As I work on my non-fiction book, "Washington's War," I am disturbed by what I see in America today. Since 1789 the U.S. has survived as a democratic republic because of the embodiment of "The Rule of Law" in the United States Constitution. The Constitution is our charter--a living, breathing thing which by its spirit has spawned America's matrix of individual laws.
But during the last couple of years the rule of law has
been under attack. The Trump Campaign and now the Trump Administration has shown little respect for it.
The timeline of events which follows illustrates only a part of a spreading pandemic of lawlessness but is representative of an insidious pattern, nonetheless:
7/27/16 - Candidate Trump at a press conference in Miami proclaims earnestly: "Russia, if you're listening I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails ( of Hillary Clinton ) that are missing. I think you will be mightily rewarded by our press."
POSSIBLE OFFENSE: Criminal Solicitation of a foreign adversary to conduct cyberespionage against an American citizen; and possible violation of the Logan Act barring private citizens from engaging in affairs of state.
10/7/16 - an Access Hollywood video tape is played on nation-wide television in which Donald J. Trump clearly states, "And when you're a star they let you do anything....Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
POSSIBLE OFFENSE: an admission of Sexual Assault, a felony.
12/29/16 - The Obama Administration imposes sanctions on Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. High officials of the Trump Transition Team communicate with each other about reaching out to the Russian Ambassador to provide him with assurances that the incoming president will view those sanctions differently. Within days after the Inauguration on January 20, 2017 the new administration seeks through the State Department to have the sanctions lifted, but the State Department does not carry out the direction. On August 2, 2017 Congress imposes heavy sanctions on Russia for the election interference and the President reluctantly signs the bill into law. For the next six months President Trump takes no action to implement the law and then in January of 2018 the White House issues a statement that the sanctions will not be imposed because there are already sufficient sanctions on Russia.
LAW IMPLICATED - Article II. of the U.S. Constitution. Violation of President's duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
3/4/17 - President Trump without citing any proof accuses Former President Obama of having illegally wiretapped Trump Tower.
POSSIBLE OFFENSE: False Accusation of a Crime is a crime itself.
5/8/17 - President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey. In a private January 2016 meeting President Trump asks Director Comey if he could let National Security Advisor Michael Flynn off the hook in the Russia investigation. Comey does not agree to do that. The day after he fires Comey, the president tells two high-ranking Russian diplomats in the Oval Office that getting rid of Comey should remove the pressure of the Russia investigation from his shoulders. A few days later, Trump tells NBC commentator Lester Holt during a nationally broadcast interview that when he fired Comey the Russia investigation was on his mind.
POSSIBLE CRIME: Obstruction of Justice.
5/9/17 - In the same Oval Office meeting with the two Russian diplomats President Trump on his own and without anyone's permission turns over to them a top secret classified document received by the U.S. from Israeli Intelligence.
POSSIBLE OFFENSE: Violation of 32 Code of Federal Regulations section 2001.55 for the improper handling of classified national security information.
1/20/17 to the present time - The president has continually received financial benefits for his wholly-owned businesses, including restaurants, golf courses, resorts and hotels from foreign citizens and foreign powers.
POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE LAW: Article 1 Section 9, Paragraph 8 of The United States Constitution, known as the EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE which prohibits any federal office holder from receiving any gift, payment or thing of value from a foreign power without approval of Congress.

Dated: April 21, 2018