Opinion columnist David Leonhardt in The New York Times (“The sense of justice that we are losing,” April 30) praises post-Watergate investigations where, after that shameful time, our nation ended the Department of Justice as Richard Nixon perceived it: an agency to benefit himself and his friends and punish his enemies.

Under each succeeding administration the laws have independently ensured that investigations were carried through, independent of the executive branch. Rules changed for FBI investigations. Presidents may not weaponize the department. There are now strict protocols for communications between a president and the Justice Department. But then we got a president who turns the rule of law on its head, viewing the department as just another player in a partisan battle.

Broad policy communications are good, but what is not legal is for the president to have any involvement with criminal prosecutions. Our nation’s Justice Department must no longer be a sword for the executive chief. We now allow uncomfortable investigations to proceed. This president has violated that law, with, for example, demands for loyalty from former FBI Director James Comey, for the criminalization of Hillary Clinton and for acceptance of the obstruction of the legal process by former Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Our nation needs a strong response from Republican defenders of law and order. Where is our Sen. Susan Collins, itemized above as a Republican leader, yet whose voice is absent, among those who have failed to summon the courage, while their obligation is to act to defend our system of justice.

Speak out, Senator!

Anne Vaughan

Berwick