A monarchy or a republic?
A woman once asked Benjamin Franklin if the founders had given us a monarchy or a republic. Franklin answered, “A republic if you can keep it.”
We very nearly lost it on January 6, 2021, when Americans invaded the US Capitol Building to stop the constitutionally mandated certification of the presidential election by the US Senate. Without it, the inauguration of our next president, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., could not occur.
Let’s stop evading the reckoning we clearly need with a thoughtful, careful examination of what happened on January 6th, 2021 — at the Capitol, the White House, and anywhere else decisions were made or delayed as the insurrection unfolded.
Last week, the House commenced what will likely be months of testimony about the events of January 6th.
The Constitutional reality we cannot avoid any longer
The failed coup stalled this certification process, as House members and Senators were hunted within the halls of our democracy. The Vice President was directly threatened as guards moved him to safer quarters. A rioter impudently carted Speaker Pelosi’s podium across the Capitol Rotunda. The lawlessness even resulted in destroying the large wooden sign hanging over her office entry.
Speaker Pelosi and her staff waited anxiously under the speaker’s massive conference table as marauders outside the room sought to capture her.
Countless stories highlighted the terror and uncertainty as Trump egged on thousands of rioters to stop the constitutional processes. Outside the Capitol, a makeshift gallows with noose appeared on the scene, apparently intended for Pence. I’m no Pence fan, but that gave me a chill thinking about our societal appetite for lynching, as evidenced across our centuries. We even have a museum dedicated to our ugly practice of lynching people of color — it chronicles this unholy legacy of ours. The tiny hairs on my neck stood up that day. That’s no way to get politicians out of office!
Somewhat miraculously, the Senate reconvened to complete its duty and certify the election that same evening.
As an attorney, I am deeply disturbed by these events, even six months later. They left a wound in my heart that still feels as fresh as that terrible day. A loser president encouraged upset, rowdy, racist, white people into stopping what their own constitution required. The insurrectionists told the officers guarding the elected officials and the Capitol building that “Trump sent us to stop the steal.”
Treachery
Astonishingly, the U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have formed an independent commission to investigate the insurrection. The sheer audacity of such a move only further underscores how badly the GOP wants to sweep this event under the rug. Had the insurrectionists been successful in permanently halting the senatorial certification of the presidential election, the USA would have been in a constitutional crisis and on the brink of an overthrow.
The seriousness of this insurrection cannot be overstated.
It’s mind-boggling that while the GOP alleges the presidential election was fraudulent, they maintain this position without a shred of evidence. Now they have an opportunity to review a tremendous amount of evidence in formal hearings about the attempted overthrow of our government, and they refuse.
The GOP does not challenge down-ballot Republican victories in 2020. They only challenge the presidential category. How can that section of the same ballot be fraudulent but the other sections where candidates won are valid? This argument is utterly illogical. Thankfully the voting machine companies are suing the heck out of those making these allegations. Note that those crying, “Fraud!” have since stopped talking about a fraudulent election now that their own money is on the line.
In reality, voters split their tickets. They voted for Biden but also voted for Republicans. Voters did this because Trump is the worst president in American history. We impeached him twice in one term! He got fired! We fired Trump because we were disgusted with his corrupt ideology, amidst countless additional character flaws.
Jesus turned the tables out of disgust in the temple
We must turn the tables during these hearings in the people’s house. Jesus drove the money changers, the animals for sacrifice, and the “transactional” demeanor going on at a place of worship and reverence.
The U.S. Capitol is not a place of worship, but it should be treated with reverence as a place symbolizing our democracy and the blessings of liberty.
Anyone who does not want to get to the bottom of what happened — McCarthy, Jordan, McConnell, Graham, Manchin, Fischer, and I could go on — fail to honor the oath they took to uphold the U.S. Constitution. I don’t care what party they belong to — I want truth, transparency, and accountability. We all must!
Guess what happens to the American people if we do not demand truth-finding and accountability? We become the sacrificial animals, the ones driven out of our own government because it has become so corrupt that our civil rights are slaughtered in the bargain. The people in power prove daily that they will do anything to avoid the truth and avoid holding accountable those responsible for the near overthrow of our democracy. Representatives Schiff (D-Cal.) and Cheney (R-Wyo.) have pledged to subpoena anyone necessary to get to the truth, including members of Congress, Trump, and staffers at the White House.
We need to summon Trump to testify as to everything he said and did surrounding January 6th (and before and after). He’ll likely perjure himself, I’m sure, but let’s get it on the record, so we can try him for perjury if nothing else. If he invokes the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, we’ll go from that “smoking gun” to discover the truth.
I’m angry that the GOP is not taking the insurrection seriously, and many Americans are angry, too. Now is the time for us to act. We must call our representatives, especially moderate Republicans, and we must demand full fact-finding hearings. Send them a note right now! Click here to get your elected officials’ contact info, including social media handles.
Blessings on your journey as a faith-based advocate for justice! +
