Sadly, we accept that politicians lie. Yet, under oath, a lie can be a felony.

The other day in a radio interview, former independent counsel Ken Starr was asked to compare Bill Clinton to Donald Trump. One of the things he said in Trump’s defense was that, unlike Clinton, Trump at least has not lied under oath.

Surprisingly, there was no follow-up question. We know why. Trump’s lawyers know that he would perjure himself under oath. Yet he has taken the oath of office required by the Constitution. There is nothing in the oath about pledging to tell the truth.

Does that mean it is acceptable for the president to lie incessantly when he has sworn under oath that he will, to the best of his ability, “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States?”

If the oath of office means anything, then it would seem that Trump perjures himself almost daily.

Arthur Mersereau

Manoa

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