Letters to the editor Aug. 3

Epstein files

An open letter to Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Rep. Ryan Zinke.

Over the 50 plus years that I have been politically active, I have been told repeatedly that the GOP stands for law and order, and is a staunch defender of family values. I can’t conceive of anything more at odds with those professed positions than the solicitation of minors for sexual gratification, or engaging in sex acts with minors.

President Trump has denied being told that his name was anywhere to be found in the Epstein files. We have since seen evidence that appears to be a letter written for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, seemingly contradicting Trump‘s denial. Along with several other prominent Republicans, Trump campaigned on the promise that, if elected, the Epstein files would be released. Rather than release them, however (while redacting victims’ names, and explicit photos and videos), he has yet to come anywhere close to doing so; this, despite his pledge to preside over “the most transparent presidency“ of all time.

Why this fear of disclosure? If the files contain no evidence of his criminality, why not release them, forthwith?  

Conversely—if they do contain evidence of criminality — they should be released forthwith.

The names of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton are reportedly present in the Epstein files. Of particular concern to me — and possibly Presidents Trump and Clinton — is a Florida statute pertaining to sexual batteries whose victims are under the age of 16: FSA 775.15(13)(c). It provides that there is no statute of limitations regarding prosecution of anyone accused of committing sexual batteries if the victims thereof are under 16 at the time of the alleged battery. 

Conceivably, either Trump or Clinton could face criminal charges. If so, let us hope that they are treated like any other criminal defendants.

— Marvin Bartlett, Kalispell

More debt

Reading Sen. Steve Daines opinion column on how the Big Beautiful Bill is a win for Montana, I had to think how Daines has become a lapdog to the Republican Party and has forgotten that he is supposed to represent the people before his party. 

It is easy to sum up “the bill,” $3.5 to $5 trillion in additional debt that primarily benefits the wealthy and corporate America. More and more and more debt. 

I don’t care which party he belongs to; a skunk is a skunk no matter how hard you try to cover it up. This is a real stinker of irresponsibility.

— Dennis McDowell, Bigfork

Tribal blame

Oh, those ignorant savages are at it again. How dare they mismanage our water, or so we are being led to believe in the recent article published in the Inter Lake (Commissioners press feds on Little Bitterroot Lake’s low water level, July 24). 

Being a non-tribal landowner and an irrigator on the Flathead Reservation, the blame the tribes game would be laughable if it hadn’t been going on for the last two centuries. Seems these days, every time I read something about water in Montana some tribe is to blame.

This is a far cry from the observations of Father Gregory Mengarini, one of the original Black Robes to be established in this area in the early 1800s.  From his book written in the 1840s, “Recollections of the Flathead Mission,” he starts off chapter 5, “The Call to Religion,” with the following: “Such was the level of morality among the Flatheads almost until the arrival of the missionaries in 1812. They had already seen the first whites among them. But from them they received injury instead of assistance. The whites would offer them strong spirits in order to make them drunk, then they would rob them of as many beaver skins as they had. These were Americans.”

Quite an observation from a man of God who came to the New World to convert the natives to Christianity. An observation that runs counter to the current theme that if we could just get the BIA and tribes out of the picture with all things water in this part of the state all will be fine.

— John Marshall, Hot Springs

Not helpful

What’s next? How does this make sense?

Thousands of people around the world are being killed in wars and are dying due to lack of minimal basic health care and nutrition; and in our own country are suffering from results of floods, heat and wildfires. 

Yet, President Trump spends millions of dollars on a military parade and now stirs up yet another meaningless controversy over the naming of professional sports teams. How does this help anyone, anywhere?

— Paul Smiley, Columbia Falls