Failure to Defend Congress

 

(Submitted to the Wisconsin State Journal letters to the editor 14 Jan 2021)

Those who attacked the Capitol on January 6th intended to prevent Congress from certifying a fair election. The President has been impeached by the House and faces conviction in the Senate for inciting that insurrection. Perhaps he should face criminal charges for his failure to defend Congress.

 

Trump's apparent failure to act might be punishable as treason with a minimum sentence of 5 years. Consider that, at 2:24 p.m. on the 6th, Trump tweeted condemnation of the Vice President. Thus, an hour after the first police officers were overrun on the Capitol grounds and with violent individuals inside the building closing in on legislators, Trump was apparently able to communicate but had failed to publicly condemn the attack and order federal forces to assist Capitol police.

 

Our President serves the people and is not a king. If the evidence shows that Trump knowingly failed to defend the Capitol, and thereby gave aid and comfort to those attempting to overwhelm the legislative branch, then he should face criminal charges. For two centuries the United States has been a republic, in which no man is above the law. We must deter any future president who might want to make himself a king.