To the Editor:

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced her plan to join with a group of fellow Republicans in an attempt to disqualify the votes of the American people by refusing to recognize the certified outcome of the 2020 election. The theatrics of Stefanik and others against our democratic process are based on evidence-free claims that have been repeatedly rejected by the courts. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris decisively won the election; Donald Trump and Mike Pence lost.

I am pleased to see that there are still some Republicans who care about the better principles of Conservatism, Rule of Law and Oath of Office. I hope Ms. Stefanik will reflect on these words from a more principled and fact-based member of her own party, Senator Mitt Romney:

"Members of Congress who substitute their own partisan judgement for that of the courts do not enhance public trust, they imperil it ... The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambitions of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic ... I could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Has ambition so eclipsed principle?"

So now, on this afternoon of January 6th, protestors who believe the unsubstantiated allegations of President Trump, Elise Stefanik and others have stormed our nation's Capitol Building. Is there any wonder that people who feel hurt, angry, and are gullible to conspiracy nonsense would swallow such incitements and act in such a violent way? Ms. Stefanik?

Leo Burger

Russell