I want to second letter writer Alan Kanner’s recent and excellent suggestion that we support former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz for president [“Why I am donating to Matt Gaetz,” Gazette, Dec. 30]. The recently released report of the House Ethics Panel clinches the matter for me. A proper successor to Donald Trump must have a certified record of sexual and other misconduct, as well a penchant for lying and a rare gift for sowing chaos in the nation’s institutions. We now have proof that Gaetz checks each of these boxes.

True, unlike Trump, Gaetz has not (yet) been convicted for any of his documented misdeeds, but the report indicates he is likely to have broken numerous laws, so we can hope that his campaign will be able to advertise him as “the nation’s second convicted felon-President,” (Trump of course being the trailblazer on that score). And it also true that neither Gaetz nor any other mere mortal could likely match Trump’s staggering total of 30,573 attested lies, exaggerations and misstatements in just four years. But I am willing to bet that he will give it a good run. Donald Trump wanted Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. I predict he will support Gaetz for president in 2028, and we should all get that train rolling right now.

John Connolly

Haydenville