Joe Blumenthal’s July 29 guest column in the Gazette (“Trump takes ‘imperial presidency’ too far) made some excellent points concerning the disaster that is now centered in the White House and spreading a worldwide stain on our constitutional democracy.
Mr. Blumenthal cites several facts concerning the Constitution and the roles of the three co-equal branches of our government, arguing that there is a strong case for impeachment. I agree wholeheartedly.
Donald Trump swore an oath of office at the time of his inauguration in January 2017. That oath reads “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
As Mr. Blumenthal points out in his column, Trump has not been faithful to his sworn oath to uphold the Constitution. Simply put, he lied under oath.
Lying under oath is perjury. Perjury is a felony, which is punishable by a prison term of up to five years. The statute of limitations for perjury is five years. If for some reason Trump has a full second term as president, that statute of limitations will have run out before his second term ends.
Bill Clinton was impeached in October of 1998. One of the two articles of his impeachment was lying under oath, or perjury. As we know, Clinton was not removed from office, because the Senate acquitted him. But at least the House of Representatives performed its constitutional duty to impeach.
So far, the leader of the current House has not performed that constitutional duty. She needs to do that, and she needs to do it now. If not, then she will be complicit, and our country’s reputation will continue to suffer as a result.
Barbara Sharp
Northampton