Trump can’t evade indictments, being held accountable for trying to steal election | Opinion

Trump has to be held accountable

The evidence contained in the most recent indictments against Donald Trump should disturb every American. Trump threatened the very bedrock of American democracy. Knowing he lost the 2020 presidential election, Trump cooked up numerous illegal schemes to stay in power.

He deliberately spread disinformation about the 2020 election, then used those lies to pressure state officials in Georgia and other swing states to overturn the will of voters, including by asking the Georgia secretary of state to “find 11,780 votes.”

He and his cronies leaned on everyone they could to carry out their plans, including former Vice President Pence, who refused. When they couldn’t steal the presidency through phony paperwork or throwing out votes, they rioted on our nation’s Capitol in an attempt to stop the election from being certified.

These crimes are too serious to be ignored. That’s why two separate grand juries of everyday Americans, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Georgia, have now issued two separate indictments of Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the will of voters. These are the most serious indictments thus far because they deal with a conspiracy to overturn the foundation of our democracy: the vote of the American people.

We the American people choose our leaders, not the other way around. When we go to cast our ballots, we should be confident that our vote will be counted, no matter our political party. We shouldn’t have to worry about power-hungry officials throwing out votes that they don’t like to try and keep control.

Trump must be held accountable for his crimes, just like anyone else would be, and our elected officials must allow a trial to proceed without political interference.

Barbara Parks, Pasco

COVID remains very real for her

If I had worn a mask during my visit to a very busy Richland Winco on Aug. 8, maybe I would not have caught COVID. Two days later at an outdoor family get-together, I felt crappy and headed home. Later I had a 100-degree fever and tested positive for COVID.

At the online Kadlac walk-in clinic, I was prescribed Paxlovid, which I picked up at a drive-through and headed home. Felt better after the headache and overall icky feeling. Two days later spouse had a 102-degree temperature. His meds precluded the use of Paxlovid, so he was prescribed another drug with 80%+ efficacy. Two weeks of lethargy, loss of taste, appetite, diarrhea, discomfort and cough.

Meds kept us going. His sputum turned yellow/green. Sleeping was sporadic between coughing, even with cough meds. During one very frightening episode, my body was inundated with heavy foamy, sticky mucus — nose and throat clogged. It was very unsettling and dangerous.

I got through it and began using antihistamines, which worked. No more of those episodes. I spoke with my daughter, she and her spouse contacted COVID last year. She had two episodes of bronchitis after and allergies have been off the chart. It took her several weeks to recover from no get-up-and-go to functioning again.

Dorothy Rawson, Pasco

Who will benefit at HAPO Center?

Shame on Clint Didier and Rocky Mullen for stabbing Steve and Shirley Simmons in the back by awarding a pie-in-the-sky contract to operate the HAPO Center to an out-of-area company. After the investment of effort and money they made to turn around a failing operation, it’s unconscionable such a thing should happen.

One wonders, cui bono?

Let me rephrase in simple language for the two who sold the Simmons’ and the community out: Follow the money. I’m encouraging the community to follow the money to see who benefits.

Fred Miller, Walla Walla