This week special counsel Jack Smith issued the most serious indictment yet against former President Donald Trump: four charges relating to attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has responded predictably: "Massive Fraud," "NEW ELECTION," "Witch Hunt," etc., etc. The GOP, although with less enthusiasm, continues its codependent response for fear of losing the lunatic fringe it calls "the base."

The August 1 indictment essentially consists of four counts charging a former president for conspiring to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This is a grave accusation that will have historical consequences for centuries to come. The proceedings have been made even more fraught by the relentless narrative slamming the Department of Justice as a purely political outfit, eagerly pounced upon by House Republicans, GOP primary candidates, and alt-right media.

One of the main premises of the special counsel's case is that Trump knew he lost the election, was told this repeatedly by his counsel and advisers who presented corroborating facts, yet knowingly disseminated false information to the contrary to sow widespread doubt and have the election overturned. This resulted in charges that Trump conspired to violate the right to vote. Trump is also charged with conspiring to obstruct and obstructing an official proceeding, i.e., the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

But nothing will change, right? Trump is the apparent nominee, Biden is the apparent nominee, if Trump loses, he will deny the results, riots, chaos in the House if the GOP holds the majority, further diminishment of American democracy and global stature. We've read this script before.

Apart from the fact that voters deserve far better than two damaged candidates (Biden would be getting far more scrutiny for his son Hunter's failed federal plea deal had Trump not lowered the ethics bar so far as to be meaningless), this third indictment, likely to be followed by a fourth in Georgia, presents some real obstacles for Candidate Trump.

The first is time. No person can be five places at once. Four criminal legal proceedings and a presidential campaign will mean some appearances will not happen. With this conspiracy indictment in particular, the DC-based presiding judge is not as likely to be as tolerant or as sympathetic as the Florida judge in the classified documents case. Campaign and election considerations are not apt to have merit in the face of moving the indictment forward.

The second, and more significant, is money. Trump's campaign coffers are nearly empty, despite impressive fundraising by his super-PACs. Over $40 million in campaign donations have gone to pay his legal fees. That number will grow exponentially with court appearances and arguments.

And the Republican apologists are more tepid with this one. Former Vice President Mike Pence, whose role in the events following the 2020 election figure heavily in the 45-page indictment tweeted (Xed?) what I think a lot of Republicans have been thinking: "…anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States."

One would think. One would think.

Sometimes, the other person wins the election, even if we don't like them. We must let that happen.

I don't like what has become of our elections or our major parties. I remain in mine, looking for a future that seeks to make our nation better by strengthening opportunities for individual citizens without government interference. I don't see much vision for that future from the current GOP, but this most recent indictment brings home a key core ethic all Americans need: personal accountability.

Columnist's note: I always appreciate reader comments. This week, a few readers who are nuclear industry experts helped set me straight on a misreading of Westinghouse's press release. Westinghouse's small nuclear reactor is actually years from NRC approval; they have just filed the initial paperwork. Thank you for keeping me accurate!

Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appears regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican, she lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at news.ind.merritt@gmail.com.