LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Engel is innocent

Posted

To the editor:

(re: “Engel needs to prove innocence,” Oct. 4)

Letters to the editor should be an open forum for exchange of ideas and opinion where many sides of an issue can be explored.

However, there is a distinction between opinion and outright slander. Opinion is motivated by a search for truth. Slander is provocative, accusatory and baseless.

Such is the letter of Mr. Alvin Gordon attacking U.S. Rep. Elliot Engel in your Oct. 4 issue. Mr. Engel is a respected U.S. Congressman without any suspicion of malfeasance in office.

Where is there any proof of evidence of such malfeasance on Mr. Engel’s part in Mr. Gordon’s letter?

This most fact-free, hate-driven, paranoid screed was not fit to appear on the printed page. You compound the error of giving this attack public exposure with your heading the letter, “Engel needs to prove innocence.”

The burden of proof rests with the accuser. Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence?

Philip Schweitzer

Philip Schweitzer

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