Letters to the Editor | Aug. 10, 2025

The Inquirer reports that “Five Philadelphia cops were fired for allegedly assaulting or threatening women. They’ve all been reinstated.” You have two men accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault (Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh, respectively) sitting on the highest court in the land. Our president is an adjudicated sexual abuser and has been notified by his own attorney general that his name appears in the files of child sexual abuse perpetrator Jeffrey Epstein. A convicted sex trafficker who groomed and procured children for Epstein is interviewed by the president’s attorneys, and miraculously, a few days later, gets transferred to a minimum security prison. What information about the president did she have that gave her leverage to get this upgrade, an unprecedented move for someone convicted of her level of crime? And then people have the nerve to ask about women harassed and assaulted, “But why didn’t she report it to the authorities?” Which of the above authorities would you want to report your harassment or assault to?

Linda Falcao, North Wales

I have been watching the situation regarding redistricting in Texas, and it seems to me that Donald Trump has committed a Hatch Act violation. The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, restricts federal employees from using their official positions to influence elections. Violations can result in removal from office, suspension, or other disciplinary measures. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), separate from the U.S. Department of Justice’s special counsel positions, investigates such violations, but has no criminal enforcement power. However, it can impose fines and other sanctions for violations.

Trump has stated out loud that he is trying to influence upcoming elections, so a violation has clearly occurred. Unfortunately, as Trump has near-total control of our government, I suspect there will be no punishment, but it would still be nice if OSC makes this ruling, so people know the president is meddling. I also hope people do not think this partisan gerrymandering thing is just a Texas issue. An unfair swing of just a few representatives from Texas (or any other state) directly impacts who controls the U.S. House of Representatives, and has huge implications for our federal government and our nation as we go forward.

Brita van Rossum, Malvern

During the coverage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) legislation, I read an article in The Inquirer in which the author claimed taxpayers were paying for 65% of all healthcare coverage. He considered Medicaid, Medicare, military, veterans, and local, state, and federal government workers — plus the taxes lost for the federal payroll tax exclusion for medical premiums. Since then, we have increased the percentage of the population enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, and veteran healthcare. The gorilla in the room is: Why don’t we just cover everyone? Answer: gutless politicians who feel they cannot legislate a proper system and educate the voting population. They fear losing their jobs. Easier to bamboozle the electorate. The average premium for family coverage is around $25,000 per year. One F-35 fighter jet costs approximately $82.5 million, with a per-hour flight cost of around $40,000. The current federal budget increased military defense and decreased health defense.

John Marquess, Haddon Heights

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 200 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.