Officials did nothing, while Trump violated the Constitution

U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland explicitly linked President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Mick Mulvaney and other senior officials in a cabal aimed at pressuring a foreign government (Ukraine) to investigate Trump's political rival in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid - classic quid pro quo. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee tried to undermine Sondland's remarks by asking if the president directly ordered Sondland to communicate a quid pro quo.

Sondland's response was clear: 'Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret.”

The Judiciary Committee subsequently approved two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

If Trump officials who refused to appear when subpoenaed or turn over requested documents like Rudolph Giuliani, Pence, Pompeo and Mulvaney are proud of what they did then they should stand up and tell the world about it. Instead they stay silent. For what they have done to our country they are nothing but a group of thugs, with Trump being the chief thug. This is a cancer that has metastasized. Republicans in the House, and Senate have been infected by this White House.

Every American is responsible for what is happening in Washington and we all bear responsibility for the outcome. Anger should be directed not at the criminal, but at those who stood around and did nothing.

Joel Wells

Iowa City