Letters: Readers discuss politicized justice, MLB’s inaction and paying Chick-fil-A

Credibility’s sake

I am among the U.S. Department of Justice alumni who signed Sunday’s statement asking Attorney General William Barr to resign. (Jan. 17, 8A, “1,100 former justice lawyers blast Barr”) Why? Because history says that a democracy will not survive unless the public trusts that federal prosecutors and judges at least will be impartial.

Why would defendants and their counsel trust prosecutors when agreements or negotiations are subject to the politics of a department official? Why would judges credit prosecutors when their word might not be good for two days? Judges must weigh credibility so that judgments will do justice.

I served for 18 years during Republican and Democratic administrations. I could do my job because I believed our office would be curbed by the department if necessary, but not for political goals or needs. I never had reason to doubt that belief.

Attorneys general are political appointees. Can they be expected to stay out of politics in prosecutions? They always have, until now. Attorneys general may step into any criminal case prosecuted by a U.S. attorney’s office. But that authority was not intended for use as a political bludgeon. Attorneys general have taken care not to use it so, until now.

Barr probably will not resign, but he should.

- Alleen VanBebber, Leawood

Politicized?

I don’t recall 1,100 former federal prosecutors and Justice Department officials calling on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to resign after she met with former President Bill Clinton on her plane at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on June 27, 2016. Shortly thereafter, FBI Director James Comey exonerated Hillary Clinton of criminal wrongdoing for her handling of classified email.

I suppose there is no appearance of impropriety when a Democratic administration’s attorney general rules in favor of a former president’s wife after a meeting. But God help Republican Attorney General Bill Barr for being caught in a tweeting crossfire from President Donald Trump regarding his comments on the sentencing of Roger Stone.

- Michael J. Kalny, Shawnee

Poor example

Dear Major League Baseball,

I wish to go on record to say how poorly I think you have handled the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing case. Basically, the Astros thumbed their noses at you and accepted no responsibility. This is not the way we teach our kids how to behave, so why are you letting the Astros get away with their statements?

I realize you have already punished them, but after that news conference you should have called them out and demanded that they apologize. If they continue to act this way, I believe you should take away their World Series championship. They do this in college sports, so why not in this case?

The Astros are basically saying that they did nothing wrong and that they would do it again. What kind of message are you sending the youth of America?

If you want to ever be a premier sport again, you better start punishing teams for what they do. Otherwise, people will not care about your game. I believe this is already happening because of your lack of action.

- Mitch Gloor, Liberty

Chick-fil-A clarity

Progressives and gays are not attacking conservatives or Chick-fil-A for its owners’ personal beliefs. That is far removed from the truth. Progressives are alerting people who do business with Chick-fil-A that a percentage of the money the restaurant chain earns is contributed to organizations that actively lobby legislators to suppress, squelch or criminalize people’s freedoms and rightful privileges.

I don’t know many progressives or gays who are asking their legislators to eliminate the civil liberties of conservatives. On the other hand, conservatives spend billions of dollars in an effort to eliminate the civil liberties of those of us who do not share their belief system.

Now, please tell me again who is being attacked or intolerant of whom.

- Dennis Nicely, Overland Park

Not just one

We broke from England in large part so we could have freedom of religion, no longer forced to be members of the Church of England.

Some Kansas senators say they must prevent all abortions because of their religious beliefs. This is so important they will deny Medicaid to Kansas women who are giving birth.

Most of us have religious beliefs. But most of us are not Catholic, so why are we making Catholic laws? My King James Bible does not condemn abortion. We all know it says, “Do not kill,” but we also know there is a whole lot of killing in that Bible.

There are many religions in Kansas. Kansas senators must not impose Catholic beliefs on everyone.

- Elizabeth Cook, Shawnee

This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 5:00 AM.