Allow the witnesses and evidence at the Impeachment trial

To the editor:

I'm sure many people are not watching the impeachment trial. I read with interest the column in the Courier about Trump's statement at Davos international meeting that he's willing to allow witnesses now. That is exactly what the House Managers have been repeatedly requesting. All documents and witnesses pertinent to their impeachment hearings were withheld by the President. Seventeen witnesses during the hearings supplied testimony under OATH that built pieces of a larger puzzle incriminating the President. But, Republicans kept protesting that they weren't hearing enough information to impeach the President. By his Executive Orders, witnesses and substantive documents were withheld.

Now, Trump says he's considering allowing witnesses to testify at his trial. Hmmmm, wondering why. But, keep in mind, he qualified that with "national security" concerns. So probably all of his documents & witnesses with become "national security"! His national security concerns are that Putin will be displeased that his pal, Trump, may well be impeached and removed from office.

By implicating Ukraine as the stooge in his convoluted plot by withholding 361 million dollars of congressionally approved funds, he forced them defenseless against Russia in a years old war. He held that country over a barrel until President Zelensky consented to "find dirt on the Bidens" before he would release the funds. The chronology has shown that Trump began his campaign against the Bidens months before that "Perfect Call". Why the Bidens? He feared Joe Biden was going to be his opponent in the 2020 election. He wanted a personal favor done before he would pay up. That is "Quid Pro Quo" (Latin for This for That). That is an impeachable offense, according to the Constitution.

Why would he be so focused on Hunter Biden, who was serving on the Board of Burisma, a Ukrainian oil company? How could he justify this as nepotism when his own children are entrenched in the White House at the taxpayers' expense? When Pence's family have jobs near the White House & even Rudy Guiliani's son is the "Sports Liaison" in the White House?

Since the House Impeachment hearings, more and more information has come to light, including photos, text messages, phone records, documents. Lev Parnas, a Trump friend and accomplice, has been interviewed with astounding reports of activities above and beyond. Of course, Republicans discount him since he's been indicted for campaign money fraud. I suspect he's spilling the beans because he fears he will be "suicided" like Epstein. He is implicating Rudy Guiliani, Trump's personal attorney, in "carrying the bag", in mafia lingo.

Witnesses and documents are necessary to be heard during this trial. It's taking everything regardless all the speeches being made, all the recordings and videos being shown, all the quotes being repeated, to convince Republican Senators to impeach and remove Trump.

I know because I faithfully watched the House hearings and now the Senate trial. My fear is that not enough people are paying attention to what's happening. Perhaps that's the reason McConnell has arranged for the trial to go for 16 hour days well into the night. He doesn't want people informed. An uninformed public is an ignorant public.

Rebecca Drake