Near the end of New York Times piece by Katie Glueck, Annie Karni and Alexander Burns on the state of the presidential race, we learn that President Trump got a real kick out of violating ethics laws during the Republican National Convention.

Mr. Trump’s aides said he enjoyed the frustration and anger he caused by holding a political event on the South Lawn of the White House, shattering conventional norms and raising questions about ethics law violations. He relished the fact that no one could do anything to stop him, said the aides, who spoke anonymously to discuss internal conversations.

What’s odd about this is that the election is almost upon us, and that’s when someone can actually do something to stop him. In fact, since the Department of Justice clearly won’t do anything and the Senate Republicans inexplicably acquitted him at his impeachment trial, the people are the entity that can hold him to account.

Some people may have seen Trump’s decision to use federal property and federal employees for political reasons as an appealing show of strength, and most people will make their decision based on other grounds. But there actually are some conservative-minded people who don’t think it’s okay for a president to put himself above the law.

More important that his behavior at his convention is his motive. He broke the law in order to feel his own power. That’s an important part of his character, and if you think he’s bordering on megalomania now, imagine what a second term would look like.