Dear Senator Durbin:
Today the New York Times reported on Mr. Comey’s memo documenting how Mr. Trump attempted to stop the active investigation of Mr. Flynn. This is the most blatant evidence yet that this president and his administration are engaging in the obstruction of justice. The rule of law of the United States is now in very serious jeopardy.
Whether Mr. Trump’s action was to cover up an underlying crime (related to Russia), or is merely an action that stands alone, it is an impeachable abuse of executive power that must not be allowed to pass as the new normal. The urgency of standing up to this challenge is all the greater in light of Mr. Trump’s subsequent firing of Mr. Comey and explicitly linking that shocking action to the broader Russia investigations. We now have a multi-event pattern of intervening in active FBI investigations involving multiple instances of obstruction of justice on the part of this president.
If Mr. Trump is allowed to continue to act as if he is above the law, this country is in grave danger. The Republicans appear to be willing to tolerate almost anything not to jeopardize their partisan grip on government. This is an unacceptable abdication of their duty to uphold the Constitution in favor of backing a sitting president.
If the Republican-controlled legislature will not act to appoint a special prosecutor and follow through on whatever that investigation finds, then it is incumbent upon the members of the Democratic party to refuse to participate in this government at all. A complete shut down. A walkout. Anything less will be business as usual and a license to cripple the rule of law.
I realize a complete boycott of government by one of the major parties is extreme and perhaps unprecedented in US history. But this historical moment is already extreme and dangerous. There is no choice but to challenge Mr. Trump’s abuse of power forcefully and immediately. No more accommodations, no more playing along, and no more waiting for the Republicans to act.
The leadership of the House and Senate should be given an ultimatum regarding a special prosecutor. Either they put a credible legal-investigative process in place and let it run its course, or face a complete unwillingness of the minority party to participate in the affairs of state. If that does not work and the Republicans remain intransigent, the leadership of your party should call for the most massive march on Washington the country has ever seen. A national sit-in and teach-in until those in power recommit themselves to the due process of law.
The situation is dire and spiraling into a potential national crisis of unprecedented proportions. The time has come for responsible representatives of the people to stand up with courage for the country and its core democratic and legal values.
Yours sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Winters
Professor of Political Science
Director of the Equality Development
and Globalization Studies Program