There is nothing to celebrate with Trump’s conviction on thirty-four felony counts of filing false documents in a conspiracy to affect the 2016 election. That a person of such character rose to the position of President reflects poorly on the judgement of and commitment to democracy by those who voted for him.

There is a glimmer of hope in this situation. Perhaps, just perhaps, enough people who were deceived by his web of lies will recognize their mistake and choose to vote for Mr. Biden in November.

Mr. Trump has played a significant majority of his supporters for fools. He panders to their ignorance of fundamental concepts of economics, immigration, and the Justice System.

The latest lie was so blatant as to be laughable, yet right-wing pundits seized on it despite knowing it was patently false.

At the end of the trial, Mr. Trump ranted and raved about an “unfair” decision by the Judge to allow the Prosecution to make their final argument and summation last. Anyone with even the slightest understanding of a criminal case knows this is standard procedure.

The prosecution opens the case with its statement and closes it with the final summation. It is obligated to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and, in this matter, it did.

Mr. Trump used the moment to lie to his followers or show a fundamental misunderstanding of criminal procedure by decrying the process. In either case, such conspicuous prevarication should disqualify him from any office.

The next few months will be a whirlwind of spin from the Republicans who support Mr. Trump. The “Law and Order” party will denigrate, insult, and demonize the Judicial system. They will target the judge, the jurors, the prosecutors, and anyone else who was part of the process.

What they won’t do is tell you the truth. The system worked. A jury of his peers found Mr. Trump guilty thirty-four times. He deserves to suffer the consequences of his actions.

And no one should be surprised that he has seized the moment to raise money. This has been his pattern. Create a lie, promote the lie, make himself the victim, ask for money. It is telling that the majority of those answering the call are those giving small amounts. Those who have the real money are smart enough to reconsider the situation.

Mr. Trump’s fundraising mimics those mega-churches soliciting from the faithful seeking miracles and heavenly intercessions, while the “ministers” fly in private jets, glance at their Rolex watch mid sermon, and live in mansions. After the sermon, while many of their followers drive their dilapidated vehicles back to their double-wides, these pastors count their money and plan the next “miracle”

And so goes Mr. Trump.

He paints himself as a political prisoner, yet the reality is much simpler. He is a convicted felon (or will be once he is sentenced), nothing more and nothing less. Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner, Donald Trump is a charlatan who is finally being revealed. He is the man behind the curtain of a continuity of lies and criminality.

But this is no cause for celebration. The risk of a Trump candidacy still plagues this country, and the only thing that can save it is for Americans to turn out en masse in November and send a resounding message to Mr. Trump: Go away.