Those who are old enough to remember Watergate knew that impeachment proceedings were going to be painful for the nation to go through. Unfortunately, President Donald Trump gave the Democrats no choice. Our Founding Fathers intentionally created separate and equal branches of government. Checks and balances were put in place so our president could not abuse power or break the law. Congress must fulfill its moral and legal duty to complete the process.

As a Republican, I take no pleasure in saying that the president’s actions may have undermined our democracy, be it our electoral system or our justice system. But we need to understand just how much damage has been done and hold him accountable if necessary. Republicans can ensure the process is fair by focusing on finding out the truth and cooperating, instead of obstructing the investigation.

We cannot afford to lose sight of our values during these investigations. The rule of law has to prevail, and our elected representatives are charged with upholding it. I urge the officeholders I have supported, especially Sen. Romney, to keep an open mind and ensure an objective and thorough probe.

Jeff Geisler

Salt Lake City