🚫 Not fit for public office. Fewer than three stars, and a critical Article fails (Open Books). This isn’t a close call. Expect to hear from us — often.
Editorial opinion — our judgment against the Seven Articles, not a legal disqualification or an allegation of any crime. Ratings terms · Challenge this review
1Open Bookscritical
22%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
A structural and severe conflict: Trump's former personal criminal-defense lawyer now runs the Department overseeing matters touching the President, after DOJ ethics advised recusal.
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
80%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No election-denial or incitement documented; peaceful-handoff record not directly impugned.
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
41%☆ not yet
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Leans on "weaponization" framing while directing investigations of the President's adversaries.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
42%☆ not yet
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Retribution framing more than a forward vision.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
46%☆ not yet
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Terse and defensive, though he engaged Sen. Coons on independence. Claims independence while the record points to targeting former-client adversaries, a gap between word and action.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
39%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Says he is independent; the record points to targeting.
60
7Morality
46%☆ not yet
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
As the President’s former lawyer now running DOJ, directs probes of his adversaries after an ethics official advised recusal.
60
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →