Typically, good character and morality have been deeply associated, but recent times may cause us to rethink that. Specifically, the Trump NYC trial raises the issue. We have battling sinners. Trump who has at times past worn his immorality on his sleeve and Judge Marchan who has violated judicial ethics. We need to be able to make some judgement about them both. We need to decide who is the worse actor.

Let’s start with Trump. The former President is a known philanderer. The end of his first marriage was quite salacious and quite public. The quite public part matters a lot. Trump did not make any bones about his affair with Marla Maples, often using it as a bludgeon against his first wife. He never denied it.

Which brings us to the whole Stormy Daniels thing – he denies it. We all presume that Daniels is telling the truth because of history, but we have to realize that her testimony is unsubstantiated. We all presume the so-called “hush money” payments to be corroboration, but are they? Such payments buy silence only, they are not prima facie evidence of the truth or falsehood of the statements being silenced. Her statements could be purely extortive.

Trump is immensely proud of his conquests in business, in the bedroom, and in politics. You want more evidence of that fact? – see the infamous Howard Stern interview. In light of his character, defined by immense pride, and history, why would he lie about Stormy Daniels? So here is where we are – Trump is unquestionably immoral, at least in the past, but his character in that same past would indicate that he is no liar.

Now let’s turn to Judge Marchan. He was officially disciplined by the New York State ethics panel for his donations to Joe Biden and related. He should have recused himself under such circumstances. Instead, he marched forward presiding over a trial that most judges would have summarily dismissed – acting as if the discipline never happened. Judge Marchan acted, quite deceptively, to add the imprimatur of judicial impartiality to a proceeding that was far from legitimate. His actions are unethical, but further indicate a character of deception – rendering him untrustworthy.

Ethics, morality – they are the rules by which we are supposed to conduct ourselves. We try, but everyone violates them at some time in their life. The rules are complicated and cover many areas of life, from the bedroom to the boardroom. Slip-ups are unavoidable. But character speaks to how we deal with those violations. Good character belongs to those that admit their issues and attempt to overcome them. Poor character hides their issues, pretends like they don’t exist and never tries to fix them. You cannot trust such an individual.

Both men here are immoral. But one, though distastefully so, has proven to be more trustworthy than the other – and thus of better, even if severely flawed, character.

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