To the Editor:

As we approach the 250th birthday of the United States this year with an unstable, violent president, and a subservient Congress and Supreme Court, we must maintain or increase our efforts to retain and restore the United States as a functioning republic.

Since returning to the White House less than a year ago, the Trump administration has invaded United States cities terrorizing, kidnapping citizens and non-citizens; had the U.S. military attack six countries: Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Nigeria, Iran, Syria; has threatened other nations; attacked without warning and destroyed boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific; and attacked Venezuela without any provocation or declaration of war, in violation of the Constitution and many other laws.

I recommend we strongly encourage Congress to begin behaving as a coequal branch of government, and quickly impeach and remove Donald Trump. Members of Congress have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution which President Trump violates every day.

Either we have a Constitution or we do not.

Congress could remove Trump in one day by holding a joint session, having the House pass articles of impeachment in the morning, and the Senate voting to convict him in the afternoon.

Tom Ellis

Albany