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Members of the House have formally introduced a single article of impeachment against President Trump for "Incitement of Insurrection." As a Republican, conservative, and evangelical, but more importantly as an American, I fully support impeachment. A *long* thread:
The horror and historic nature of Wednesday's events are only beginning to be understood. I have forced myself to watch the videos, to look at the photographs, to read and listen to the firsthand accounts. It is sickening. It could have been so, so much worse.
A police officer was dragged down steps, facedown, and beaten with an American flag. An officer was killed. An angry mob chanted, "Hang Mike Pence" as they violently forced their way inside. Five lives were lost, and it's mind-boggling that the count was not significantly higher.
The sheer number of U.S. citizens engaged in seditious conduct is staggering. This was not a few bad apples. This was not an infiltration by Antifa. This was a group of angry, hate-fueled Americans who believed themselves "patriots," storming the very seat of democracy itself.
Why did they feel this way? What fed these fires of rage? What made them think that storming the U.S. Capitol, intimidating the Vice President and lawmakers, and disrupting the certification of the Electoral College, was even a remotely plausible solution?
It was a belief that their country was being stolen from them. That their very existence is under attack by forces of evil. A feeling a desperation. All other options had failed: Politicians, judges, the media were united against them. The only thing left was to fight. Literally.
If you cannot see the seeds for all of those beliefs in the words and actions of our President, you haven't been paying attention. To our shame, it has been his modus operandi from Day 1, and it has only gotten worse.
The President sowed distrust in the election results even before the election. He repeatedly refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power. After he lost the election—and it wasn't really close—he repeatedly amplified demonstrably false claims of widespread fraud.
The details didn't matter. The bottom line was clear: The election had been "stolen." It was the greatest fraud in history, against the greatest president in history. And if true patriots let "them" get away with it, we wouldn't have a country anymore. He meant it. Literally.
And the ranks of "them" steadily grew, as Trump-appointed judges, former administration officials, GOP Senators and Representatives, and finally Vice President Mike Pence, all made clear the result was not going to change.
Which brings us to Wednesday, January 6, 2021. A day that will live in infamy. At the President's express invitation and encouragement, tens of thousands of angry, desperate citizens descended on the Capitol to "Stop the Steal."
At that "rally," the President of the United States repeated his claims of fraud, he continued to pressure the VP to block certification, and—should Pence and lawmakers fail to come through and a Biden presidency seem imminent—well, "we're just not going to let that happen."
The President directed the crowd to the Capitol. He told them they couldn't take back their country with "weakness," they had to be "strong." He told them had to "fight like hell." And as they made their way to the Capitol, they had this promise: "I'll be there with you."
And he was! Reports sourced from the White House itself suggest that the President was, and I quote, "delighted" at the images of his supporters forcing their way past U.S. Capitol Police to storm the seat of government. He couldn't even understand why others were alarmed!
While the VP, members of Congress, staff, and press were cowering in barricaded rooms and the Capitol was being overrun, the President had to be forced (literally screamed at) to release a half-hearted video telling supporters they were "special" and "loved" but should go home.
And then he posted this tweet. For me, this was the final straw—not necessary perhaps, but flagrantly confirming everything written above. There was no mistaking it: *He loved it.* It was what he wanted, not in its particulars or consequences, but in all its horrifying fervor.
This does not even address the reports that the President refused or delayed deploying the National Guard, forcing the VP and/or others to act to save lives. If true, game over: There will be enough Senate votes. But you shouldn't need it. It is, sadly, more than enough already.
Perhaps the fact the President acted in gross dereliction of his oath of office is sufficiently clear. Some still question whether impeachment is correct response, worried that it will deepen political divisions, stoke unrest, and make it even harder for the country to move on.
Sadly, the process is a political one and will be unavoidably political. But bipartisan support would go a long way in quelling those accusations. This thread is intended, in a very small way, to be a part of those efforts.
Yes, we should fear more unrest. But does anyone think there's a way to placate the most dangerous elements of the President's supporters? They're not done. They're convinced the whole system is corrupt, the election was stolen, Pence is a traitor, and it's time for a revolution.
Those supporters will not stop now or on Inauguration Day, even if the overall numbers are smaller. And right now they still have the most powerful man in the world in their corner, who they're confident approves of their actions.
Here's why you impeach: A bipartisan impeachment is a truth-telling exercise to all those still capable of listening. More than ever before, fulfilling your oath as an elected official requires be willing to tell constituents the truth.
The truth is that Donald Trump does not deserve to remain President for a second more, nor does he deserve any of the trappings or benefits of the office going forward. He should never come close to holding that office again. The damage he has done to the Republic is too great.
This is not a political statement or a judgment on every act or policy of the Trump Administration, many of which I supported from a political standpoint (and some of which I opposed). Some things transcend partisan divides. This is one of them.
This final act of President Trump's presidency stands and must fall on its own. It will forever live in infamy. We bear witness in the halls of history by condemning it with all we have.
For anyone who hates reading long Twitter threads, I've shared a more article-like version of my impeachment thoughts as a public post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harrisjalex/posts/3822443537812231
