Trump weakens the country’s rule of law

If Donald Trump and his lawyers manage to get support from the courts that the president has complete control of the executive branch, does not have to be compelled to answer questions, can fire a special prosecutor, terminate any investigations, and generally has almost unlimited power, then the president can be viewed as above authority of the U.S. Constitution. In other words, he can become an absolute ruler (“Trump says he has ‘absolute right’ to pardon himself,” June 4).

The Constitution works because "rule of law" is put above everything else. The Supreme Court, Congress and the president, in order to hold office, swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. That means they also accept the rule of law. President Trump's lawyers are going to attempt to protect him by arguing, in court, that the rule of law can be selectively adhered to by the president. This effectively also challenges separation of powers and “checks and balances.”

We could be watching the U.S. government descend into an authoritarian state — a state where Mr. Trump could not only order the end of the investigation but also shut down any opposition (so-called "fake news") and make unilateral decisions usurping power from Congress and the court system. So, to save President Trump, America will have to give up democracy, freedoms, rights and privileges.

These are certainly now dangerous times for the rule of law and the fabric that weaves this republic together.