Russia interfered in the 2016 election, and Congress must act to stop them in 2020

Special Counsel Robert Mueller spoke last week on his “Report on The Investigation Into The Russia Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election.” Everyone should agree that he has called all Americans to prioritize action to safeguard our future elections from foreign influence.

It is a fact that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, and we can expect them and possibly others to attempt to interfere again. The U.S. House has passed legislation to project and reform our elections. The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced two bipartisan bills on election security. Yet Sen. Mitch McConnell refuses to allow any election security bill to be brought to the floor for debate or a vote. McConnell’s job is to pass legislation, protect our democracy, our republic, our country. Why the refusal?

Is this inaction a pattern? It’s been reported that McConnell blocked a bipartisan denunciation of Russian interference before voters went to the polls in 2016. Is his inaction one of willful blindness? Is he following a similar path as then-candidate Trump when he stated: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” Is McConnell leaving the door open, nearly inviting foreign interference?

Members of the Senate, the media and all citizens must demand that election security legislation be passed quickly, and put pressure on the GOP and McConnell to act. As Mueller stated, “I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments — that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election. That allegation deserves the attention of every American.”

Bill Slowinski, Oak Lawn

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In praise of John Fountain

Not long ago, columnist John Fountain wrote of how warmly he felt toward a renowned local educator whom he regarded as a father because of the support he provided that made Fountain “feel like some man’s son.”

Fountain’s heartfelt expression of appreciation was much more than one man’s personal reflection of what it meant for a boy, whose real father abandoned him when he was 4, to have an upstanding, unrelated man take an ongoing paternal interest in him.

It was a cry-out to fathers throughout the community to provide the love and nurturing every child needs to develop the self-confidence and incentive to become a productive adult who will find little appeal in joining a gang to gain the attention he lacked at home.

J.L. Stern, Highland Park

If Trump isn’t impeachable, who is?

To quote Eugene Robinson, “Members of Congress should ask themselves: If you are not going to start an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, describe the president for whom you would start an inquiry? A president that abused power, that lies, that goes after his political enemies?”

This comment by Mr. Robinson states it all for me. What is Congress doing?

Scott R. Zuhr, Park Ridge