Letters to the editor Aug. 23

‘Defund the FBI’ mantra

I read letters like “Defund the FBI” (Aug. 15) with immense sadness and a growing sense of hopelessness that the percentage of Americans totally detached from the reality of what is happening is too large for any democracy to overcome.

The author calls Merrick Garland “a hack” and the three SCOTUS judges appointed by Trump “outstanding legal scholars.” It seems he, along with millions of others, has never read or watched anything beyond Fox “News.” Even dipping a toe into any legitimate news source would reveal the idiocy of that statement.

And, by the way, Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump, the judge who signed the search warrant was nominated by Trump.

Trump took over 30 boxes of highly sensitive classified documents for the sole purpose of selling out America to the highest bidder (see the $2 billion Jared Kushner got from the Saudis and not for his keen business acumen). I have zero doubt there are more searches and more revelations to come.

And I also have zero doubt that the history books will label Trump the greatest and most destructive traitor America ever produced.

— Monica Martin, Whitefish

Right-wing hypocrisy

The extent of radical right-wing hypocrisy is no better proven than by Mr. David Myerowitz’ Aug. 15 letter “Defund the FBI.”

A year or so ago, the right wing was outraged over an inane comment by one Democrat to “defund the police.” Now the right-wing mantra is “defund the FBI.” Ironically, Mr. Myerowitz considers the wrongful possession of highly classified intelligence documents to be less serious than, say, running a stop sign in Whitefish.

Myerowitz’s current rant rails against the “corrupt” FBI for what he calls a politically-motivated “raid” on Trump’s estate. Never mind the fact that the Mar-a-Lago search and seizure was authorized by a legally justified search warrant; never mind the fact that Trump had refused to comply with a valid subpoena for the documents he wrongfully refused to return to the Government; never mind the fact that items identified in the application for the search warrant were actually found at Mar-a-Lago; never mind the fact that Big Lie believers are now openly advocating for politically-motivated retaliation against Democrats; never mind the fact that anyone else found to have classified documents in his/her home would have been carted away in handcuffs.

Myerowitz mocks the possible use of the “just following orders” defense by those Democrats to be purged from federal employment by a future Republican administration, accurately stating, “it didn’t work at Nuremberg.” It also “didn’t work” for the insurrectionists, who most recently tried that defense, arguing they were merely following Trump’s seditious provocations.

The “corruption” Myerowitz falsely attributes to the FBI is simply the long arm of the law constitutionally catching up with Trump’s long-standing criminal career. Make no mistake, it is the insurrectionists, all who called them to action, and all who are now parroting Trump’s “stolen election” lie, who are the true “America-haters,” and the existential threat to our democracy.

— Al Weed, Kalispell

No one is above the law

The responses to the recent FBI raid on the estate of Donald Trump in Florida raise concerns about the willingness of our politicians and those they lead to respect the rule of law.

Some have called the event unprecedented, but it is really anything but that. Many politicians, from both parties, as well as other citizens have been investigated for criminal activity. In fact, it is the goal of the FBI to investigate those who may have violated the law and I for one am very glad that they do so.

I was especially shocked at the statement from Kevin McCarthy that politicians should not be investigated because it may appear to be politically motivated. That logic would imply that politicians could not be held accountable for their actions.

I don’t believe that any person, be it Donald Trump, Joe Biden or any other citizen should be immune from investigation by the FBI if facts exist to indicate they have broken the law. When our leaders imply that law enforcement is politically motivated it undermines the rule of law on which our country is based.

True patriotism demands respect for those doing their job.

— Roger Brewer, Kalispell