I would like to ask local people reading this paper, “What is the line where you stop supporting President Trump’s lawless behavior? After getting help from the Russian government to win the 2016 election and committing at least 10 possible counts of obstruction of justice documented in the Mueller report, this president asked (on the White House lawn) for Ukraine and China to help him in his 2020 election on tape in front of the press. For those of you who have not read the Constitution, foreign interference in our elections is illegal. To say that Trump was holding up aid to combat corruption strains credulity to its breaking point, when the only corruption Trump wanted investigated was Joe Biden, his main political rival, on an incident that has already been completely debunked. Vice President Pence then went to Ukraine to reinforce the message that the aid was contingent on finding some kind of dirt on Biden. The Ukrainians desperately need this aid to defend themselves from an illegal takeover by Russia. Both Pence and Trump need to be removed from office. I am not a Democrat; I am an independent voter, by the way.

It is bad enough that he is tanking our economy with his stupid trade war with China. I may lose my farm because of his ridiculous governing style, but that is not impeachable. Asking clearly for Russia, Ukraine and China to interfere in American elections is impeachable behavior. In addition, he is ignoring subpoenas from Congress and instructing all of his other divisions of government to ignore the subpoenas as well. This also shows lack of transparency and consciousness of guilt. Since he was elected, he has been violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution and enriching himself daily at the expense of the American taxpayer. Foreign governments stay in his hotel (of which the lease is not to be held by a government official) to gain favor with the president. His daughter just got patents from China for voting machines to use — I assume to make the United States not a democracy, but a dictatorship passed down from generation to generation. We live in a democracy with free and fair elections. What the president has done (and I don’t even have space to list his constant lies and many other ways that he has put our nation at risk) is very clearly impeachable and for those who support Trump, ask yourself if you are OK with foreign interference with our elections, simply to keep Trump in office? What possible line could Trump cross that would cause you consternation? I am beginning to think that he was right when he said he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York and not lose a single supporter. Am I right?

Lisa Johnson

Albert Lea