Release records of investigation into Matt Gaetz before he’s confirmed attorney general | Opinion

Gaetz’s ethics

While a member of the U. S. House of Representatives, Matt Gaetz was under investigation by its Ethics Committee for possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Now, with his nomination to U.S. Attorney General, it is imperative the committee’s report and/or findings be released to the U. S. Senate for consideration when it debates Gaetz’s nomination.

To consider the nomination in the absence of the committee’s findings would be, in and of itself, a dereliction of duty and a miscarriage of justice.

Harry B. Schrier,

Kendall

DOJ took its time

I take exception to the Nov. 12 letter, “Hispanics for Trump,” written by my friend and fellow Kiwanian, Willy Bermello, that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was weaponized.

After the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, which caused significant damage to the U.S. Capitol building and injured more than 100 police officers, the DOJ appointed a Special Counsel to investigate the insurrection and Donald Trump’s classified documents case — 22 months later. There also is ample evidence the FBI and DOJ gave the former president extra time to comply with requests for document returns before obtaining a search warrant for Mar-a-Lago.

A weaponized DOJ would have appointed a Special Prosecutor immediately. The entire prosecution/conviction/sentencing would have likely been completed before 2024 and prohibited Trump from seeking re-election.

Further, the DOJ assigned Special Prosecutors to pursue charges against Hunter Biden and investigate classified documents found at President Biden’s home. A weaponized DOJ would have looked the other way.

While I did not support Trump in this election, I do hope those who did (and those who were elected) will do what they can to ensure the nation will be governed for the benefit of all citizens and our global alliances.

Juan A. Galan, Jr.,

Coral Gables

Abortion rights

Florida voters spoke loud and clear on Amendment 4, which fell just short of the required 60% approval. Most voters supported reproductive rights despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ bullying legal tactics and weaponizing of state resources to thwart the will of the people. Attention must still be paid.

Have Florida’s legislators not listened to the stories of how their callous disregard for women’s health has terrorized so many women and their families?

Legislators are not bound by election results; they can disregard the onerous six-week abortion ban aimed at controlling women’s bodies.

We don’t have to wait two years to hold our elected officials accountable. We can start now by insisting that our legislators fix what they broke, as they prepare new bills for the 2025 Legislative session. We must continuously remind them what is at stake. Reproductive rights matter today and every day.

Paula Xanthopoulou,

Miami

Unfair to judge

We have loved the Miami Herald for decades and we continue to actively support it. Despite that deep admiration and respect, the Nov. 12 story, “Judge’s venomous texts come back to bite her,” was a seemingly sensationalized report of Judge Bronwyn Miller, which unnecessarily and unfairly tarnished the reputation of an outstanding, highly professional, ethical and brilliant jurist. She also is a passionate Miami community supporter.

This front page story, with its “venomous” headline, clearly drew far more attention to it than the facts seem to warrant. To further suggest that Miller “browbeat” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle — I doubt she has ever been browbeaten — is an exaggeration that taints both.

We have known and proudly supported Miller for almost the entirety of her judicial career, having worked closely with her in her extensive community support activities. She has been a long-time, highly respected and involved Board member of Chapman Partnership and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

We are not lawyers and do not know the legal nuances of the criminal proceedings at the core of this matter. However, we do know the great heart, superior ethics, solid professionalism and unquestionable brilliance of our friend and diligent co-worker in supporting the community, especially on behalf of those who are least able to help themselves.

Trish and Dan Bell,

Coral Gables

President’s oath

As we await President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, will he take the same oath of office he took on Jan. 20, 2017?

He violated that oath when he tried to overthrow the will of the American people on Jan. 6, 2021, by sending a mob to stop the Congressional certification of the votes for then-President-elect Joe Biden. Based on his past actions, he may not take the oath at all.

Will it matter?

Floyd Jordan,

Miami Gardens

Lives do matter

Sen. Marco Rubio, who is expected to serve as Donald Trump’s Secretary of State, believes that “Hamas is 100 percent to blame” for the death of babies in the Gaza Strip. Rubio claims that the terror group is building military infrastructure under hospitals.

However, an open letter sent to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris from 99 U.S. healthcare workers who volunteered in Gaza states: “We wish to be absolutely clear: not once did any of us see any type of Palestinian militant activity in any of Gaza’s hospitals or other healthcare facilities.”

Let’s heed the words in Tracy Kidder’s book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World:” “The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.”

Terry Hansen,

Milwaukee, WI

Changing benefits

I have read many comments about how some politicians want to reduce or eliminate Social Security. Sen. Marco Rubio is one of them.

Doesn’t he know this will affect many of those who voted for him, including voters in his own political party?

Of course, he does not care. He has his own retirement plan. He also does not care about the millions of people who are collecting Social Security now and will likely lose a large percentage of their monthly check.

Abelardo F. Cuellar,

Weston

Legal fog

When one is convicted in a court of law, one is supposed to be sentenced. Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26 for crimes committed while a private citizen. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president is protected from legal challenges while in office, no matter how egregious. Trump will certainly appeal the decision, further delaying justice, until after being sworn into office. The Court’s ruling can table the issue (and other indictments, too), while he is in office, but there is no wording that would do anything more than delay judicial proceedings until his term is over.

Can Trump pardon himself before his case is settled? Is it true that power and politics supersedes the U. S. Constitution? Overrides fairness and justice?

A historical perusal of other world powers indicates yes, noting that the result is always a collapse of that civilization.

Interestingly, TV news reported that the wealth of the top few percent increased by $60 billion in the last few days. Substituting power and politics for fairness and justice pays well at the top, but I haven’t noticed an equivalent increase in the pockets of the millions who voted for Trump.

J. Trigg Adams,

Coconut Grove

Message received

i‘m so tired of hearing Democrats say they lost the election due to a messaging problem, as if citizens just didn’t get it. This is not the case. The message was loud and clear: four years of terrible policies and the country heading in the wrong direction.

The people simply replaced the insanity, incompetence and corruption with an America First common sense. The citizens finally got it.

Maria E. Ordonez,

Miami

Chief thief

Florida voters were angry about prices at the grocery store, so they elected a kleptocrat without first seeking the definition of “Kleptocracy.”

Joanne Tomarchio,

Miami