Hamilton was also accused of having an affair with Angelica Church, his sister-in-law so unproven scurrilous claims were not going in one direction.
Under the rules of the day the Reynold’s affair being entirely private was not to be used as political ammunition.
H was foolish to believe that it would not be since he was dealing with Democrats who never operate according to the rules. He was just like the Republicans of today believing the RATS can be believed and trusted.
The fact that H fell for the Honey Trap set up to catch him does him no credit particularly since he knew that his enemies were constantly trying to bring him down. After all the first political party was formed explicitly to destroy him and his policies.
Hamilton was also accused of having an affair with Angelica Church, his sister-in-law so unproven scurrilous claims were not going in one direction.
And yet it does not change the fact that he was indeed guilty of the Reynolds affair.
Under the rules of the day the Reynold’s affair being entirely private was not to be used as political ammunition.
I see you're a fan of what can be termed the "Clinton Defense." It's utter nonsense though. There are no "rules" of the day that preclude mention of a sex scandal because it is "private." Kings and politicians have been rocked by sex scandals for thousands of years. Henry VIII had a couple of his wives executed for adultery. And even in the antebellum United States, the simple appearance of marital impropriety could rock the political scene in a way that was anything but private (witness the Petticoat Affair in Jackson's presidency).
The fact that H fell for the Honey Trap set up to catch him
And we'll call that one the "Marion Barry Defense." The "b*tch set him up," right? Sorry, but Hamilton still took the bait and continued to do so for at least three long years. He had himself and himself ALONE to blame for that.
Also, unlike the Burr incest thing which is COMPLETELY speculative on your part, there may actually be something to the Hamilton-Church relationship. The letters between them were unusually effusive and intimate. Even Ron Chernow’s hagiographic biography of Hamilton admits that it isn’t a very far fetched rumor.