Officials weren't 'fired' as retribution

This letter is in response to the Feb. 11 Daily Herald editorial. While the media loves to negatively slant every decision President Donald Trump makes, it is misleading that he "fired" Lt. Col. Vindman and Ambassador Sondland as retribution.

As we all know, employees in the executive branch serve at the pleasure of the President. More importantly, they are there solely to support and further the president's agenda and foreign policy.

As the DH quoted Vindman's lawyer David Pressman "In this country right matters and so does truth."

Also in the Feb. 11 letters, David Klein wonders how anyone can call the Senate impeachment trial fair.

A little education would help here. As the Constitution defines the impeachment process, the House investigates, calls witnesses, reviews documents and then if they find criminal activity, votes on articles of impeachment. If passed, the House swiftly passes the articles to the Senate for consideration of the case.

I recall the House managers stating that their case was rock solid/slam dunk. It is not the Senate's obligation to call witnesses.

The House has full power to subpoena witnesses. The House managers failed to do that. It is not the Senate's job to clean up their shortcomings.

Note, if the witnesses refuse to testify, the House has the right to challenge that in court. That is how our system works ... three equal branches of government.

Bill Koller

Des Plaines