County’s congressmen were right to impeach
Credit: The Frederick News Post, Deborah Carter
As members of the Frederick County Democratic Central Committee, we write to note our support and thanks to our congressmen, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, for voting to impeach President Donald Trump.
Each of you took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. President Trump violated his oath of office and committed the highest of high crimes — crimes that put our national security and the integrity of our elections at risk. We know that both of you did not take the impeachment process lightly. And because we worked closely with your campaigns during the 2018 election, we know it was never your intent, or even hope, to go to Congress to impeach a president.
As Benjamin Franklin noted, we have a republic so long as we can keep it. You both represent Frederick County, a county that is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. You did not put partisan calculations into your decision to vote for impeachment. You understand that we cannot allow a president, regardless of political party, to put our nation and our democracy at risk to foreign interference. Not now, not ever. Because of President Trump’s own actions, he left you and other members of the House of Representatives with no choice but to fulfill the duty the framers left to the House, and the House alone, the power to impeach a president for high crimes and misdemeanors. You have carried out that solemn and necessary duty with due diligence and care.
The office of the president carries with it great responsibility. It demands a dedication to the founding principles of our nation. It demands an understanding and appreciation that the president represents the State, but is not the State. Article II of our Constitution does not give the president the right to “do whatever I want,” as Donald Trump argued. We do not live in an absolute monarchy. We fought a revolution to break from a government that acted as such.
In extorting Ukrainian President Zelensky by withholding congressionally approved aid to Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression, as well as a sought-after White House visit, unless he announced an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a political rival, Donald Trump chose to put himself rather than his country first.
Therefore, we, the members of the Frederick County Democratic State Central Committee thank our representatives, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, for taking the necessary and proper action to vote to impeach President Trump.
Deborah Carter
Chair, Frederick County Democratic Central Committee
