Opinion: With today’s Republicans, Nixon could have gotten away with Watergate

To the editor: Since when does a president looking down the barrel of impeachment get to fire the special counsel in case he’s getting too close? (“Trump: ‘No, I’m not’ firing Mueller, as allies step up attacks on special counsel probe,” Dec. 17)

Maybe someone should tell President Trump and his lawyers about the holding in United States vs. Nixon, in which the Supreme Court ruled that no president is above the law and executive privilege does not protect the president, especially in a potentially criminal matter.

What’s going on in America now with the Republicans in office? You can feel them looking down on us ready to do whatever they please. What arrogance.

Philip Palermo, Corona

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To the editor: Two months ago, the media upchucked for days that U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions was toast. He is still very much on the job.

One month ago, media outlets fell over themselves reporting that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s departure was imminent. Last week, Tillerson was not only still in the saddle, but also, on his own, proposed no preconditions for talks with North Korea.

Now the Los Angeles Times, in the Monday print edition’s front-page lead story, reports on speculation that Trump will fire special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Fake news is real.

Bob Munson, Newbury Park

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To the editor: In October, Trump sent out a tweet demanding that Republicans “do something” regarding the Mueller investigation. Sure enough, Trump’s “hoax” narrative (with the help of Fox News) has picked up steam among Republicans in efforts to discredit Mueller, his team and the FBI. Do not be surprised if any or all of the following happens soon:

Trump fires Mueller; Republicans call for an end to ongoing House and Senate investigations, parroting Trump’s denigration of the special counsel and the FBI; or members of Congress shrug at any “biased” conclusion by Mueller and the FBI of wrongdoing and do nothing.

A few questions: Since when does a key figure connected to the investigation get to set the scope of what the investigators can look at? Can only Republicans investigate Republicans, and wouldn’t that be “biased” (both Mueller and Comey are — or at least were — Republicans)? How many “hoaxes” are there that result in the indictments of four people connected to a presidential campaign?

Chris Fite, Spring Valley, Calif.

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