The criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump is an unprecedented miscarriage of justice that should give every American pause. For decades, legislatures have been funneling power to prosecutors, while accountability and transparency have been whittled away to the point that justice is malleable and elusive. This case shows the dangerous consequences of weaponizing the justice system, with prosecutors advancing cases based on ideology rather than evidence.

Former President Donald Trump’s indictment is a result of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s investigation into alleged hush-money payments. The charges, however, have been creatively patchworked together to elevate a misdemeanor to a felony, and multiple offices have already refused to prosecute the underlying allegations. This type of prosecutorial abuse is becoming all too common, with rogue prosecutors ignoring the rule of law and violating their oath of office. It’s a stark contrast to the time and energy the Manhattan D.A. has poured into the case against Trump.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis summed it up when he stated ‘The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head.’ Though he was referencing the Trump indictment, this statement can also be applied to those rogue prosecutors who are creating unnecessary defendants and victims.

The silver lining in all of this is that the remainder of Trump’s case will have to play out in the public eye. Americans will get to see for themselves how a prosecutor can twist the justice system to their own ends. This case should be a clarion call to rein in the weaponization and politicization of the justice system in defense of all Americans who have found themselves on the receiving end of prosecutorial abuse. Though Trump’s case is unprecedented, the politicization of prosecutors’ offices is not, and it’s time to restore trust in the justice system.