Letter to Members of Congress regarding President Trump

Commentary

January 13, 2021

Dear House Speaker Pelosi, Senator Schumer, and Members of Congress,

We, as seriously concerned mental health professionals, support your effort to immediately remove the President of the United States from office and strongly recommend he undergo a comprehensive mental status examination by a nonpartisan mental health professional. This would be to assess whether or not he poses imminent threat of danger to others, directly or indirectly, given his demonstrated capacity to influence others while in his position of power. The recent rampant chaos, destruction and violence, in an attempt to seize control of the Capitol, was carried out by individuals incited by his fury, false beliefs, and encouragement. Observation alone of the President's actions is insufficient to determine meaning, motivation, and, most importantly, to predict risk for the possibility of repetition of dangerous actions and potentially more serious consequences, which could pose a greater threat to the safety of the people of the United States. By having his current mental state, along with his actions, carefully evaluated, the examiner will be able to offer an accurate understanding and assessment of the predictability and prognostic indicators of an imminent threat to others. Time is of the essence. What occurred at the Capitol is sufficient justification to have him evaluated for the protection of the nation and world.

We the undersigned sincerely hope you give our recommendation utmost consideration.

Sincerely,
Ellen T. Luepker, MSW, LP, LICSW, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Theresa Albini, MSW, LCSW, BCD, Chicago, Illinois
Bill Etnyre, PhD, LICSW, Memphis,Tennessee
Estelle Krumholz, LCSW, CEAP, LLC, Florham Park, New Jersey
Janice R. Gagerman, Ph.D, LCSW, Professor Emerita of Social Work, California State University, Sacramento
Penny Rosen, MSW, LCSW-R, BCD-P, New York, New York
Joan Brady, LCSW, Brooklyn, New York
Terrie Baker, MS, MSW, LCSW, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Brian Wheeler, LICSW, Washington, DC
Cathy Duke, LPC, Atlanta, Georgia
Aleda Richter West, LCSW, Phoenix, Arizona
Catherine Balletto LISW, Northampton, Massachusetts
Anne Marie Dooley, LCSW-R, BCD, New York, New York
Debra Abrams LICSW, Brookline, Massachusetts
Marjorie Scheer, MSW, LCSW, Durham, North Carolina
Jeff Longhofer, PhD, Highland Park, New Jersey
Brian Ngo-Smith, MSW, LCSW, BCD-P, FABP, Denver, Colorado
Elizabeth Herman McKamy, MSW, Prairie Village, Kansas
Elissa Murphy, PhD, LCSW, Durham, NC
Paula J. Moreci, MSW, LCSW, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Danita Hall MSW, LCSW-R, New York, New York
Carol Thea, LCSW, New York, NY
Susan K. Schultz, PhD, LICSW, LP, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Susan S. Levine, LCSW, BCD, Ardmore, PA
Lynn Anderson De Mott, LICSW, Omaha, Nebraska
Phyllis Glass, LCSW, Atlanta, Georgia
Ashley Leeds, MSW, Closter, New Jersey
Prudence Emery, LCSW, Glen Head, NY
Amy Levin, MSW, LCSW, Mishawaka, IN
H. Mari Grande, LCSW-R, New York, NY
Susan Horn, PsyD, LCSW, BCD-P, Los Angeles, CA
David M Lichtman LMSW, Monsey, New York
Sheila Felberbaum, LCSW, BCD, Hauppauge, NY
Louis Pansulla MSW, LCSW-R, Brooklyn, NY
Leslie F. Smith, LCSW-C, Silver Spring, Maryland
Susan Goldman LCSW, Teaneck, New Jersey
Barbara Mezo LCSW, Durham, NC
Lois Nachamie, LCSW-R, BCD, Wilmington, Delaware
Marilyn Stickle, LCSW, BCD, McLean, VA
Joan Herczeg, MSW, Highland Park, Illinois
Rae English, MA, MSW, LMSW, Saint Louis, Missouri
Louis Straker, MSW, LCSW-C, Columbia, MD
Carol Ganzer, PhD, LCSW, Chicago, Illinois
Leslie Cardell, LCSW-R, New York, NY
Wendy J Panken LCSW, New York, New York
Florence Rowe, MSW, LCSW, BCD-P, New York, NY
Joanne Ceraso, LP Candidate, New York, New York
Susan S. Fairbanks, LCSW, Austin Tx.
Naomi Schlesinger, MSW, LCSW, Smithtown, NY
May Bloomer Hoyt, LCSW, Guilford, Connecticut
Louise R Presley, LCSW, PhD, Houston, Texas
Doug Hansen, MSW, ACSW, BCD, Port Ludlow, Washington
Lucie Grosvenor, LCSW, Brooklyn, NY
Jon St. Peter, LCSW, Camden, Maine
Sondra Shehab, LCSW, BCD-P, Norman, Oklahoma
Ingeborg Oppenheimer,LCSW, BCD, Yonkers, New York
Jennifer Bulow, LCSW, PhD, Los Angeles, CA
Lynn Rosenfield, PhD, LCSW, Los Angeles, CA
Leslie Cedar, LCSW, Coconut Creek, Florida
Lorna Goldberg, LCSW, Englewood, NJ
Kelli Longshore, LCSW-C, Annapolis, Maryland
Roger A. Miller, Ph.D., LCSW, BCD, Asheville, North Carolina
Judith Mishkin Miller, LCSW, BCD, Ashevlle, North Carolina
Donna C Bredrup, DSW, LCPC, Downers Grove, IL
Lana M. Ackaway, LCSW-R, CASAC, New York, New York
Donna J. Harris, MA, MSW, LCSW, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Anne M Coleman, LCSW, Chapel Hill, NC
Carolyn Gruber, PhD, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Barbara Manalis, MSW, LCSW, Laguna Beach, California
Kathleen S. O'Connor, LICSW, LIMHP, Omaha, Nebraska
Judy Levitz, PhD, New York, NY