Sheriff Steven Tompkins should have taken a stand against Donald Trump.

That way the indicted sheriff of Suffolk County could have made himself a victim of Trump’s attack on democracy the way fellow Massachusetts Democrat politicians do.

Tompkins, 67, could have done so following his arraignment last week on federal extortion charges at a press conference outside the Moakley Federal Courthouse.

While it would have been a Hail Mary to be sure, he had nothing to lose, particularly as he is facing serious prion time if found guilty.

He could have gone after Trump for singling him out the way Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has, blasting Trump over earmarking Boston for financial punishment for being a sanctuary city. Tompkins is the sheriff of that sanctuary city.

Tompkins, a lifelong Democrat,

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