Will leaders stand up to Trump?

To the Editor:

As someone who’s been deeply troubled by the administration in general and by the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey in particular, I was cautiously heartened by Rep. Erik Paulsen’s somewhat tepid statement calling for an independent investigation. Words are important, and so this is a decent start. However, if he does believe the situation is serious enough (as I do) to warrant an investigation of the president, then he must take action.

One thing he could do at any time is to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 356 (which actually establishes what Rep. Paulsen is calling for) as his fellow Republicans Reps. Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, and Justin Amash, R-Michigan, have. Will he? Or will he take other significant action? Past experience has shown he won’t.

I believe this administration and the complicit GOP leadership will continue to smash conventions and institutions until finally, at long last, even legislators like Rep. Paulsen will be unable to stomach the degradation of our country and will be forced to act. The question is, will it be too late?

Rob Wilcox
Eden Prairie News, May 20, 2017