Tag: January 6

Buyer’s Remorse regarding Trump: Even the Fraternal Order of Police Criticizes his Pardon of Insurrectionists

Buyer’s Remorse! This occurs when a person buys something (a car, a home, etc.) and then finds out that what was bought was defective and that the seller misrepresented the product. The person then regrets the purchase and feels anger with the seller for having lied. Last November, U.S. citizens bought a product when a plurality (not a majority) of voters (49.5%) elected Trump as president. In this first week of his presidency, he has issued a flurry of controversial executive orders and has made other decisions regarding immigrants, refugees, tariffs, the Paris Accords on Climate Change, the World Health Organization, and on and on. The action that has produced the most criticism, even by those who had supported Trump, was his pardon of the January 6, 2021 insurrectionists. The reaction has been swift and is the beginning of buyer’s remorse regarding Trump.

On Tuesday, President Trump pardoned or commuted the sentence of all 1500 people who had been convicted of crimes in the insurrection that took place at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Some pardons had been expected. Presidents have the right to selectively pardon people on an individual basis, but pardoning all the criminals went too far. This blanket pardon was an attack on the rule of law. For example, earlier this month in an interview with Fox News, Vice President Vance had stated, “If you committed violence on that day, obviously, you shouldn’t be pardoned”. Vance was right. Nevertheless, six hundred of those who were pardoned had been found guilty of assaulting police officers. Over 140 police had suffered injuries during the riot. These were not “minor incidents” as the president now claims.

Police organizations across the country have rallied to support their colleagues. The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest police union in the United States. They endorsed Trump in the presidential elections of 2016, 2020, and 2024. In a joint declaration together with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, they strongly criticized this blanket pardon. “Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety. They are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law. Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families. When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”

Elected Republican senators and congressional representatives have been asked for their opinions regarding the blanket pardon. Senator Lisa Murkowski had the courage to denounce the pardon, but most Republican officials claim that haven’t seen the videos of the insurrection. This is a lame alibi, because most of these officials were in the Capitol on that tragic day, and videos of the riot have been widely available for four years. Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, said it wasn’t his “place” to comment on the pardon. What a coward! The House of Representatives was precisely the “place” where the insurrection happened.

This pardon cannot now be undone, but Trump could at least issue an apology. If he doesn’t demonstrate remorse, others will.

Republican Leaders and the January 6 event – Amnesia or Cowardice?

On January 6, 2021 there was a crowd of Trump supporters who went to hear the president speak about the election being “stolen”. He then urged these followers to march on the Capitol and to stop Congress from certifying the election results. Some of the protestors were peaceful, but many were not. They confronted the police and took over the building. Some shouted “Hang Mike Pence” and took possession of many congressional offices. (Many of us witnessed these events on television as networks, left and right, broadcast these actions live before our eyes) After several hours, control was restored. Later that night, Congress came back into session and certified the election victory of Joe Biden.

Most senators and representatives, including the top two ranking Republicans, were rightfully angered at Trump and made clear denunciations of the president’s major role in the insurrection. Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, affirmed, “The violence, destruction and chaos we saw earlier was unacceptable, undemocratic and un-American.” Mitch McConnell, the number one Republican in the Senate later condemned Trump, “There is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the event of that day.”

Congressional leaders, Republicans and Democrats, were unanimous in their desire to find out who the protestors were, the role of Trump in the event, how the Capitol police were so unprepared for the event, and why the National Guard took so long to arrive on the scene. Over the past four months leaders on both sides of the aisle have tried to form a “9/11” type of commission to investigate the actions that took place on January 6. Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanded three requirements of such a commission: (1) equal representation of Democrats and Republicans, (2) equal subpoenaing power by both sides, and (3) no predetermined outcome. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, finally agreed to all of McCarthy’s requests. Republican representative, John Katko and Democrat Bennie Thompson were charged with drafting the language of the bipartisan bill. It seemed that the commission would finally be formed, but then some Republicans acquired amnesia…or became cowards.

It was assumed that, with time, Trump’s influence on the Republican party would diminish due to his role in the insurrection and his other erratic behavior. Nevertheless, he still has a lot of influence among the Republican faithful. Liz Cheney, the number three ranking Republican in the House, who openly denounced Trump, was ousted from her position last week. Republicans faced a dilemma. They could try to restore their party to its core Republican values without Trump or they could cuddle up to the former president and stay in his favor. Most chose the latter because they were afraid they couldn’t win in the 2022 election if Trump opposed them in their Republican primary race or withheld his blessing in the general election.

So, McCarthy urged his fellow Republican colleagues to vote “no” on the bill that would form the commission. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, 35 brave Republican congressional representatives voted “yes”. Now it is time for the Senate to weigh in. Ten Republican senators will need to vote in favor of forming the commission for the bill to pass. I believe that our country is stronger and that we will obtain more of the truth if both major parties actively participate in our public debates. For the good of our country, may Republicans vote to form the commission so that we can find out what really took place on January 6.