Jack Smith, the tireless special prosecutor heading up the Trump investigation, came to his current job from the Hague where he was prosecuting war criminals. His experience prosecuting some of the worst political criminals in the world is serving him well in his current job prosecuting Donald Trump. Judge Tanya Chutkan, the lead judge in one of the several pending criminal indictments of Trump, released on Oct. 2 Smith’s most recent filing, a 165-page document detailing criminal actions by then-President Trump. The actions included in the filing occurred outside of Trump’s official capacity, and so, Smith alleges, are not protected by immunity. The filing is detailed, extensive, and contains charges not hitherto made public.

The charges detail evidence provided by senior Republican officials, including considerable incriminating testimony by then-Vice President Pence. The filing is available to the public and contains (as many have said) “bombshell after bombshell” of new, damning information. It’s time for each of us to examine our own expectation of integrity in our public officials. For some unfathomable reason, far too many people discount, minimize, or accept actions that are, in fact, blatantly dishonest. The question is: do we expect our government to hold and embody the highest standards of conduct, including honesty, civility, decency, trustworthiness and competence? If so, support that expectation with your vote. Don’t vote for people who are owned by special interests or who are devious, whether nationally or locally. Vote for a good world, not a crooked one.

Ethel Hull

Concord