Ernst must read the report and protect the nation

At her recent Dubuque town hall, Sen. Joni Ernst told the audience she hadn't read the Mueller report. Yet, she is quoted in an April 22 article in the Des Moines Register stating that she doesn't see a need for Mueller to testify in front of Congress. How can she say this if she hasn't read his report?

The report describes how Trump's operation welcomed Putin's help in the 2016 election, exposing at least 140 links between the Kremlin and the Trump team. The report provides examples of how Trump obstructed an investigation to expose those links, including by ordering the White House counsel to lie and dangling pardons to discourage cooperation with the FBI. His team even destroyed evidence. It is imperative that Ernst read this report and work to protect our country from future attacks by foreign countries on our elections.

As a senator, it is Ernst's job to read this report and to listen to the testimony of Special Counsel Robert Mueller so Congress can gain a better understanding of what occurred. Ernst has sworn an oath to uphold and protect our Constitution, not the president and she must be willing to put her country before her party to protect our elections. And, she must be willing to listen to Special Counsel Mueller's testimony and determine whether or not the president obstructed justice.

Shari Flatt

Dubuque