Dear Editor,

“I hereby demand” are the introductory words Trump wrote to direct the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the investigation of Trump’s campaign collusion with Russia.

There are three reasons these words are so chilling. First, they are eerily reminiscent of something our last Monarch (George III) might have said. Trump seems to fancy himself to be a “King.”

Second, for Trump to order an investigation of an investigation of himself appears to be obstruction of justice and/or abuse of power. This is just the latest example of Trump’s complete disregard of the norms and the rule of law, which are a necessity for our democracy to function.

Third, Trump wants the identity and information pertaining to the confidential FBI source to be revealed. Our national security will be negatively affected if the Intelligence community can no longer guarantee the privacy of informants. It will not only be impossible to recruit new private sources, but other countries will no longer be willing to work or share information if we cannot be trusted to protect our confidential sources.

We are truly in uncharted territory.

Rene Payne

Stanford