If we were to step away from the word ‘coup’ for a second and be a bit more specific.
I would bet against there being any direct evidence in the aftermath of the 2028 election that Donald Trump or JD Vance (or whoever the GOP nominee is really) were aware of and actively assisting efforts to use organized violence to overturn election results. There’s probably some sort of evidentiary standard here for proving intent to participate in a conspiracy, which we could take from the courts, and assuming it analogized well that’s what I’d defer to.
I do agree with you this is a tough standard because to be fair if I were doing that my top priority would be ensuring I had plausible deniability.
My guess is that most people who think a coup is likely believe the same thing re: plausible deniability. So we’re stuck and I don’t see a way past that.
If we were to step away from the word ‘coup’ for a second and be a bit more specific.
I would bet against there being any direct evidence in the aftermath of the 2028 election that Donald Trump or JD Vance (or whoever the GOP nominee is really) were aware of and actively assisting efforts to use organized violence to overturn election results. There’s probably some sort of evidentiary standard here for proving intent to participate in a conspiracy, which we could take from the courts, and assuming it analogized well that’s what I’d defer to.
I do agree with you this is a tough standard because to be fair if I were doing that my top priority would be ensuring I had plausible deniability.
My guess is that most people who think a coup is likely believe the same thing re: plausible deniability. So we’re stuck and I don’t see a way past that.