To the editor:

Elise Stefanik and her fellow cowardly Republican House members held a vote behind closed doors last night that left Rep. Liz Cheney in her leadership role. Amazingly, 61 members of the House voted to strip Rep. Cheney of her position. Were you one of them, Ms. Stefanik? Rep. Cheney was one of 10 members who voted to impeach our last leader. Apparently voting her conscience on the UNLAWFUL attempt to overturn the will of the people was considered an act against the party, for which she should be removed from her leadership role. She is the kind of moral leader the Republicans NEED!

A secret vote! Across the United States we have Sunshine Laws that require most governmental meetings, down to school and library board meetings, be open to the public. But not in the Republican caucus of the United States House of Representatives.

After the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, the voters who sent Ms. Stefanik to Washington deserve to know how she voted on this issue. Did she side with the Jim Jordans and Matt Gaetzes of this world and vote to remove Rep. Cheney from her office? It would be of great interest to her constituents to know, as she has been touted as a replacement for Rep. Cheney. Has she, once again, put her personal ambition above the moral vote? Or has she decided to uphold the rule of law and act in a morally correct manner?

Which is it, Ms. Stefanik? The right thing to do would be to let us know your thoughts on this matter.

Parmelee Tolkan

Lake Placid