Dear Editor,

This is a very trying time for the United States of America. A decision needs to be made whether or not a former president can be held accountable for his actions after he leaves office. Our Senators, Marcia Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, will be asked to set a precedent in this very important vote that will affect the United States democracy for years to come. So for those who think, “He’s out of office. It doesn’t matter, let’s move on, or to try a president who is no longer in office is unconstitutional,” they apparently don’t understand the weight of this decision. It is not an easy decision. There have been financial threats to the party and perhaps threats to lives that only prove the sad state of our great Nation. I would like to remind our Senators that there was a movement to overthrow our democracy. As leaders of this country, it is up to our Senators to make sure it doesn’t happen again, whether with a future Republican or Democrat president. The fact that Donald J. Trump is now out of office doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be held accountable for his deplorable actions against our Constitution.

As a reminder to our Senators and constituents, there is NOTHING in the Constitution that states a former president cannot be tried after leaving office. There is, however, a clause in the Constitution that states in Amendment XIV, Section 3, “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of PRESIDENT and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military under the United States, or under any State, who having PREVIOUSLY taken an oath, as a member of Congress or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Senators, do not mislead this country by saying a trial and conviction is unconstitutional. Do not mislead this country by rhetoric stating it doesn’t matter, he’s out of office. Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, it is also your duty to uphold the oath you took to defend the Constitution by holding Donald J. Trump accountable.

Melanie S. Kupfer

Hohenwald, TN

931-982-0817

e-mail: [email protected]