Letter to the editor: Trump & Constitution

Like many who opine in the Trib, letter- writer Al Duerig (“Trump tramples Constitution,” Feb. 12, TribLIVE) seems to allow his personal feelings toward President Trump to overrule his brain.

1) To the charge that Sen. Mitch McConnell refused President Obama’s 2016 nominee for the Supreme Court: That’s what elections are for. Even Obama acknowledged that elections have consequences.

2) As far as “domestic emolument charges”: In July 2019, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit brought by Maryland and the District of Columbia accusing Trump of violating the emoluments clause, saying it had no legal standing.

3) Withholding authorized funds from Ukraine: The funds were not withheld. They were delayed, as is the president’s prerogative.

4) “This is the most … corrupt president.” Really? The Obama administration weaponized the IRS against conservative organizations and surveilled a Fox News reporter, James Rosen.

5) As far as his staff: The president has the right to fire and hire as he pleases. Employees are there at the pleasure of the president, and thank goodness he is ridding the White House of the Obama leftovers who are undermining him at every turn.

6) “He undermines legitimate” — his words, not mine — “news sources”: Presidents from Lincoln to Kennedy abused the press in one way or another. Lincoln shut down two newspapers. John Adams made it illegal to publish anything negative about the government.

7) If you want to quote constitutional scholars, I could give you a dozen or more who disagree with them if space allowed.

Ed Liberatore

Turtle Creek