Martin has given permission for BJ folks to use some or all of this as you contact your elected officials.
Regarding the events of Wednesday, I would request that the appropriate committee investigate any members of the House that publicly promoted the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, and refer them to the Department of Justice for charges of seditious conspiracy.
That lie is the obvious incitement for the insurrection attempt on Wednesday, and it’s been proven by multiple federal courts to be a lie. It a lie that is particularly dangerous because it asserts that a fundamental democratic principle was violated and needs to be remedied, and asserts it at a time when the only remaining remedy is violence. Without the lie from elected officials, the motive for violence doesn’t exist.
We have to recognize that our country was founded through a popular uprising against a perceived injustice. Other nations have deposed dictators through violent uprisings. When due process is exhausted and an injustice remains, violence is not an uncommon act, and if we had a leader who refused to cede power peacefully, I can’t say I wouldn’t participate in such an uprising. I don’t know, it’s a scenario where I never thought I would have to face that decision, and I hope I don’t. As such, I’m saddened that so many of the people who attacked the Capitol appear to have been deceived by elected officials and some members of the media. Disbelieving statements of fact by the President or a Senator or a Congressperson should not be instrumental to making a good judgement. I also believe that accountability should flow upward and mercy should flow down. The impetus for this event were lies told by countless people in authority from the President to members of Congress to members of the media, all told with the express intent of overturning an election.
While I believe the people who attacked the Capitol certainly need to be held accountable for their actions, I would hope they are shown a certain degree of mercy in their sentencing. Undeserving of such mercy are the individuals of authority who used their platform to lie to the public and suggest that the election was stolen. They have blood on their hands and seemingly have no regrets for their actions. I suspect that expulsion from the chamber is not a viable option given the vote requirement needed, but neither is it sufficient given the magnitude of the offense.
The 14th amendment states that No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
While members of Congress didn’t physically attack the building, they gave those who did something critical – a motive. Without that I very much doubt that it would have happened. Trump is certainly the primary offender here, but he had many accomplices, and we cannot afford to have such individuals anywhere in government. I would hope that the Department of Justice pursues similar charges against members of the media and the presidents legal team that perpetuated those same lies publicly.