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Letter: Insist on loyalty to the Constitution rather than to Trump

This photo made available by the U.S. National Archives shows a portion of the first page of the United States Constitution. (National Archives via AP)

As administrations transition, I find Trump’s nominees to be alarming, as were/are his efforts to bypass the Senate’s constitutionally mandated duty to advise and consent, his unwillingness to sign transition documents, to develop an ethics code, and to allow the FBI to vet nominees. His promise to be a dictator on Day 1 is one he intends to keep.

Many of his nominees should not be given government responsibilities for reasons including untenable policy positions, criminal convictions, alleged sexual predation and other serious misconduct. Many are unqualified, tasked with gutting the missions they will lead, and chosen for allegiance to Trump rather than the U.S. Constitution. Here are a few of the worst:

  • Pete Hegseth (Department of Defense) has no managerial experience, and is credibly accused of rape, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement.
  • Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence): serious questions exist about her relationships with Syria, Russia and China.
  • Robert Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services), Dr. Mehmet Oz (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Dr. Dave Weldon (Center for Disease Control), Dr. Marty Makary (Federal Drug Administration) promote debunked therapies and attack basic public health measures.
  • Peter Navarro (Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing) is a convicted felon.
  • Kash Patel (Federal Bureau of Investigation) published an “enemies list” of Trump critics, including journalists, he aims to prosecute, thereby weaponizing the Department of Justice.
  • Utahns, please join me in urging Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis to reject these and other nominees should their vetting disclose similar issues. They must prioritize our constitutional democratic republic and the ability of our government to function in our interests rather than theirs, Trump’s, or his corrupt oligarchs. Only then can we trust that our system of checks and balances, law, and norms will hold through another criminally chaotic and autocratic presidency.

    Ellen Brady, Issues director, Women’s Democratic Club of Utah, Murray

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