In response to Gov. Scott’s cooperation with the Trump Administration by providing sensitive information about SNAP participants, I sent him the following letter:

As a Vermont resident and voter, I am shocked at your cooperation with the Trump Administration by sharing sensitive information about SNAP participants. This administration has consistently broken the law, defied the U.S. Constitution, and disrespected the traditions and dignity of both U.S. Citizens and legal visitors to the U.S. They have made it clear that they do not respect our laws, and have violently threatened lives of thousands of Americans — and that’s in just the first 7 months of this term.

You represent all Vermonters, and you have an obligation to stand up to corruption, and to protect your state from illegal and threatening behavior — by anyone. That includes the masked, anonymous terrorists carrying out illegal ICE attacks on Vermonters. It includes dishonest political hacks extorting information, which would be legitimately provided if they were acting legally and ethically.

We expect our governor to be able to recognize corruption, overreach, cruelty and fascism when they appear in whatever guise — in this case, in the pretense of legitimate government agencies.

In your own words, we are in real trouble because we cannot trust our national government. Are you willing to extend that distrust to our state government as well? This is not what you were elected to do. You need to take stock quickly and reverse your policy of appeasement, or you will recruit a huge majority of Vermonters to remove you from your political throne.

Please attend to this without delay; history will not look kindly on your failure to lead with integrity in times of crisis.

Tom Keefe

Cornwall