Dear John,

Last night, Bolivians voted to restore their democracy in the face of a coup last year applauded—and possibly engineered—by the bipartisan establishment in Washington.

Make no mistake: the election results in Bolivia score a resounding victory for democracy, worker rights, the environment, and indigenous rights, by restoring to power the party of the country’s first indigenous leader, Evo Morales.

Want to help support a victory for those same values here in San Francisco?

Last night’s victory in Bolivia, however, remains tenuous as long as Nancy Pelosi remains in the House. Why, you might ask?

Bolivia is one of three countries in Latin America that have endured coups under the presidency of Donald Trump, who promised early in his administration to give the CIA carte blanche.

This is the same agency that has intervened in dozens of Latin American countries over the past 70 years, including Bolivia in 1971. 

Did the agency do it again in Bolivia last year, as suggested by President Morales? We don’t know, largely because Nancy Pelosi has long served as an active agent of executive secrecy. As Speaker of the House, she has implemented a set of House rules that impede congressional oversight of intelligence and national security agencies. Even before holding the gavel, she helped suppress evidence of U.S. human rights abuses.

Put another way, Pelosi has committed to the oath of office—but failed to follow through.

It seems she either doesn’t recognize her own constitutional role as the leader of an independent branch of government charged with checking and balancing the executive branch, or instead has chosen to sadly abandon it.

Neither possibility is acceptable.

I’ve been critical of U.S. national security agencies for well over a decade, long before running to replace Pelosi. In fact, it was Pelosi’s abdication of congressional oversight over agencies like the CIA and NSA that prompted me to run for Congress to replace her.

Having done everything a private citizen can to hold accountable these lawless agencies, I’m running to represent our city in Washington to stop the next coup before it starts.

Thanks for standing with us—and for helping defend democracy!

In solidarity,
Shahid

PS -- Unable to contribute financially? You can still make a big difference in our campaign by signing up to volunteer. Our team hosts training sessions via videoconference every other day, and has trained nearly a thousand volunteers in the past few weeks on our new phone banking tools. We're eager to include you & your friends!

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Photo: APTOPIX Bolivia Elections, Associated Press

Shahid Buttar For Congress 1769 15TH STREET San Francisco, CA 94103