Dear Mr. Trump,

I see you’re getting pretty liberal – sorry, but that’s the correct word – with handing out those pardons. Now you’ve pardoned Scooter Libby. All he did was get convicted for obstructing justice. Apparently, you don’t think obstructing justice is a big deal, not even a crime, if it’s done by a Republican. Before, you pardoned the racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Apparently, you don’t think violating federal court orders is a big deal, not if it’s done by one of your pals in service of your candidacy.

If you let off these Republican crooks, what’s going to stop you from letting off all the Republicans who have decided to cooperate with the independent investigation of Russia’s sabotage of our election system? It’s clear what message you’re trying to send, but I advise you strongly, Sir, not to pardon any of them.

Here’s why: Your pardoning of people like Gen. Flynn will only cause the wrath of impeachment proceedings to fall upon your head sooner rather than later. His testimony is in the can already, as is the testimony of the others who aided you in collusion with Russia. I mean that these Republicans who’ve cooperated with the special counsel cannot “un-cooperate.” If they do, they’ll be lying to the FBI again and lying to future grand juries, putting themselves immediately under greater criminal jeopardy, lengthening the prison sentences that they would otherwise serve. You cannot pardon your way out of your troubles. You cannot pardon these individuals for crimes they will commit in the future.

Perhaps you should beg pardon, Sir, not give it. Beg pardon from the women you’ve assaulted and called liars. Beg pardon from the Syrian children you’ve denied a haven in this country. Beg pardon from the victims of the Holocaust, whom you insult every day by virtue of your fondness for American Nazis. Beg pardon from the environment, which you are aiming to destroy. Beg pardon from the tens of thousands of Americans you are going to put out of work by starting foolish trade wars.

Beg pardon, Sir, as you are the one who needs it more than anyone.

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger