The recent furor over Donald Trump’s comments on the federal judge presiding over Trump University’s litigation misses the most important point. Yes, it shows Trump to be ill-informed and demonstrates that he is a bigot (“Recognizing Trump’s racism,’’ June 5). But how can anyone really doubt that, given his plans for Mexicans and Muslims? So far, commentary has focused on this old news.

This most recent episode tells us something different: how Trump would use his power as president. His comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel are an abuse of the power he wields as a candidate and potential president. This was a gratuitous, calculated attack that would have been wildly inappropriate if it had been made by any ordinary litigant who had a case before that judge or any judge. But this attack came from a person who claims to be worthy of the Oval Office. There can be no doubt that his goal was intimidation.

Trump sent a message to that judge, and to others who may adversely affect his personal interests, that he will use his power to call them out, attack their backgrounds and credibility, and belittle and intimidate them, dare they disagree with him. And he has not even been elected. If he is that brazen now, why should we expect better behavior if he becomes the most powerful man in the western world?

Abuse of power by an elected official used to be considered a high crime, among the most venal that could be committed by a public official. Has the litany of attacks in the “Oh my God, he didn't actually say that’’ vein, spewing from Trump, desensitized the media and the electorate so much that not even a demonstrated, uncontrolled penchant for abusing his power disqualifies him from public office?

Trump is not just a bigot, a narcissist, and a fraud. He is even more dangerous than that.

David Rosenthal

Brookline

The writer is a Boston-based litigator.