The op-ed by William Lee criticizing President Trump’s use of military force against Venezuelan drug boats (“Vessel strikes by a president above the law,” Nov. 24) amounts to nothing more than his dislike for the president’s actions clothed in supposed legal analysis. The Supreme Court decision he criticizes was a six-judge majority opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts.
Roberts wrote: “The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts. That immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office.”
The decision applies to all presidents, not just President Trump. Mr. Lee does not address the question whether as commander in chief a president has the authority to use military force as Mr. Trump has done. In his mind, lawful actions by a sitting president put us in the position of Germany in the 1930s.
Bryan Dench
Portland
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