President should pay for breaking the law
No one is above the law. That is the cornerstone of the American justice system. President Trump broke the law and should suffer the consequences. He attempted to bribe the President of Ukraine to get Ukraine to investigate a private American citizen. That citizen is one of Trump's political opponents. Trump held up money funded by us - U.S. taxpayers - to help himself win an upcoming election. He used our money for his personal gain.
Bribery is illegal ... for me, for you, for the leader of our country. Trump's administration dangled a valuable White House meeting and $450 million of congressionally approved military aid as incentive for the Ukraine government to publicly announce an investigation of Joe Biden. The funding was released only after the request became public. It was not one phone call. It was a shadow foreign policy, corroborated by documents and sworn testimony from multiple witnesses.
The U.S. Constitution clearly states a president may not receive anything of value from a foreign government. Election opposition research is quite valuable. If he were really seeking evidence of corruption, Trump could have asked the American FBI or CIA to investigate. Instead the president circumvented U.S. foreign policy and violated his oath of office. For that, he should be impeached and removed.
Our founders bestowed impeachment power on Congress to remove presidents who proved disloyal to the country.
This is not about 2016. President Trump won that election. But, he does not deserve to remain in office. I realize this may be politically damaging for Democrats. Justice should still prevail. Let Vice President Mike Pence serve out Trump's term.
Members of Congress swore an oath to the Constitution, not to their party, nor to the president. Senators must remember no one is above the law - not even President Trump.
Amy Somary
Arlington Heights