'We are entering a dangerous period,' 44 former senators warn lawmakers in letter

USA TODAY
"We are at an inflection point in which the foundational principles of our democracy and our national security interests are at stake," they wrote.

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of 44 former U.S. senators joined to write an open letter published in The Washington Post warning their colleagues in the Senate "that we are entering a dangerous period" for American democracy.

"We feel an obligation to speak up about serious challenges to the rule of law, the Constitution, our governing institutions and our national security," they wrote.

"We are on the eve of the conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation and the House’s commencement of investigations of the president and his administration. The likely convergence of these two events will occur at a time when simmering regional conflicts and global power confrontations continue to threaten our security, economy and geopolitical stability."

The former lawmakers said the country is "at an inflection point in which the foundational principles of our democracy and our national security interests are at stake, and the rule of law and the ability of our institutions to function freely and independently must be upheld."

There were 10 Republicans, 32 Democrats and two independents among the signatories. They said they were sometimes "opponents, but never enemies."

"Whatever united or divided us, we did not veer from our unwavering and shared commitment to placing our country, democracy and national interest above all else," they wrote.

"At other critical moments in our history, when constitutional crises have threatened our foundations, it has been the Senate that has stood in defense of our democracy. Today is once again such a time."

They called on "current and future" senators to put the country above their personal needs or the interests of their party.

Here is the list of former senators who signed the letter:

  • Max Baucus, D-Mont.

  • Evan Bayh, D-Ind.

  • Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

  • Bill Bradley, D-N.J.,

  • Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo.

  • Max Cleland, D-Ga.

  • William Cohen, R-Maine

  • Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

  • Al D’Amato, R-N.Y.

  • John C. Danforth, R-Mo.

  • Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

  • Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz.

  • Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

  • Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

  • David Durenberger, R-Minn.

  • Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

  • Wyche Fowler, D-Ga.

  • Bob Graham, D-Fla.

  • Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.

  • Tom Harkin, D-Iowa

  • Gary Hart, D-Colo.

  • Bennett Johnston, D-La.

  • Bob Kerrey, D-Neb.

  • John Kerry, D-Mass.

  • Paul Kirk, D-Mass.

  • Mary Landrieu, D-La.

  • Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

  • Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

  • Richard Lugar, R-Ind.

  • Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

  • Ben Nelson, D-Neb.

  • Sam Nunn, D-Ga.

  • Larry Pressler, R-S.D.

  • David Pryor, D-Ark.

  • Don Riegle, D-Mich.

  • Chuck Robb, D-Va.

  • Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

  • Jim Sasser, D-Tenn.

  • Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.

  • Mark Udall, D-Colo.

  • John W. Warner, R-Va.

  • Lowell Weicker, I-Conn.

  • Tim Wirth, D-Colo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We are entering a dangerous period,' 44 former senators warn lawmakers in letter