Richard Budd, York

The time has come to ask Mr. Hoeven and Mr. Cramer if they intend to honor their constitutional duty or not. The House has done their constitutional duty to impeach the president. To me the facts are clear, but the Senate must decide.

This impeachment has brought us to a real constitutional crisis. The founders set up three branches in order to provide a system of checks and balances on the powers of each branch, and from an historical perspective, it is clear that the congress wanted to provide a check on any potential out of-control executive. They had had enough of that with George III.

Donald Trump has violated his constitutional by using his authority to blackmail Ukraine’s president and to hold back congressionally mandated aid to a beleaguered ally in order to benefit his political campaign. I for one have had enough of this president’s illegal actions, lies and cover-ups. Now our senators, will be asked to SWEAR TO BE UNBIASED JURORS in the Senate trial of this impeached president. Will they? Senator McConnell has already answered this question, violating his sacred duty.

My father-in-law, now deceased, was a life-long Republican and committeeman on the board of elections. He and I often disagreed on politics, but I respected him for his integrity. And I respected his Republican party even as I usually disagreed with it. I would have to think that today he would be appalled with the current actions and policies of the Trump presidency and those Republicans who mindlessly have supported it, the U.S. Constitution be damned.

How will our senators decide to perform their constitutional duty? As a naval officer, I raised my right hand and swore to defend the Constitution. I call upon our senators, to do the same. As a historian with a Ph.D. in American history, I wonder how history will judge our actions. Will our actions preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States or will they weaken it for generations to come. The citizens of North Dakota are watching to find out.