I’m relatively new to Maine. We moved here in 2021, and have been delighted with our
home, our community and people’s openness to us as people from away. So, I am truly
befuddled, and a little disgusted, by the rush to judgment directed at Sen. George Mitchell. I
have no idea what he may or may not be guilty of, but why are people so quick to act as
judge, jury and executioner?

What do I know of George Mitchell? He has lived a life of service, contributing greatly to
our community, our state, our country and to international peace efforts. I grew up in the
D.C. area, where I remember, as a young person, his name was often in the news,
associated with international peace efforts.

Do I know what his connection with the Epstein mess is? No. And neither does anyone else. We
have this thing called the rule of law in this country, that while it is routinely being ignored at the highest levels of our government, let us not fall prey to this same tearing apart of our people and our democracy. It seems a great irony that while the person in the White House gets away with everything we can’t seem to give this public servant the benefit of a full vetting before we throw him under the bus of history.

Barbara Bowling
Oakland