|
Dear John,
Last night, we learned several things from the first hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol:
-
After the riot began on January 6, many White House officials, including members of Trump’s own family, urged him to call off the rioters. He did not. Presumably the committee will provide detailed evidence of this.
-
When told that the rioters wanted to lynch Vice President Pence for being unwilling to stop the certification by electors, Trump said "maybe our supporters have the right idea" and he "deserves it." Here, too, I’m looking forward to detailed evidence.
-
The riot was the culmination of months of a carefully-constructed plot by Trump and his cronies to advance the big lie that the election was stolen. According to Representative Liz Cheney, Trump personally coordinated a sophisticated 7-part plan to overturn the result of the election.
-
Trump knew -- because he was repeatedly told by his own staff, including his attorney general -- there was no evidence that the outcome of the election was the result of fraud. “I told the president it was bullshit,” then Attorney General Barr told the committee, referring to Mr. Trump’s claims of election fraud. “I didn’t want to be a part of it.”
There is much more, which presumably will be detailed over the next several weeks. The window of opportunity for prosecuting Trump is closing. Attorney General Merrick Garland must bring criminal charges against former President Trump -- now. Please join me in building public pressure for action.
I wonder if anyone who has fallen for Trump’s Big Lie will learn anything from these hearings? Fox News isn’t covering it. Are they even watching?
The biggest question is will these hearings have any bearing on whether Attorney General Merrick Garland prosecutes Trump for criminal acts?
Will Trump be charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371? Will Trump be indicted for obstruction of Congress in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512?
As I said above, the window of opportunity for prosecuting Trump is closing fast. Once he declares his intention to run for president, prosecuting him will become far more directly entangled in partisan politics.
The rule of law and the future of our democracy hangs in the balance. The Justice Department is not immune to public pressure. It’s time for Merrick Garland to hear from us. Join me in demanding General Garland indict Trump now!
Trump must be held accountable.
Thank you for working with me to make it happen.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
|
