The saga of Andrea Cardenas may be coming to an end. If Wednesday’s courtroom proceedings were the final chapter, history books may show she may have mishandled the situation.
The former Chula Vista Councilwoman this week was sentenced by a superior court judge to two years probation, community service and paying $200,000 in restitution for her role in bilking the state and federal governments out of taxpayer money.
Essentially, she laid claim to pandemic-related Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment funds that she had no right to collect.
The 30-something Democrat obviously didn’t glance at the Savvy Republican political playbook. Or, if she did, she didn’t commit to memory or exercise any of the tactics employed by the GOP’s standard bearer, former President of the United States, and current Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
Throughout his professional career Trump has been involved in myriad lawsuits and court cases. Most notably he has been indicted in four cases, ranging from election interference to fraud.
In each of them, as he has done throughout most of his career, he has pleaded not guilty.
He has characterized the allegations as untrue and politically motivated. He has delayed all legal proceedings until finally he gets his day in court. In some pre-presidential cases he has settled accounts without admitting culpability, maintaining his innocence.
Even when mountains of evidence are seemingly piled against him, he denies, delays and avoids responsibility.
That’s every defendant’s right.
His legal maneuvers, of course, cost money and crackerjack legal teams don’t come cheap. No worries, Trump has political action committees paying his enormous legal bills.
The Republican candidate for president has peddled sneakers and bitcoin and bibles to bring in income. He previously appointed judges who recently made rulings that favor him.
Cardenas, on the other hand, didn’t do any of that. She pleaded not guilty, then guilty and avoided a trial. She was sentenced and appears to have accepted her punishment. Trump might call her a sucker. If only she had emulated the GOP, she might not be where she is today—a convicted felon with a dismal political future.
