There used to be an old slogan, “My Country, Right or Wrong.” If the Republicans were to update it now, it would say “My President, Right or Wrong.” It’s apparent that loyalty to Trump supersedes allegiance to our country, or to our Constitution. This impeachment trial revealed the depths to which Republicans will sink in their efforts to excuse anything Trump has done.

Whether it’s lying about their secret talks with Russians about “getting election dirt” in 2016, or coercing the president of Ukraine into doing what Trump demands in 2019. The pattern of self-serving abuse of power is the same.

Our Congress voted to give almost $400 million to Ukraine to help them resist the Russian invasion of their country.

Already, over 15,000 of their people have died in that war. Trump held up that money in an effort to force Ukraine’s President Zelenski to say he was suddenly going to investigate his opponent’s son, Hunter Biden. Just for Trump’s personal gain. No evidence exists of wrongdoing. And while there are witnesses to this crooked deal, Trump forbade all eight of them to testify. What was he afraid of?

Worse still are the obedient Republican senators who refused to allow the witnesses to speak. They feared the president’s revenge so much that they were willing to abandon their honor, their oaths, the search for truth.

And true to form, Trump has already started a dictatorial-type “purge” of the honorable people who told the truth.

Today’s Republicans shame our Founding Fathers, who risked their LIVES to establish our democracy. This group won’t even risk their seats …

Linda Zak

Saylorsburg