Senior U.S. intelligence community leaders from both Democratic and Republican Administrations, i.e. Obama and Trump, have concluded that there is absolutely no question that Russia actively interfered with the 2016 election in the favor of candidate Donald Trump. Now there is mounting evidence that the Russians are at it again for the 2018 mid-term elections. Trump discounts the facts presented by his own Intelligence people and falsely denies any interference. Last year, the Republican controlled Congress in an overwhelming display of bi-partisan support voted to impose significantly harsher sanctions against Russia than those already in effect, due to its undeniable role in attempting to manipulate the outcome of the 2016 election. The law was passed by unprecedented majorities in favor. In the House of Representatives the vote was 419 to 3, and in the Senate the vote was 98 to 2. Of course Trump signed the bill into law, he had no choice. But, he has failed to implement and enforce the law. This law does not, as far as I know, include a provision that allows the president the ability to exercise any discretion to impose sanctions, or not to impose sanctions. These sanctions must be imposed. Trump has done nothing to facilitate the coordination of an effective Federal response to the Russian threats to our electoral process and our democracy. His inaction, lack of concern, and failure to lead gives aid and comfort to a bona fide enemy of the United States.
In January of 2017 Donald Trump swore an oath to, “Protect and Defend the United States of America”. He very clearly has done neither, but has in fact protected and defended Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Trump’s failure to “Protect and Defend” and his blatant support of Putin to the disadvantage of his own country screams TREASON. I assume that Treason is a crime of sufficient severity to warrant the preparation of articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives. What are the Republican members of Congress waiting for? Russian tanks parading down Pennsylvania Avenue, perhaps? Since Trump wants a military parade, maybe this is what he really has in mind.
There once was a Republican senator who themed a campaign for the White House with the phrase “Country First”. His name, of course, is John McCain. Now the Republican mantra has changed to “Party First” followed immediately by “My Re-election Next”, and the “American people last”. It is time to get this traitor out of the Oval Office, and into a cell at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. It is also time for Congressional republicans to act like they really meant it when they too swore to protect and defend the U.S.A.