Friday may go down in U.S. history as the day our democracy began to unravel.
In a now customary tweet, President Donald Trump said the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are corrupt.
Why? Because they are investigating whether the president’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia in tilting the election his way.
Rather than endure the due, and yes tedious, process of law, President Trump claims the system is rigged, alleging the agencies are beholden to Democrats.
For the president of the United States to impugn the credibility of U.S. institutions that serve as the bedrock of our democracy sets a new low.
Trump took his conspiracy theory one step further Friday, saying a classified memo in the hands of the House Intelligence Committee that could divulge U.S. national security operations, should be released.
Why? Because, according to Mr. Trump, it shows inherent bias against him by warranting the investigation of a former campaign staffer.
That our national security could be compromised with the release of the memo does not seem to overly concern the president.
Mr. Trump also purports a “deep state” exists — government officials bent on undermining his greatness. Such insecurity by our president is deeply concerning.
And because the office of the president wields such influence it’s imperative that it displays confidence, not paranoia, in our governmental institutions.
HISTORY has so far proven that our democracy can withstand such attacks.
I remember when President Richard Nixon tried to quash an FBI investigation. As we know, the Watergate scandal led to his resignation.
The difference then, however, was that Republican members of Congress put their loyalty to the United States before that of their president, also a Republican.
Let’s hope this time around loyalty to country — and not an individual or political party — remains on top.
