Letter to the Editor-Reader Addresses Oath of Office

The subject I am bringing to the table is “why do the American people allow their representatives to break their oath of office (a federal crime) and not hold them accountable?

This should be a non-partisan subject simply due to the fact this has been going on for many decades and both parties are guilty according to the law.

I have myself watched a slow and steady deterioration of personal freedom going on 50 years and the accumulation is IMHO [in my humble opinion] about to reach a tipping point well it seriously has where those hard-fought rights become meaningless.

The scales could be tipped back somewhat if the public had awareness that the oath has teeth and voiced expectation that it be taken seriously. Just look at what our governor has done in the past six months, taken freedoms, in again IMHO, violated federal law and the laws of the state of Michigan under the color of law.

Article XI of the Michigan Constitution provides that State officers must take an oath or affirmation before entering office. Most people know this already. But what many don't know is that before these officers can even take the oath, and before they can enter their duties of office, they are supposed to file a statement with the Secretary of State's office. This process is supposed to ensure that when they perform their official duties, in their official capacities as officers of the state, they are bound to the provisions of the oath they swear. It is also supposed to ensure that when they perform their official duties without first having sworn the oath, which they are then personally liable and open to prosecution for any actions they take outside their official capacity.

MCL 15.151, § 1 Oath of public officers and MCL15.151 Constitutional oath of office; employees and persons in service of state. Sec. 1, All persons now employed must take the oath.

Simply put if you are employed by a governmental entity you take an oath. If not, your office is vacant regardless of what you do. If it is vacant you do not get paid and you are in violation of the law and can be prosecuted.

Thomas Dunn

Clare