Opinion: How Republicans treat Michael Flynn’s guilty plea is an important test of American democracy

To the editor: The guilty plea by Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security advisor, brings us to an important crossroads in the American experiment. (“Former national security advisor Flynn pleads guilty, confirms cooperation with special counsel,” Dec. 1)

We soon will discover whether or not our beleaguered democracy and its tired and battered mechanisms of justice will endure, or if the voices of hypernationalism will once again shout down the truth and skillfully usher the nation another step closer to a dark new reality of strong-man rule.

As the story continues to unfold, the reaction of Republican lawmakers will give us the first signal. Will they continue to pander for short-term gain, or will they place the very survival of our democracy above all other political concerns? More than ever, we all count on the integrity and courage of at least a few good women and men to lead the way through this very dark storm.

Lawrence Lobert, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.

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