1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to demand immediate legislative action to protect our national history. The recent Office of Legal Counsel opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional is a direct assault on the principle that presidential records belong to the American people, not the individual holding office.  History shows us the danger of allowing a President to treat official documents as personal property. From the habit of tearing records into pieces and disposal in plumbing to the retention of classified materials in private bathrooms, these actions signal a "mine, mine, mine" worldview that eviscerates government transparency. Without these records, it is impossible for citizens to evaluate policy choices, for journalists to investigate corruption, or for future generations to learn from our past. The Supreme Court confirmed in Nixon v. Administrator of General Services that Congress has the authority to regulate these materials. Yet, we now face an executive branch that claims it "need not further comply" with the law. This is a constitutional crisis that requires more than just court intervention. Congress must use every tool available—from passing clarified legislation that explicitly reinforces the Nixon precedent to utilizing the power of the purse to mandate preservation.  If the administration continues to ignore subpoenas and destroy the public’s property, you must be prepared to exercise the ultimate oversight of impeachment. We, the citizens of America, demand that you defend the rule of law. A President who is not accountable to the historical record is accountable to no one. Do not allow our nation's history to be irretrievably lost to the whims of one man.