Your Opinion: Response to Schnieders

Linda Wenzlick

Jefferson City

Dear Editor:

This LTE is my response to Ms. Schnieders. I find her "facts" and accusations suspect and unreliable. I understand it is a major tactic of some on the right to spew word salads of accusations that usually have little to do with the facts. I don't understand the penchant for cleaving to conspiracy theories which have been proven false instead of paying attention to atrocities right before our eyes. In the time Mr. Trump has been in office he has put children in cages and separated them from their parents, allowed the mentally ill to get guns, opened up areas of the arctic for drilling and logging as well as selling off public lands, reduced fuel standards, made large tax cuts for the wealthy, upended markets for Midwestern farmers, and twice conspired with a foreign adversary for election help.

Democrats have followed the facts in this impeachment process. Congressman Schiff is doing an awesome job despite the roadblocks thrown up by the Trump administration. The recent investigation was initiated by a whistleblower complaint. By nature of how this works this individual's identity is protected as it would be for someone filing a complaint on a Democrat. Congressman Schiff investigated the complaint and brought forth witnesses to substantiate the claim. These witnesses are delivering first-hand information. They saw the events unfold before them in real time. They're also testifying despite attacks they have sustained. Colonel Vindmen's attacks have been such that the U.S. Army may need to put him and his family on an army base due to threats. These people knew this would happen and yet they came.

We have now seen the report from the investigation and are hearing from constitutional law professors about the impeachment process. Their opening statements showed us that our Founding Fathers felt that the impeachment process was necessary to root out corruption. This makes the president answerable to the people rather than being an omnipotent king. They stated that the results from the investigation will provide charges that are consistent with the Constitution.

Frankly I think the conduct of several Republican representatives likening it to one big game is an insult to their constituents. These individuals were sent to do real work, not play games, and their behavior does not rise to the moment. Surely their constituents will remedy this situation next November. They deserve better.