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Your recent editorial advising President Donald Trump to pardon himself for any crimes he may have committed, so that he may more easily govern is an insult to American democracy.

When the United States was founded in the late 18th century, it was singular in the history of nations. For virtually all of documented history, human society has consisted of rulers and the ruled. Yet our country was unique because it had no king, emperor, or tsar. America was to be a republic, governed by a set of laws, designed so that the leaders would remain accountable to the rulers, that is, the people.

Thomas Paine declared that “in America the law is king.” Your proposed executive self-pardon, besides being constitutionally dubious, would invert that dictum and make the law walk behind the king.

But ours is a nation of laws, not of men. The truth will vindicate President Trump if he is innocent, but the rule of law should not be suspended for a little political convenience. The American experiment has been so successful for so long because no one — not even the President — stands above the law.

President Trump, innocent may he be, is no different.

Samarth P. Desai

Shavertown

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