Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, will be known as the day Republicans had to face their demon, the day that brought the perfect storm of illegality into the Oval Office.

First, we heard that the president’s longtime friend and former chairman of his 2016 presidential campaign, Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Bannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE, was found guilty of eight out of 18 counts in federal court. He faces more than 300 years in prison.

ADVERTISEMENT

On the heels of that bombshell, we heard that the president’s personal lawyer of many years, Michael Cohen, not only pleaded guilty to eight counts and is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, but he has implicated Trump in a federal crime.

While all of this is incredibly bad news that could spell the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency, I focus on Republicans and what they must deal with because, as I have said many times, until now, they have looked the other way. They have enabled this president and his corrupt presidency.

In the face of Trump’s numerous misdeeds, fumbles, debacles and insults to Americans, the GOP and its leadership have buried their heads in the sand and abdicated their responsibility to America’s voters.

Will they continue in denial?

It will be hard for them to do so. Decision day has arrived for the Republican Party. Will it choose to be patriots, to act like true public servants, or will it continue to be puppets?

I use once again the obvious litmus test of imagination: Let’s imagine Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonFox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio Trump, Biden court Black business owners in final election sprint The power of incumbency: How Trump is using the Oval Office to win reelection MORE was in the Oval Office and her campaign chairman had just been found guilty of eight counts in federal court; imagine that her personal lawyer had given her up and accused her of directing the lawyer to commit a federal crime.

There would be pitchforks in the hands of every Republican in Congress. There would be hearings as we speak. There would be demands for her to resign or to be impeached.

What do we have now? Nothing but deafening, cowardly silence.

Enough is enough.

November’s elections are just around the corner, and corruption is on the ballot right next to the names of Republicans. This does not mean that Democrats are running on impeaching Trump; they aren’t, they shouldn’t, and they won’t.

What it does mean is that, in addition to the issues voters in all districts care about, Democrats will be running against a hypocritical, overwhelming culture of corruption that emanates from the Oval Office, penetrates federal agencies and has even taken down members of Congress who were Trump supporters.

While all eyes are on the president, given the recent news, let’s not forget that his cabinet is a who’s who of perpetrators of fraud, lies, cover-ups and overall criminal and immoral acts. Let’s revisit just a few:

Again, the Hillary Clinton litmus test: Would she have gotten away with any of the above? And I have not even scratched the surface of allegations surrounding others who work in the White House, even members of Trump’s inner circle and family.

The president continues to insist he is innocent, that of all this is a witch hunt, that all of those who are turning against him are “rats” and have no credibility.

Never mind that the investigation headed by special counsel Robert Mueller has exposed several crimes committed by those surrounding Trump; there have been multiple indictments, several guilty pleas and a finding of guilt on eight federal criminal charges.

This is not made up by Democrats. This is no witch hunt. It is a hunt for truth. It is a search for justice, a pursuit of what is right. It is a quest for what America has lost since Donald Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE entered the Oval Office.

Republicans know this; they are desperate and petrified — and they should be. Americans will not allow their country to go down in an embarrassing flame of lies, deceptions and attempts to cover up the corruption that is eating at our democracy.

There is a cancer upon us. It is up to Americans to cut it out at the voting booth in November by getting rid of the GOP leaders and members of Congress who have helped it metastasize.

Maria Cardona is a principal at the Dewey Square Group, a Democratic strategist and a CNN/CNN Español political commentator. Follow her on Twitter @MariaTCardona.