Letters to the editor Dec. 15

Abuses of power

I am glad to hear public testimony in the impeachment hearings. Listening to the words of the people testifying before Congress is impactful.

My takeaway confirms my belief about President Donald Trump’s actions with President Volodymyr Zelensky: President Donald Trump abused presidential powers for personal advantage.

The office of president is a civil service position. The holder is to have the interests of the nation in his sights, not self-advancement. President Trump is not upholding his oath of office, to safeguard the constitution.

It’s illegal for the president to seek foreign aid to help his election campaign. It is illegal for the president to gain personal benefit from his office.

Of course, it’s not the first time he has acted to further himself instead of the U.S. citizens. He’s placed family members in White House positions. He’s pushed a tax law change that benefited him and his family millions of dollars. He’s had military planes refuel near his own resort in Scotland and stay at the resort rather than at a military base as is usually done. He’s met foreign dignitaries at his own properties, gaining him thousands of dollars in personal gain each time. Only after great outcry did he withdraw his plan to hold the G7 summit at his property which would have been very lucrative for him. The president is a Wanna Be Dictator, and I fear for our democracy.

He has left the Federal Election Commission hamstrung and impotent by not filling all the seats, and thus not able to enforce fair election rules. The State Department is bereft of many senior and skilled diplomats. Cabinet positions are filled by “Acting Secretary of ...” rather than a confirmed appointment, i.e without substance and power. He held back funds that Congress allocated to Ukraine, and released them only after this information became public. He pulled troops out of Syria against the recommendations of many senior staff in the White House, Congress and Senate.

During his time in office there has been a deterioration of the separation of power among the three sectors of government, and power is amassing in his hands.

His abuses of power are numerous, the Ukraine situation being only one of them. I support impeachment of the president.

—Stephanie Brancati, Big Arm