111 Republican former officers endorse Harris, say Trump is 'unfit to serve'

Greater than 100 Republican former lawmakers and officers endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in a letter, whereas warning that their very own social gathering’s candidate, former President Donald Trump, is “unfit to serve once more.”

In the letter, shared by the Harris marketing campaign Wednesday, 111 former nationwide safety and international coverage officers stated that regardless of their disagreements with the vice chairman’s insurance policies, “we imagine that she possesses the important qualities to function President and Donald Trump doesn’t.”

They decried Trump for sowing “every day chaos in authorities” throughout his first time period in workplace, arguing that he put his private pursuits earlier than the nation’s and “violated his oath of workplace” by inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.

The group, which incorporates former Trump administration officers in addition to officers who served underneath former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, additionally warned of Trump’s “susceptibility to flattery” by international leaders.

“He’s unfit to serve once more as President, or certainly in any workplace of public belief,” they stated within the letter, which The New York Occasions first reported earlier Wednesday.

The signatories embody former CIA and FBI director William Webster, former director of nationwide intelligence John Negroponte, and former U.S. commerce representatives Carla Hills and Robert Zoellick.

They acknowledged many Republicans’ issues about Harris and choice for Trump. “However any potential issues pale compared to Donald Trump’s demonstrated chaotic and unethical conduct and disrespect for our Republic’s time-tested rules of constitutional governance,” they argued.

“His unpredictable nature will not be the negotiating advantage he extols. On the contrary, in issues of nationwide safety, his demeanor invitations equally erratic conduct from our adversaries, which irresponsibly threatens reckless and harmful international penalties.”

Eight former members of Congress additionally endorsed the Democratic ticket of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz within the letter.

Wednesday’s letter marks the most recent addition of GOP help for Harris, who has sought to enchantment to extra average voters and conservatives who could also be disillusioned with Trump.

Her marketing campaign in August launched “Republicans for Harris,” touting endorsements from greater than two dozen ex-Trump officers and different GOP members.

In early September, Harris gained the help of almost 90 corporate leaders, together with former 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch, Snap Chairman Michael Lynton and Yelp co-founder Jeremy Stoppelman.

Dick Cheney, the vice chairman to George W. Bush, introduced the identical month that he would vote for Harris. His daughter, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, is one among Trump’s loudest conservative critics.

In the meantime, Trump’s former vice chairman, Mike Pence, reaffirmed Tuesday that he wouldn’t endorse any presidential candidate within the 2024 election.

Pence particularly referenced the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump pressured his then-vice president to reject the lawful Electoral School outcomes exhibiting President Joe Biden gained the 2020 election. After Pence rebuffed Trump, a mob of the then-president’s supporters stormed the Capitol and derailed the election certification.

Wednesday’s letter included a quote from Pence: “Anybody who places himself over the Structure ought to by no means be President of the US.”