I don’t understand the concerns expressed by the Secret Service, former President George Bush and the Clinton administration concerning the possibility that the agents appointed to protect the president may be compelled to testify to crimes they saw the president commit (Main news, April 23).
After sifting through all of the rhetoric, their collective argument seems to be that the president won’t want his bodyguards too close to him if there is a chance they might act like law officers when he does something illegal. This would in turn place the president at risk if his bodyguards have to keep their distance from him so he can feel unhindered by their presence.
The fact is that Secret Service agents are sworn officers of the law, sworn to uphold the same Constitution that President Clinton is sworn to protect. And wouldn’t it be a shame if the president found himself contained by their presence and their function?
I have a novel idea that might put Mr. Clinton’s worries to rest. How about if he just obeys the law when in close proximity to law officers–just like the rest of us? Is that too much to ask of our “leader?”
