Disputing a Republican’s Critique of Impeachment

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/opinion/letters/trump-impeachment.html

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To the Editor:

Re “A Shamefully Hasty Impeachment,” by Jim Sensenbrenner (Op-Ed, Dec. 21):

Please, Mr. Sensenbrenner, not more of the same rhetoric we heard over and over by a recalcitrant Republican Party during the impeachment hearings and right up to the vote.

How conveniently you leave out the fact that Republicans were also present at the closed-door hearings in the basement and had equal time to speak and question. And you have the audacity to ignore the overwhelming evidence put forward by highly credible witnesses (some appointed by your revered president).

The “vitriol and blind hatred” were certainly on display — by the Republicans, who were determined to distract from the clear evidence presented, by yelling as loud and as often as possible “Hearsay!” as they attempted to turn the hearings into a circus.

Yes, Mr. Sensenbrenner, 63 million people voted for Donald Trump. But three million more voted for Hillary Clinton, and we finally had the satisfaction of witnessing this out-of-control president having to pay for his transgressions by being impeached and carrying that mark forever.

Ellen ShireNew York

To the Editor:

It was terrific that you gave Representative Jim Sensenbrenner the chance to express his views on the impeachment of President Trump. As he notes, by virtue of his experience, he is in a good position to comment.

I found what he had to say quite interesting, too. Suppose, then, that the Democrats, as he says, prioritized haste, robbed the president of his due process rights and made a mess. I would think then that he is also in a great position to see to it that we now do things right.

He could, for example, publicly urge his Republican colleagues in the Senate to show how to hold a fair and just trial, so Democrats, and indeed all Americans, can see how due process rights are honored. There would be no haste because each side would have the time to call witnesses with knowledge of the events.

The president could even testify himself and tell us, under oath, exactly why he has been falsely accused. Then the Senate jury can render a verdict, rather than have the quick trial that Senator Mitch McConnell is now promising.

If Mr. Sensenbrenner did that, he would perform a great service to the country, instead of just complaining about all the things he thought the Democrats did wrong.

Barry RehfeldNew York

To the Editor:

Representative Jim Sensenbrenner must be trying to gaslight us. I remember the impeachment of Bill Clinton, too, and it was absurdly and blatantly political. It was undertaken for one reason: Republicans loathed Mr. Clinton, and Newt Gingrich in particular had a burning animus against him.

Donald Trump has committed crimes and misdemeanors that far outweigh Mr. Clinton’s relatively insignificant perjury. If Mr. Sensenbrenner is trying to justify his vote to let Mr. Trump off the hook, he’ll have to do a much better job than this.

Charles MillerEllicott City, Md.