opinion

LETTER: Trump’s dictatorial tendencies dangerous

It is said that our nation is guided by the rule of law and that no man is above the law. This premise is being tested when it comes to the presidency of “Dictator” Donald Trump.

There are developing signs that the spineless GOP Congress — Hypocrites United — is willing to ignore this cornerstone principle of American justice to preserve its “power” while ignoring the many obvious criminal, immoral and unpresidential actions and behaviors of Trump and his cabal of corruption. Cowards like Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority “Leader” (an oxymoron), and House Speaker Paul Ryan are complicit in ignoring the responsibilities in the U.S. Constitution they swore to uphold as they continue to block growing bipartisan calls to protect Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller and investigations into this president, his campaign and his administration.

Adding to their efforts to preserve their party’s position of power and this presidency at all costs are the actions of three members of the House led by Devin Nunes — a traitor whose loyalty is to this corrupt president and not to the rule of law. Supported by Speaker Ryan, Nunez looks to gain access to disputed Russia probe documents despite suspicions Nunes seeks to derail Mueller’s investigation and share whatever findings he will possess with Trump. The request is to Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein and if Rosenstein denies the request citing that the information sought is part of continuing confidential investigation, Nunes could — will — bring charges against Rosenstein for contempt of Congress which could give Trump grounds to fire him. Trump could then move to appoint a new deputy attorney general with marching orders to limit or close Mueller’s investigation.

And even if Mueller completes his investigation and his report goes to Congress, its findings may never see the light of day as for the GOP it is party before country. And if Congress gets the courage to move to impeach the corrupt and immoral Trump, the GOP cowards in the U.S. Senate will never support the move.

Meanwhile, while Trump and his lawyers seemingly feel that the federal court case in the Southern District of New York involving Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, may be more problematic and damaging to the president, it appears that the process to move forward with this investigation will be slowed down as the judge appears to be willing to appoint a Master to review all documents before the case can proceed. Associated with such a delay, the current interim U.S. Attorney General for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, appointment as interim needs to be addressed by Trump to either make him the full-time prosecutor or replace him.

Like U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions did with the Russian investigation, Berman, a law partner of Trump supporter Rudy Giuliani, has recused himself from the Cohen case. Trump could remove Berman and appoint a replacement “loyal” to the president, and thus, undermine the investigation of Cohen.

Will complacent and apathetic Americans allow these thugs to get away with all of this? Citizens unite to put country before party and to protect and preserve our democratic republic.

Donald H. Bowers, Three Bridges