toobin’s “whining” and accuses him of “shedding crocodile tears” over the commutation.

I do not always agree with Toobin, who like me writes about the intersection of law and politics. But in this op-ed headed “The Santos Commutation Is No Joke,” he is telling the truth about the commutation. It is an execration.

In case you don’t remember Santos, the former Republican congressman from Long Island pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.  Prosecutors said Santos was responsible for a "mountain of lies, theft, and fraud" aimed at enriching himself and deceiving campaign donors.

That’s right. No trial, no controversial jury verdict by citizens of the woke New York community, no “lawfare” decisions by liberal judges. He pleaded guilty, admitted his guilt and was justly sentenced by a seasoned federal judge to 87 months in jail.

So, forget about the fact that a bipartisan vote of House members in December 2023 expelled Santos from the chamber, making him only the sixth member in history to be expelled and the........

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