THE COMEY HEARING

8 June, 2017

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher,

101 Main Street #380

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Dear Congressman,

Re: The Comey hearing

Did you watch the Comey hearing yesterday? I did—beginning to end. And I was frankly stupefied by the later reaction of certain Republicans, one of whom claimed it as a “slam-dunk” for the president.* And the president* himself feels completely vindicated?

Really? Just because we heard—as yet!—no legal grounds to actually expose him as guilty of obstruction of justice? Though Comey said nothing like “case closed,” and went off immediately after the public hearing to testify to who knows what behind closed doors.

Besides, even if there is never grounds to indict him, what a dreadful picture of the president* of the United States. We got a clear picture of a man—a president!—who, according to testimony, never once expressed interest or concern in investigating a proven hostile attack by Russia on this country; who was concerned not for the country he was elected to serve, but rather exclusively in how it might affect him personally; and who otherwise simply wanted to see the whole affair go away.

We got, too, the picture of a man who lies shamelessly when it is to his advantage, who intimidates like a mafia boss and treats underlings with contempt. A man who is either inexcusably ignorant and incurious about the basic principles of law and government, or who chooses to think of himself as being above them. A man who is undeserving of our respect, let alone our trust. A man quick to blame anyone other than himself for his own mistakes and lapses of judgment.

And yet there are Republicans—including, of course, the president* himself—who claim Comey’s testimony as a vindication? I hope, Congressman, that you are not among them. Whether legally off the hook or not—and there are still miles to go in this investigation—the president* is far from vindicated by yesterday’s hearing. On the contrary, in the court of decency, integrity, and moral conduct, he already stands convicted

Respectfully,

Peter Clothier, Ph.D.