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Sunday's letters: Rule of law at stake in Mueller inquiry

 
FILE -- Robert Mueller, the Justice Department's special counsel, at the Capitol in Washington, June 21, 2017. The investigation by Mueller into links between the Trump campaign and Russia has cost American taxpayers almost $7 million in its first four and half months, according to a statement of expenditures released on Dec. 5. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) XNYT78
FILE -- Robert Mueller, the Justice Department's special counsel, at the Capitol in Washington, June 21, 2017. The investigation by Mueller into links between the Trump campaign and Russia has cost American taxpayers almost $7 million in its first four and half months, according to a statement of expenditures released on Dec. 5. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) XNYT78
Published Dec. 15, 2017

Justice official parries attacks | Dec. 14

Rule of law at stake in inquiry

Conservative media outlets and a number of Republicans in both chambers of Congress have launched an all-out assault on special counsel Robert Mueller and his team in an effort to discredit the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

There is little doubt what is behind the denunciation — shielding President Donald Trump by unseating Mueller and dismantling the Office of Special Counsel. Mueller's authority is broad and has led to criminal indictments and guilty pleas from members of Trump's inner circle, fueling speculation that the president is also under criminal investigation.

If Mueller survives and Trump is charged with a crime, the ensuing constitutional crisis would cripple his presidency. Republicans fully appreciate this dynamic, and in the interest of political expediency may be willing to brush aside their oath to uphold the Constitution by not pursuing impeachment. The sacred principle that in a democracy no one is above the law would be shattered in the process.

Jim Paladino, Tampa

Last trustworthy person

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio stated that "the public trust in this whole thing is gone." Robert Mueller is about the only person in Washington we still trust.

Nancy Schubart, Seminole

Trump, GOP make good on tax cuts | Dec. 14

Wait for the new senator

I am writing to ask our senators, Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, to delay the vote for the tax bill until the new senator from Alabama is seated. I saw a clip of President Barack Obama filmed some years ago in which he stated unequivocally that the Affordable Care Act vote should be delayed until the new senator from Massachusetts was seated.

How times have changed. The Republican Party is showing itself to be unprincipled in almost every aspect of governance. From the support of Roy Moore, to the refusal to vote on a Supreme Court nominee of the sitting president, to the inept legislative attempts that ignored the normal rules of order, and finally the blatant undermining of Robert Mueller, the Justice Department and the FBI.

Irrespective of the hard right media, the American people see what is happening and it is a disgrace.

Darlene McConnell, Ruskin

Kids' health needs help | Dec. 14, Daniel Ruth column

Urgent need to help children

Thank you, Daniel Ruth, for your column about the refusal of Congress to fund CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program. Although children may die because of our congressmen's neglect, their focus has been on a ridiculous tax plan that even the Congressional Budget Office reports will increase the national debt by $1 trillion or more. With all the tax cuts that they can "afford" to give billionaires, they cannot find it in their hearts and in our budget to set aside money for children in need of medical care. This tax plan has been rushed through like it was some emergency, yet there is no urgency for the nation's children.

Ann Jamieson, Tarpon Springs

Men are under attack | Dec. 14

Rules of civilized society

This letter uses a faulty premise and one that is too broad. The male gender is not under attack. Nor is the normal behavior of courtship. What is under attack is, in the letter writer's words, the "lewd, suggestive remarks and/or inappropriate touching." And I say let the attack continue on such behaviors anywhere they exist.

The letter's premise that "men are definitely aggressors" is unsupportable as evidenced by billions of successful relationships absent aggressive inceptions. Aggressive is defined as "ready or likely to attack or confront, pursuing one's aims and interests forcefully, sometimes unduly so." In a civilized society, using aggression is not the way to start a relationship founded on mutual respect.

The letter writer is right to point out the inappropriate behaviors that we all should work to prevent.

Phillip Bunton, St. Petersburg

Proper workplace behavior

Assuming the letter writer is correct on the nature of men, I might remind him that these men are not in a bar, restaurant or social setting. They are in a place of work , and women have every right to make a living without crude or unprofessional comments from colleagues. Period.

If you must chew your tongue off to keep quiet at work in the company of a woman, so be it.

Terri Kraus, Spring Hill