Making the case for Trump’s treason over Jan. 6

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 21, 2023

On January 6, 2021, millions of Americans watched Trump rev-up a crowd of people who believed that Biden stole the election. The president said it was an appropriate occasion to cast aside the peaceful transition of power — the crowning jewel of our experiment in democracy — in favor of a violent power grab by the self-proclaimed victor.

“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country,” Trump said.

America watched the insurrection unfold as Trump, who likely could stop it all with a single word, did nothing.

In the aftermath, Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell made a statement before Congress.

“There’s no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day,” he said.

McConnell then said that Trump was guilty of a “disgraceful dereliction of duty.”

He should have said treason.

For the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. armed forces to sit and watch for over three hours while rioters bearing his flags desecrated the Capitol is treason. House Democrats and 10 Republican Representatives impeached Trump, but Senate Republicans refused to convict him. A country with a functional legal system would have resolved this issue immediately.

If Trump is guilty of treason, he should not be eligible to run for any office under the 14th Amendment. His punishment should be greater, not less, than that imposed upon a lower official for the same crime. Life in prison without the possibility of pardon or parole would be gracious.

Ken Dammand

Tulalip