I have listened closely to House Intelligence and Judiciary committees’ impeachment inquiries these past weeks. I have also heard the news reports since July 2016 of Donald Trump asking the governments of at least three foreign countries to assist his campaigns for the US Presidency and investigate his opponents.
The committees have documented those comments, his very own words in public statements and the testimonies of 17 governmental servants. One particular account overheard a call between Trump and his EU Ambassador. The testimony added, “Trump doesn’t give a $#*+ about Ukraine.”
They have established a list of clear and simple facts. These facts represent corrupt attempts to ask foreign powers to intervene in national U.S. elections. Unfortunately, only members of one party are standing behind the somber indictment these facts present. The other party is choosing to represent the truth here as merely a partisan difference of opinion.
It’s hard to say how often I’ve seen this happen over the past several decades. Why is partisanship so important when facts should be taken so seriously as now? Too often, partisan power mongering rather than public service has been the answer.
George Washington warned of these factious dangers. James Madison wrote impeachment into our Constitution to protect our republic’s elections.
The opposition arguments are as ugly as the all-red, full-page sweater ad run in The Salt Lake Tribune a few days ago.
Rep. Ben McAdams should dodge that unsightly bullying. Our heritage for, “a republic, if we can keep it,” is the only consideration all of our representatives need to undertake in this awful moment.
Mark L. Lawrence, Salt Lake City