Letter to the Senate -- Environmental Organizations Support Convicting Former President Trump

Clean Water Action • Defenders of Wildlife • Earthjustice • Friends of the Earth U.S. Greenpeace US • League of Conservation Voters • National Wildlife Federation • Natural
Resources Defense Council • Sierra Club • The Wilderness Society • Union of Concerned Scientists

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February 8, 2021

United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Re: Environmental Organizations Support Convicting Former President Trump

Dear Senator,

The undersigned environmental groups write today on behalf of our millions of members and supporters to express our support for the Senate to convict former President Trump for inciting last month’s white supremacist violent insurrection at the United States Capitol.

Former President Trump broke the centuries-long precedent of peaceful transfer of power in our nation, encouraging and inciting the deadly mob on January 6 and perpetuating the unfounded and harmful claims about the 2020 election that inspired their actions. The riot caused multiple deaths and directly threatened our democratic process, and the president responded with inaction followed by further defense of the violent behavior.

Faced with indisputable evidence, it is the duty of the Senate to convict former President Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection. The House recognized the seriousness of these offenses by voting to impeach President Trump with bipartisan support. That this conduct occurred at the end of the president’s term cannot be used to evade accountability; constitutional scholars and precedent reaffirm that leaving office does not nullify Congress’s impeachment authority. Senators using this tenuous argument to avoid fulfilling their constitutional obligations serve only to embolden future elected officials to use their final days in office to subvert election results and incite violence upon the government.

Holding elected officials accountable for the entirety of their term and ensuring our elections remain free and fair are essential for the preservation of our democracy. And the health of our democracy and environment are inextricably linked. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to convict former President Trump for his incitement of insurrection.

Sincerely,