To the Editor:

Re “House Votes to Impeach Trump for Abuse of Power” (nytimes.com, Dec. 18):

President Trump has a knack for destroying the reputations and legitimacy of the people he works with. Now, with the impeachment of Mr. Trump moving from indictment in the House to a trial in the Senate, it seems the same corrosive effect will continue.

The Senate will act as jury, but Mitch McConnell has already proclaimed openly that he needs no further testimony and that he is coordinating the Senate actions with the desires and demands of the White House. In other words, the jury is collaborating with the defendant.

I expected no less from Mr. McConnell. But what about Chief Justice John Roberts? When the chief justice of the United States presides over a sham, what sort of judge is he? What sort of country do we live in?

Robert N. Ross

Cambridge, Mass.

To the Editor:

Re “Trump’s 6-Page Diatribe Belittles Impeachment as an ‘Attempted Coup’” (front page, Dec. 18):

President Trump has once again acted to subvert Congress and the separation of powers with his nonsensical and ridiculous letter to Nancy Pelosi. He has confirmed what every critic of his has been saying for the last four years — that he is unhinged, ill qualified and actively seeking to interfere in the democratic system of government. He is living in an alternate reality. How can anyone defend his actions?