Letter: Former Watergate prosecutor argues that Trump’s actions are far worse than Nixon’s
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
NOV 26, 2019 | 3:08 PM
Tuesday’s editorial (“Trump’s fate: The case for censure over impeachment,” Nov. 26) admits President Donald Trump’s "clear abuse of power,” but nonetheless concludes that censure, not impeachment, is the proper remedy. To this I say, if Trump’s conduct is not grounds for using impeachment, what would be?
The editorial board argues that impeachment is “a constitutional sword meant to be unsheathed only in the gravest, most unusual circumstances and to be wielded only to preserve the security and integrity of the republic.” Using the office of president for personal benefit while harming the security of an ally fighting a shared hostile foreign power and our own national security at the same time seems the precise definition of the gravest circumstances.
Add to this abuse of power, the stonewalling of this investigation, the Mueller investigation and all routing congressional oversight, and it is obvious that there can be no clearer case of facts to support Congress acting on its assigned role to impeach and remove a president who threatens our “security and integrity” and the very foundations of our democracy.
President Trump’s actions are far worse than those of President Richard Nixon. If Congress fails to act, the current president and all future incumbents will be emboldened to act as though they are above the law because he and they will be. The evidence publicly available establishes impeachable offenses beyond a reasonable doubt and leaves no alternative but for Congress to act. Impeachment is the appropriate remedy, not censure.
— Jill Wine-Banks, former assistant Watergate special prosecutor, Evanston
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/letters/ct-letters-trump-nixon-impeachment-editorial-reaction-20191126-lhtudkvyjreonb7mft5of55zuq-story.html
http://www.thehdi.org