Dear Editor,

Why is it that current President Donald J. Trump continues his unprecedented, and futile, efforts to attempt to overturn the results of what has, unquestionably, proven to be a completely lawful, fair and democratic election that he lost quite decisively? Sadly, however, he continues to readily make baseless allegations of “widespread fraud” and that the election was somehow “rigged” with absolutely no substantiated proof to support his claims.

Such actions, which are reminiscent of the McCarthy era of the 1950s, by President Trump in his attempt to overturn a well-documented professional election, claims that he has somehow been the “victim of election fraud.” How is such considered even remotely plausible, when many of his contested areas showed strong support for down-ballot Republicans, as the only “fraudulent activity” was committed against him and him alone. Please.

To date, President Trump’s legal team has had no fewer than 40 legal challenges rejected by federal and state judges, leading the former Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christy, to remark that such “shenanigans” by the Trump team were “a national disgrace,” and Maryland’s Republican Gov.Larry Hogan to state that the president’s unwillingness to accept the “the will of the people” is making the United States look like a “banana republic.”

In addition, all properly submitted ballots as a result of the president’s unsubstantiated claims, have been recounted, and literally all results of the recent presidential election have been confirmed as valid, and former Vice President Joe Biden is without reasonable doubt, legitimately our president-elect at this time.

Also, the bizarre rhetoric of President Trump’s “personal attorney” former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani consistently alleges serious criminal allegations with absolutely no substantiation against those whom he considers to have been responsible for the president’s decisive electoral defeat.

At a recent press conference, Mr. Giuliani rambled on incoherently and made the event appear more as if it were a rather bizarre comedy routine. What an outrageously pathetic public spectacle, which was an embarrassment to the office of the president, as well as the dignity and decorum of our nation.

I also find it quite ironic that President Trump would accuse others of “cheating,” when essentially such behavior has been his modus operandi throughout his decades as a business tycoon as well as during his tenure in the White House. Recall that it has been well-documented that he has made more than 25,000 “false statements” to date while our nation’s chief executive, but we, the American people, are somehow expected to believe his charges are legitimate, and that all professionals involved in our hallowed electoral process are essentially “liars and criminals.” That makes us, as a nation, appear to be more of an autocracy and not the greatest democratic government and society in the history of the world.

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry