Dear Mr. Trump:

You praise Paul Manafort as a “good man,” revealing your utter disdain for the rule of law.

Why is it “good” that a man of wealth cheats his country by evading millions of dollars in taxes? His conduct – demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that included your supporters – is abhorrent, not good. This is not a case of trying to take advantage of a tax loophole. This is a case of out and out lying about the millions of dollars he made.

Why is it “good” that a man of wealth submits fraudulent information to banks in loan applications? When banks are cheated, the whole country suffers. The banks hold our money, and if they lend it to the likes of Manafort on false pretenses, they may fail and we may never get our money back. That’s what you call “good”?

Was James Traficant, a Democratic representative from Ohio, “good” when he was convicted for cheating on his taxes and served seven years in federal prison? How about Harry Claiborne, a federal judge appointed by President Carter, impeached for tax evasion, convicted, and sent to prison? Was he “good” too in your view?

You think of people as “good” solely on the basis of whether they support you, regardless of the crimes they committed, are committing, and will commit.

As you continue your attempt to subvert democracy, rational and civic-minded people will oppose you and your supporters in Congress. The voters that install a Congress with the backbone to fight you when you flaunt the rule of law are the people who truly deserve to be called good.

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger