Editor, Times-Union:

The president of our country (whoever he — or someday she — may be) is not a god or a saint or an omnipotent supreme being of any kind regardless of the beliefs of his followers. Our presidents are not above any laws of any kind. Our presidents are elected by the people to direct the business of the country and to secure the well-being and safety of its citizens based on apparent leadership abilities, knowledge of and loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, and a willingness to unselfishly dedicate his expertise to the job to which he was elected for however long in office. (Very much like the president of a large corporation, wouldn’t you say?)

Someone please explain then why so many people (other than political sycophants) get all bent out of shape when, for the first time in history, there is so much hand wringing and second guessing regarding possible indictments and trials bearing down on a former president. What is it about having been a president that makes him immune to the laws of the land? What is it that makes people think he should be treated any differently from any other citizen of the country if he is suspected of wrongdoing?

Yes, he was the president. So what? Was he canonized and I missed it? Presidents of corporations (and even wealthy, powerful mob bosses) have been investigated, prosecuted, indicted and even imprisoned, and no one protested or threatened to investigate the prosecutors, DAs, AGs, or FBI. Why is an ex president of the U.S. any different? A president, any president, is a human being. Human beings make mistakes and sometimes even break laws. In this country, people who break laws must atone. Why is that so hard to understand?

Just because it is unprecedented that a former president is facing several possible indictments, that is not a reason for the necessary legal processes to stop or even be questioned. There is a first time for everything. Everything is unprecedented until a precedent is set. Why is that so hard to understand?

The ex-president is a human being, a human being who may have committed felonies. He is just a man who happened to be a president at one time. What am I missing?

Jeanne Schutz

Winona Lake, via email