No person above law

Willful ignorance and political gamesmanship are no excuses for not hearing, seeing or reading about the evidence of our president’s corruption as documented by the House impeachment inquiry.

He did push Ukraine’s president to investigate a political rival by withholding funds approved by Congress to aid Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks. That was a violation of the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers. It was an attempt to conspire with a foreign government to influence an election. It was a betrayal of a friend and assistance to a foe.

He released the funds after he was caught, which I say was an admission of guilt. Documents show he directed his henchmen to bully U.S. diplomats in Ukraine to go along with his scheme. He acknowledged his guilt with a cover-up, forbidding anyone from any agency in his administration from responding to subpoenas for testimony or documents. Senate Republicans are now complicit in that obstruction.

He is playing his supporters for fools, tweeting that his actions were “perfect.”

Donald Trump is not the only defendant. The Republican Party, as represented by its senators, is on trial. How corrupt are Cotton, Boozman and the rest?

More importantly, Republican citizens are on trial. If you do not demand that your senators honor their pledge to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, you are sanctioning and enabling corruption.

Are rank-and-file Republicans as corrupt as Donald Trump, or do you demand that your senators affirm that no person is above the law?

HOWELL MEDDERS Fayetteville