To the Times:

I am writing to express my opinion on the current Democrat impeachment proceedings concerning President Trump. At the outset, I want you to know that I am a registered Republican, voted for Trump, and intend to vote for him in 2020. On occasion, I find myself not happy with the manner in which Trump may express or verbalize his position on issues because it may not be done in a presidential manner. However, despite Trumps blunt and plain talk, I am always able to understand the specific position being communicated. In my view, Trump has been true to his expressed pre-election position to curb illegal immigration, review significant international trade agreements, ensure that foreign governments meet their international committments to fund our mutual military obligations, and strengthen our military. In short, I support his promise to Make America Great Again.

President Trump has delivered on his pre-election promise to limit illegal immigration by diverting budgeted funds to build a border wall, and continues to express the need to control illegal immigration. A country without borders is not a country. In his first three years, Trump has successfully negotiated new trade agreements with border countries Mexico and Canada, a pending new trade agreement with China, and increased military funding. As a result of his leadership, the American economy is booming, employment is the highest in memory, and our military is respected world wide.

Despite these accomplishments, the Democrats, have refused to accept Trump as our duly elected president, and now are attempting to remove him from office by trumped up charges of impeachment based on a telephone call to the president of Ukraine.

Under our Constitution, the basis for impeachment is Treason or High Crimes. Generally, treason involves a showing of some evidence of covert or overt acts to betray or subvert ones obligation and trust to a nation. To date, the Democrat impeachment process has produced no evidence or other facts showing that Trump commited any act rising to an act of treason. Certainaly, the telephone call to the President of Ukraine does not rise to an impeachable level of treason.

Impeachment has only been used three times in U.S. history. None of the prior impeachments involved treason. Accordingly, it may be assumed that all prior impeachments involved the application of the high crimes standard as it may be applied to the Trump July 25, 2019, telephone conversation with the president of Ukraine.

As I understand it, the Democratic position concerning the phone call is that President Trump received a personal benefit when Trump asked the Ukraine president to look into a prior curruption investigation involving the Burisma Corp., Hunter Trump, and former Vice President Joe Bidens interference, which led to the termination of the Ukraine corruption investigation. In substance the impeachment alleges that the presidents intention was to smear Joe Biden, a potential future election rival. In doing so, the Democrats charge that Trump leveraged two offical acts, ie: stopping the delivery of $391 million aid to Ukraine (already approved by Congress), and a promise of a future meeting with the president, thus resulting in corrupting our election process.

The Democrats allege further that Trumps refusal to respond to subpoenas and refusal to allow presidential staff to testify harmed the Democrats constitutional rights, thus an abuse pf power. In my judgment both positions are wrong and inconsistent with established law.

First and foremost, an impeachment is no different than an indictment under general criminal procedures. Under our Constitution, the Fifth Amendment prohibits self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment certainly would apply to a Trump refusal to comply with any Congressional supenoe. In addition, Trump could also exercise his power of executive privilege to justify his refusal to allow executive staff to participate in the impeachment proceeding, or comply with Congressional suppoenas.

Regarding the July 25, 2019, telephone call, the presidents request for the favor involving the Bidens was certainly appropriate and within the scope of Trumps executive powers to stop or delay the $391 million aid assistance to Ukraine. Factors supporting this conclusion are:

1. On its face, the hiring of Hunter Biden by the Burisma Corp involved a definite conflict of interest because at the time Hunter was hired, his father was the vice president, serving under former President Obama, and was primarily responsible for activities involving Ukraine.

2. At the time Hunter Biden was hired, Burisma Corp. was considered a currupt company and under active investigation for corruption.

3. Vice President Biden personally pressured Ukraine to terminate the Burisma corruption investigation. This fact is clearly evidenced in a public video, in which then Vice President Joe Biden boasts of his power and threats, resulting in the termination of Ukraines Burisma corruption investigation.

In conclusion, the impeachment proceedings are not justified, and the facts fully support Trumps July 25, 2019, telephone conversation with the president of Ukraine concerning potential corruption involving Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, and the Burisma Corp.

Apparently, the Democrats realized the facts of the impeachment proceeding would not support their impeachment attempt and quickly changed the impeachment charges to abuse of powers and abuse of congress. Both charges in my opinion are insufficiently documented to support the Democrats charge of impeachment. Accordingly, when the impeachment is forwarded to the U. S. Senate, (final decision is a Senate responsibility) it may be presumed that the Senate will summarliy dismiss the impeachment.

With respect to the Biden/Burisma affair, it is my view that the facts surrounding the hiring of then Vice President Bidens Son Hunter, involved a clear conflict of interest, which warrants additional investigation to determine if corruption occurred, or is still occurring.

Thomas Spaccarelli, Springfield

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Letter to the Editor: The case against impeachment of President Trump - The Delaware County Daily Times