Letter's accusations are off base

To the editor:

I'm writing in response of Steve Erwin's letter from Thursday headlined “Still a proud Trump supporter.”

Thank you, sir, for some much needed comic relief.

I'd like to question your accusations of lawlessness of the Obama/Biden and Clinton administrations.

What are your facts? What charges were brought against any of them?  

You might claim the Benghazi investigations, which the Republicans never found wrongdoing or any broken laws. There were 10 investigations, and none of them, all by Republican Congressional committees, found any wrongdoing, and only that the compound was vulnerable to attack.

Then, you might wish to cite the Hillary Clinton emails. The results of a Department of Justice investigation, made public Oct. 18, found that she did nothing improper, but that others involved had mishandled classified information and would be disciplined. Both cases exonerated Hillary Clinton and the Obama/Biden administration.

Now, concerning President Donald Trump, he has openly asked China for help, digging up “dirt” on Joe Biden, which is a crime. He has snubbed the Hatch Act, saying it is his to do with as he wishes, not a law prohibiting him from using Cabinet officials for his political reasons. The Hatch Act of 1939 prohibits employees in the federal government, except the president, vice president and certain select high-level officials, from engaging in some forms of political activities.

His wanting to host the G-7 meeting, at his Doral, Florida, golf club, is a violation of the Emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution states: “No person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.” Emoluments definition is:  the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites. Having any foreign state official staying at his property is such a violation. 

Vice President Mike Pence's diverting of his flight, in Ireland, just to stay at a Trump property, is an ethics violation, as are Trump's golfing outings, to his properties, both of which use taxpayers' monies for living like royalty.

Now, who is being being lawless?

These aren't “imagined” crimes, but outright disregard for the law of the land, and being Constitutionally challenged. This does not take anyone long to find a crime, as they have been caught on camera. This is a prime example of criminality. 

The right wing “fake” state news outlets may spin these examples into innocence, but the reality is that they are acts of a criminal, a corrupt administration.

Sincerely,

Daniel E. Chase

Portland