Jennifer Kiggans

Illegal demonstration

Re “Air Force detains officer who demonstrated in DC” (A2, July 5): U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Watson called for the president and vice president to be impeached, convicted and removed from office during a so-called news conference on the Capitol steps organized by the Removal Coalition, whose mission according to its website is “to constitutionally remove the illegal Trump administration from power, NOW.”

Watson’s conduct in uniform undermines discipline, erodes trust in the chain of command, and encourages others to question lawful authority based on nothing but personal political animosity. His behavior should be absolutely unacceptable to anyone who’s ever worn the uniform, myself included.

It’s illegal to demonstrate on the Capitol steps unless accompanied by a member of Congress. U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, escorted Watson to the Capitol grounds most likely knowing he was violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and then just left him there unaccompanied knowing full well he would be arrested by the Capitol Police.

Green is known for political theater, but this latest example takes the cake. It could result in Watson’s dismissal from the service, according to Stars and Stripes. In addition, he could lose his security clearance, get up to a year in prison and have to forfeit pay — all for nothing.

Joe Naneville, Windsor

Save mall building

Re “MacArthur Center’s closing is a loss for Norfolk” (Other Views, July 1): I was not a mall rat, but I support all of guest columnist Clair Berube’s reasons for saving MacArthur Center. Especially galling is the money the city will spend razing a perfectly good complex and putting up a new structure in its place.

Berube dances around but does not state why Hampton Roads is so ready to write off a mall in downtown Norfolk: The city is majority Black. Were Norfolk predominantly white, like Virginia Beach, Norfolk would move heaven and earth to help MacArthur Center. Please do whatever is necessary to formulate a plan and save at least the structure of this mall.

Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Virginia Beach

Results?

Clear Path Action, a Republican-affiliated Super-PAC, is currently sponsoring television spots highlighting U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R- 2nd District. Clear Path Action claims to champion clean energy by only supporting Republican lawmakers. This appears to be some sort of bait and switch. In these bait-and-switch ads Kiggans is portrayed as a straight-talking doer interested in results.

In reality, Kiggans refuses to speak or meet with her constituents. Input submitted via her official website goes unacknowledged and without response. The congresswoman gives the clear impression of putting party over people. This seems evident when looking at Kiggans’ record.

Kiggans supported the GOP reconciliation bill that cost an estimated 260,000 Virginians their health insurance while cutting SNAP benefits from 6,000 needy constituents in her district. Further, this bill imposed restrictions on the ability of the states to fund Medicaid resulting in millions of working poor losing coverage.

Additionally, Kiggans has supported administration actions that have contributed to things being unaffordable for residents of her district. This includes tariffs, a war of choice with Iran and the extreme costs of mass deportations. She refuses to speak out in opposition to administration efforts to erase history, to target their opponents with the Department of Justice, to make it difficult for Americans to vote by mail and to suppress the freedom of speech. Where are the results that the voters of Kiggans’ district actually want?

Tom Banford, Chesapeake