As we approach the dark anniversary of the infamous January 6 Trumpist insurrection at the Capitol, demands that not only the several hundred seditious rioters but especially the mentally unstable con man that sent them there be brought to justice. From PBS News Hour:
"Ahead of the first anniversary of a riot that resulted in five deaths and injured 140 law enforcement officers, Sandra Garza told “PBS NewsHour” that she demands justice for Sicknick, who suffered two strokes hours after rioters sprayed him with a chemical substance. Sicknick died the next day, at the age of 42, of what a medical examiner said were natural causes.
'I hold Donald Trump 100 percent responsible for what happened on January 6 and all of the people that have enabled him, enabled him that day, and continue to enable him now,' said Garza, who was Sicknick’s girlfriend for 11 years."
And, from Eugene Robinson:
"The first week of 2021 brought an unprecedented rupture in the democratic process that Americans have taken for granted since the election of John Adams in 1796. A sitting president, Donald Trump, was trying desperately to remain in office despite his defeat in a free and fair election. He summoned a mob to Washington as an intimidating show of force, and that violent mob — whipped into a frenzy by Trump and his cronies — stormed the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying Trump’s loss. [snip]
We need to know everything that is knowable about these events. And those who inspired, organized and committed the insurrection need to be brought to justice."
And lastly, from Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell:
"What we want — indeed, what we demand for ourselves and our fellow officers — is accountability for the events of Jan. 6. We are grateful to the Justice Department for undertaking scores of criminal prosecutions of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol and inflicted injuries on numerous law enforcement officers. [snip]
It will not be enough to identify and punish only those who physically attacked the Capitol and tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. The American people deserve to know who played any role in planning or financing the events that led to the attack, who failed to take timely action to warn of and prepare for the impending violence, and who failed or refused to send timely reinforcements to defend the Capitol and come to the aid of the officers bearing the brunt of the attack. That’s why it’s critical for the select committee to have unimpeded access to all the information it requires to develop a comprehensive factual record, and to produce a definitive investigative report."
The House Committee investigating January 6 will be holding public sessions in the near future, and will have a trove of evidence collected, physical and testimony of eye witnesses. Criminal acts referred by them must be prosecuted by Merrick Garland's Justice Department, regardless of the person's past or present position. If they won't, or balk at acting, "equal justice under the law" will be an empty phrase.
(photo: Dear Leader directing his failed coup. AP)
