A recent letter to the editor (“Rob Portman will be remembered for what he didn’t do,” July 20) contained a number of misstatements and inaccuracies, including that I was silent over four years ago following the 2020 election. I write to set the record straight.
First, contrary to what the letter says, I spoke out clearly and consistently regarding the 2020 election results, stating that the outcome should be considered legitimate. In fact, I was one of the very first Republican senators to do so.
Second, I condemned the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol that very same night, with a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and did so repeatedly in public comments afterwards. I was one of only a handful of GOP senators who supported the effort to establish a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attacks.
Third, I clearly and publicly stated my reasons for opposing the conviction of then-former President Donald Trump in 2021. The Constitution clearly reserves impeachment and the removal of a president who has been duly elected for rare instances. Further, the Constitution states that impeachment is for “removal from office,” not for punishing a former president. This has never occurred, and if a Congress of one party were to begin convicting former presidents of another party, impeachment would become a dangerous partisan tool used to further divide our already polarized political system, making it even more dysfunctional.
In my 30 years of public service, I took my oath seriously and, along with a hardworking and caring team, did all I could to help those I had the honor to represent.
For me, this meant focusing on constituent service and working with both sides of the aisle to pass legislation to help our area and the country. I don’t think there is another member of Congress who can say that over 200 of their bills were signed into law, in my case under Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Trump, ranging from finally replacing the Brent Spence Bridge, to pushing back on the opioid epidemic, to international tax reform to bring jobs and investment back to Ohio and the country.
My biggest concern today is the partisanship and division that has led to members of Congress not looking for common ground to solve the serious problems we face.
Rob Portman is an attorney and politician who served as a United States senator from Ohio from 2011 to 2023.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rob Portman: I took my oath seriously and always tried to do what’s right | Opinion
Reporting by Rob Portman / Cincinnati Enquirer
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