‘Ben Cline, Did You Know?’

April 7, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Ben Cline, did you know a grand jury determines whether there is cause to pursue felony charges. This jury does not convict an individual, only hands down an indictment. They must find reasonable cause to indict.

Ben Cline, did you know: “Harian Fiske Stone, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, stated ... a Grand Jury must be motivated by the highest sense of justice, for otherwise it might find indictments not supported by the evidence ...”

Ben Cline, did you know: your tweet concerning Donald J. Trump’s indictment is accurate, “.... it can happen to you ...”?

Ben Cline, as a lawyer, you should know: ordinary folk like myself pay the full price for breaking a serious law. For example, your former colleague, Bob Goodlatte, was served a speeding ticket in Lovesville in the spring of 2017 for going 69 mph in a 35 mph school zone. His lawyer wife had the “speeding” ticket amended to “defective speedometer.” Had that been me or my neighbor, our consequences would have been very harsh indeed. A school zone, jail time! And had a child been injured?

Ben Cline, did you know: that as my elected representative, my needs should be your focus. The gas prices have continued to climb, $3.50 a gallon, and Chevron made $36.5 billion and Exxon $56 billion profit! I suspect you drive on my tax dollars. Yes, I do pay taxes.

Ben Cline, did you know: my focus is on the high cost of groceries, utilities, and gas. That is finding the dollars to cover these costs. Do you really care? CARL F. PATTISON Lexington