For What it’s Worth: Warren Hecht

The jury in the federal case brought by E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump awarded her $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages. Although the number may end up being reduced on appeal, it did not come as a shock.

Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard who was forced to resign, decided that she was not going away quietly. She wrote a column in the January 2 edition of The New York Times titled “What Just Happened at Harvard is Bigger Than Me.” She took a page out of the Donald Trump playbook: (a) play the victim, (b) do not admit that you did anything wrong or excuse your conduct, (c) attack the motives of those who accuse you of misconduct, and (d) claim that what is being done to you is part of a greater strategy to attack those who agree with you. Trump’s repeated claims are meritless and so are Professor Gay’s.

Since the October 7 massacre by Hamas, there has been an exponential increase in anti-Semitic incidents globally. In addition, Israel and its supporters have been attacked throughout our country and the world. We see in America the pro-Palestinian rallies, whether on city streets or on college campuses. More members of Congress have turned against Israel.

There are two significant issues that are anticipated to be decided by the Supreme Court this year. The first is Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity. I will not spend that much time on that claim since I would not be surprised if it is rejected by a unanimous Supreme Court.  As the special counsel argued, Trump’s argument, if accepted, would allow a President who orders the National Guard to murder his most prominent critics to be immune from criminal prosecution.

Sunday was the 100^th day since Hamas massacred 1,400 Jews and took about 240 hostages. Most of the hostages are still in captivity, and the war rages on.

By the time this column is published, I will be finished with shloshim for my mother. I would like to thank those who learned Mishnayos in her memory. Of the 23 days from shivah to the end of shloshim, I had Covid for 12 of them. Instead of complaining, I will follow my mother’s tradition of maintaining a positive attitude. At first glance, in our times it does not seem possible. I expect the usual suspects will mock or ridicule some of my comments.