LETTER: Bottomless disdain for the rule of law
Where is the bottom of President Trump’s audacity, hypocrisy, deceit and disdain for the Rule of Law?
For months on end, Trump ranted, railed and raved over Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of the State Department’s documents by using a private email server. Even to this day, he resurrects the chant of “lock her up” at political rallies. While undertaking an examination of Trump’s mysterious behavior since his election, a person of clearly solid intellect has to ask a very serious question: Should there be jail cells made ready for him and his cohorts?
It is generally agreed upon that Clinton should have been more professionally vigilant as to how government materials were handled under her watch. However, the reported breaches of security and questionable, if not downright dangerous, activities perpetrated by Trump and his minions have generated an alarmingly long list. The issues I cite here are only a few examples: secret meetings with Russian officials during the transition period; a meeting with a Russian diplomatic delegation in the Oval Office where only Russian news people were permitted, and where he proclaimed relief from an investigation after firing the FBI director; Jared Kushner’s attempt to establish a “back channel” of communication with the Kremlin through the Russian Embassy; Trump’s private meeting with Vladimir Putin where only Trump, Putin and a Russian translator were present; and Trump’s seizing of an American translator’s notes at the conclusion of the Helsinki summit with Putin, then ordering her to remain silent if questioned ought to set off massive forest fire alarms.
The latest scandal of blatant nepotism has it that Trump ordered former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to grant a top security clearance for Kushner despite Kushner’s numerous omissions and revisions on his security clearance application, and stern warnings from security professionals that Kushner’s financial and foreign entanglements make him ripe for dangerous compromise, perhaps even blackmail by foreign adversaries. Clinton was careless, but Trump is outrageously reckless in his arrogant handling of America’s security. Hypocrisy reeks in his attacking rhetoric of Clinton. No president has ever cozied up to a threatening foreign adversary like Trump has with Putin, or has placed the country’s national security at such serious risk.
Should the day come when total exposure of Trump’s motives are unquestionably proven to be nefarious, then a deafening, loud chorus of patriotic voices will righteously intone: Lock him up, and throw away the keys!
Ronald J. Yamka
Canonsburg