I received a letter from Sen. Dan Sullivan explaining his vote to acquit former President Donald Trump. The senator stated that a conviction was constitutionally unnecessary because Trump had already left office.
I would remind Sullivan that the purpose of impeachment includes “disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States.” In my view, this purpose is equal to the purpose of removing the President from office. By ignoring this provision of the Constitution, the senator chose to pass the buck to the American people in future elections, rather than holding Trump accountable for his crime, of which former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Mitt Romney and Sen. Lisa Murkowski indicated he is clearly guilty.
Voters always have a say in the next election. But the framers of the Constitution charged the Senate to make the judgment themselves, not to pass the question to the voters. Sen. Sullivan was supposed to decide this question in this trial, when he was directly presented with the evidence and still surrounded by the broken windows and damaged hallways of the Capitol. I’d like to ask the Senator why the framers of the Constitution included this provision barring an official from holding a future office if they wanted the issue to be decided by voters in the next election. Go ahead, think it over; take your time. I’ll wait.
Doug Robbins
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.