What John Katko’s Press Release Ought to Say

The communications between Central New York’s member of Congress and his constituents are predictable: press releases and public statements that say nothing, that hedge, that duck the hard issues and don’t provide any real answers.

After the #TrumpTapes, Rep. John Katko (NY-24) should make a bold, clear, and independent statement in support of our democracy and rule of law. Since he has yet to do this in 6 years in Washington, DC, I finally just wrote the damn press release for him:

I am deeply concerned by the recent Washington Post revelation of a phone conversation between President Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During the call, the president suggested that Georgia election officials should “find” enough votes for him to win the election in that state.

The facts of our recent election are clear. The law has been followed and results have been certified. Joe Biden is the President-elect of the United States.

It is wrong for any elected leader to threaten or attempt to thwart any election official for any reason. To do so represents an abuse of power — an offense that might warrant impeachment proceedings. At the very least, it is ethically wrong and destructive of the democratic fabric that has woven this nation together for more than two centuries.

The presidency is a sacred trust. As the chief executor of our nation’s legal system, the president must impartially and unselfishly uphold the American rule…