To the Editor:

Re “What Is the President Hiding?,” by Neal K. Katyal (Op-Ed, Nov. 13):

Just shortly before the impeachment hearings even began, an unsettling feeling came over me. I now conclude that the public testimony during the impeachment proceedings, by longstanding devoted public servants, will not make a difference. The average Trump supporter and Republican either will not tune in, or will tune out (and deny facts). And, of course, the Republican-dominated Senate will never vote to convict.

Does that mean that the House shouldn’t have pursued impeachment? Certainly not, or more clearly, it has an obligation to do so. However, there should be many more contempt citations issued by the House, more subpoenas issued and much more court activity to compel witnesses to appear and testify. The judiciary, as the third branch of our government, must step up and do its job.

Mr. Katyal is right that the damage to our democratic institutions caused by President Trump’s and the executive branch’s obstruction of the proceedings may cause as much or even greater damage to our democracy than the Ukraine scandal itself.

Alan Fischler

Bethesda, Md.

To the Editor:

The question to be answered by John Bolton, former national security adviser, is: “What do you know and how do you know it?” The time for answering is now and not at some undefined point in the future. His reputation for honesty and integrity over his entire career is on the line.