Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

JT45242

(2,259 posts)
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 12:36 PM Jan 2020

My letter to Iowa's Senators

Below is the text to my senators (Ernst and Grassley). This is my 3rd on the impeachment to Ernst.I would recommend to everyone who has a Senator who voted to impeach (rep at the time) or remove (senator) should include the part about witness tampering is considered a more serious felony based on sentencing guidelines than giving false statements under oath. Maybe, if we can put enough pressure on the ones up for re-election they will be forced to allow witnesses.

Senator

There have been numerous reports that the Trump camp has threatened you and other Republican Senators that if you “Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.” This is a blatant attempt at jury tampering by the President and his minions. This is clearly an abuse of power and a federal felony punishable by up to ten years. This is clearly a high crime that undermines the very nature of the justice system. It is considered to be even more egregious than making false statements under oath, which only has a maximum penalty of 5 years. So any Senator who voted to remove President Clinton for making false statements in a Civil Court deposition ought to vote for the removal of a President who has committed an even more serious “high crime” based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Furthermore, in some states, jury tampering overturns a not guilty and either results in a judge trial with no jury or in others results in an automatic conviction of the top count of the indictment.

Once again, you swore an oath of impartiality for this trial and an oath to defend the Constitution and the laws of this country when you became a Senator. I implore you that you take that oath seriously and live up to it. Based on what you have seen and heard in the trial plus the attempt at jury tampering, any vote other than guilty or for more witness testimony would amount to a whitewash of the charges. I use the term “whitewash” specifically because this is the same kind of sham trial that Klansman and other racist murderous would get when facing charges for killing innocent people or color or their allies. Here the victim is our system of laws, our codes of ethics, and even our Constitution itself.

You MUST call for real witness testimony. Even if it would be 3 hours of Trump in a deposition that only Senators could watch in a secure room. If he doesn’t perjure himself or implicate himself in one or more crimes, then you might be able to vote no to removal. If Bolton, Mulvaney, and others can show how their actions were legal and in the interest of the United States and complied with all US laws (record keeping, honoring subpoenas, disbursement of funds, etc.) then you could vote no on the facts and not a white washed party loyalty.

I hope that you will do what is right and demand witnesses and then issue a verdict based on facts and not ‘whitewash’ a verdict based on criminal threats from the President and his cabal of supporters.

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My letter to Iowa's Senators (Original Post) JT45242 Jan 2020 OP
im so sorry.. I have two true blue female senators and they are pissed... samnsara Jan 2020 #1
Ernst is up for re-election. Seeing her lose is high on my priority list rurallib Jan 2020 #5
I like all of them Bettie Jan 2020 #9
a potted plant would be better than Ernst rurallib Jan 2020 #11
Don't they have a duty Pantagruel Jan 2020 #2
LOL....Republicans doing any version of their duty! Bettie Jan 2020 #10
I try to get laughs Pantagruel Jan 2020 #14
I feel, more often than not Bettie Jan 2020 #15
Recommended. guillaumeb Jan 2020 #3
In return you will receive a form letter. madaboutharry Jan 2020 #4
Form letter JT45242 Jan 2020 #8
I was not so nice to my GOP senator. CrispyQ Jan 2020 #6
May I steal some of your phrasing for a letter to Tom Cotton? sinkingfeeling Jan 2020 #7
Absolutely! Add to the drip! CrispyQ Jan 2020 #12
Send balls MoonlitKnight Jan 2020 #13
welcome to DU gopiscrap Jan 2020 #16

samnsara

(17,615 posts)
1. im so sorry.. I have two true blue female senators and they are pissed...
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 12:38 PM
Jan 2020

..how can we as DUers help you in Iowa? Are they up for re election? Tell us who and we will donate!

rurallib

(62,406 posts)
5. Ernst is up for re-election. Seeing her lose is high on my priority list
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 12:55 PM
Jan 2020

We have 4 Dems running to oppose her.

1) Theresa Greenfield - she is my favorite: https://greenfieldforiowa.com/about/

2) Eddie Mauro - he's been making a stir: https://eddiemauro.com

3) Kimberly Graham - https://www.kimberlyforiowa.com (don't know a lot about her)

4) Michael Franken - retired Navy admiral: https://frankenforiowa.org/about - got a friend who really likes this guy.

Greenfield appears to be the establishment candidate. Primary is June 9th I think

Bettie

(16,083 posts)
9. I like all of them
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 01:10 PM
Jan 2020

Eddie's ads make me laugh.

But, any one of them would be far better than Ernst!

Bettie

(16,083 posts)
10. LOL....Republicans doing any version of their duty!
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 01:11 PM
Jan 2020

That is the funniest thing I've read all day.

Bettie

(16,083 posts)
15. I feel, more often than not
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 02:07 PM
Jan 2020

like I am screaming into the void.

I'm terrified of what he'll do when any lingering 'chains' come off. If the Senate doesn't convict, then he will be unleashed and will go full dictator.

madaboutharry

(40,201 posts)
4. In return you will receive a form letter.
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 12:42 PM
Jan 2020

This form letter will be a repetition of bothsiderisms, republican talking points, and maybe even a conspiracy theory or two.

The letter from Joni Ernst will begin with the offensive "Dear Friend...." and end with a disingenuous "I always want to hear from my constituents."

I very much appreciate your good citizenship.

JT45242

(2,259 posts)
8. Form letter
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 01:08 PM
Jan 2020

Yes. I have gotten several of them. But I am hoping that enough people will contact her office about the impeachment that she might be moved by her desire to get re-elected.

Self preservation may be seen as motive. Given how poorly all the republicans did last time (except King, who was sill his closest win yet), I can't see them wanting to drift closer to Trump since it flipped all those seats last year.

One can only shout and hope that the combined voices will be like the Whovians and a single "YOP!" will push her over the edge to hearing what is really there.

CrispyQ

(36,446 posts)
6. I was not so nice to my GOP senator.
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 12:58 PM
Jan 2020
Senator Gardner,

I can only assume that you are acting out of fear that your head will be on a spike or else why would you abandon your Oath to the Constitution of the United States of America? Read that again. The words are "United States of America," not Republican Party of America.

Now is your chance to speak out against this sham of an impeachment trial that leader McConnell is orchestrating to cover the crimes of the most criminal administration in the history of the United States. Now is your chance to show you still have some integrity and decency left, and that you are willing to sacrifice your cushy position in the political hierarchy to honor the Oath that you took when you laid your hand on that Bible, to be able to tell your children with pride that you helped stop the most corrupt and self-serving administration this country has ever seen.

I'm laughing as I write that cuz I know you will never do that.

ALL of my 2020 campaign contributions and volunteer time will go to your democratic challenger even if it's Hickenlooper. That's how badly I want you out of office, that I would send Hickenlooper money and I would make calls for him.

Do the right thing, you GOP cowardly Putin sellouts!


I will get a form letter reply thanking me for my inquiry and that due to the overwhelming amount of correspondence the Senator gets they will send a more detailed response later. Then I will get some BS email a week or so about how he is so concerned about justice, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I called him with a shorter message, too. I still reach out to him in spite of how futile it all seems. It only takes a few minutes and maybe if we all did it, it would be like when the drip, drip, drip is suddenly all over your kitchen floor.

MoonlitKnight

(1,584 posts)
13. Send balls
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 01:47 PM
Jan 2020

Ping pong balls, golf balls, tennis balls, etc. with a note saying: “I believe you lost these.”

If you feel it’s sexist, send marbles. They lost those as well.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»My letter to Iowa's Senat...