The video chronology at the opening of the second impeachment trial of former president Trump, took me back to January 6 and the fear and incredulity I felt as I watched a violent mob overrun the U.S. Capitol.

Republicans want us to give this insurrectionist president a pass and “move on.” However, I go back to that Capitol policeman wedged behind a door, literally being crushed by Trump’s mob, crying out in pain. I recall the photo of a gallows with a noose outside the Capitol waiting for “traitor” Mike Pence. I see angry men smashing windows to the entrance of the

Senate and House chambers and think that just a few minutes before our Senators and House members were sitting in those seats and had to be ushered to safety.

Sorry, we cannot and should not let this go and move on.

This did not start on January 6. For months, Trump and his sycophants cried “fraud” and as Trump said at that rally “when there is fraud… you go by different rules.” The president urged the “Stop the Steal” mob to “fight like hell” and to “fight to the death” against this “act of war.” He encouraged them to give “weak” Republicans “the kind of pride and boldness…to take back our country.”

Sen. McConnell said, this “mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like.”

So, Sen. McConnell, if that is not a “high crimes and misdemeanor offense,” what is?

This is the first time in our nation’s history that a sitting president refused to accept the result of a free and fair election and support the peaceful transition of power. The former president had 60+ court cases that found that there was no evidence of widespread fraud that would change the outcome. He never conceded, he never accepted the results and continued to lie to his supporters that the election was stolen from him and them.

If the images from the Capitol assault moved you, please call Sens. McConnell and Paul and tell them that for the sake of our democratic norms, they must vote to convict.

You can reach Sen. McConnell at (502) 582-6304 and Sen. Paul at (270) 782-8303. Thank you.

Julie Pease
Danville