Hello —

The attack on the Capitol was an insurrection that interrupted, but ultimately did not stop, the peaceful transfer of power that has been our country’s hallmark since 1789. It was one of the grimmest days in American history.

The House impeachment managers clearly established that Donald Trump spent months perpetuating a lie that laid the foundation for the insurrection. And then on January 6, after calling his supporters to Washington, he incited them to violence. They then stormed the Capitol with the purpose of interrupting the ceremonial counting of electoral votes, some with the purpose of doing harm to lawmakers and the Vice President. And as damning as all of these facts are, the fact that after learning that a violent attack was underway, the President refused to act as Commander in Chief to protect those trapped in the Capitol, is perhaps the most damning of all that we have learned. As a result of the President’s actions, three members of law enforcement lost their lives. So did some of the insurrectionists.

In response to these clear and chilling facts, presented by the House managers thoroughly and passionately, the former President’s lawyers offered lies, obfuscation, and what-aboutism. Their attempts to distract and excuse by lashing out at others was an embarrassment.

The Senate’s failure to muster the 67 votes necessary to convict Mr. Trump — and disqualify him from running from office again — was crushing. But the fact that seven Republican Senators joined all of the Democrats in voting to convict reflects the reality that those who judged this matter on its facts — rather than hiding behind a poorly reasoned and unprecedented technicality — agree that former President Trump should be convicted. So do the majority of Americans. And as more facts are revealed, they will be joined by more and more of their fellow citizens.

Our Framers created the impeachment process to safeguard the American people from corruption, the abuse of power, and tyranny. It is a remedy not intended to punish, but rather to protect our country from, and to prevent future, harm. The evidence presented made clear that I had no choice but to vote to convict Donald Trump.

The conclusion of the impeachment trial was not the end of this process. We will continue to investigate the events leading up to and during the attack, and work to strengthen our country against all threats to our security and way of life — regardless of whether the threats are foreign or domestic.

As I was trying to wrestle with the path forward for our country in the immediate aftermath of the insurrection, I thought a lot about my dad— a World War II veteran who survived the Battle of the Bulge. He used to tell us about the members of his platoon — from vastly different backgrounds, but united in their love for the United States of America — and its devotion to freedom.

There is a long road ahead to unite and rebuild our country. We need to work together to renew our commitment to government of, for, and by the people and to ensure that nothing like January 6th ever happens again. Most importantly, we need to remember that who we are as a nation is greater than any single one of us.

Onward.

With every good wish,
Maggie Hassan