by Solaiman Hassanin ‘23

Wednesday, January 6th, was a shocking experience for many Americans. A mob, formed in support of the sitting U.S. President, took to the halls of the Capitol building, on the day when America’s democracy was to be celebrated as Congress certified a new President for the Nation. Many rightfully turned their attention to removing President Trump, either through the 25th Amendment or another impeachment trial, and while there is no true argument that can logically and truthfully minimize Trump’s role in the events of January 6, what must not be forgotten is the role dozens of sitting Congressmen and congresswomen have played. 

In the days leading up to certification, a dozen Senators and tens of House members announced that they would object to election results. At the same time, the Trump camp organized and promoted a “protest,” dubbed the Save America March, in which organizers of the event called on people to take to the streets of the Capitol in support of President Trump. Yet, the majority of Republican Congressmen and Congresswoman stayed completely silent on the issue, or even in the case of Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, encouraged the rioters and held up his fist in solidarity. No one can truly say that the violence could not be foreseen or that it came out of nowhere; after all, it was less than one year ago when armed extremists stormed Michigan’s Capitol Building shortly after Trump tweeted ‘Liberate Michigan’.. It was last October, when the FBI discovered a plot to kidnap and kill Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer. So how could the supposed Republican congressional leaders of the country not see the danger of their actions, when the risk of violence and the precedent for armed takeovers of government buildings has already been set? 

There can be only two explanations, one of which would be that they are too incompetent to foresee the consequence of their carelessness, or, the other and even worse, they wanted what happened on the day of certification to occur. In one case, they should resign, because if they cannot see that a mob constantly threatening and romanticizing violence will turn violent, then they simply lack the foresight to oversee and determine the future of every born and soon to be born person. If they knowingly pushed a mob towards violence against one of the branches of government, then they have committed treason and should be treated as traitors. 

Despite all of what has happened, most GOP congress members are yet to admit fault. Not even ten hours had passed, and Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida was on the floor of Congress blaming Antifa for infiltrating the ranks of what he contended was the completely peaceful protestors. He cited a story, later which was proven false, that claimed an identification system had identified the rioters as members of Antifa. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas claimed that he had never incited violence, and others came out to “condemn” the violence after the damage had already occurred. Truthfully, supposed well-educated individuals should have known the danger their actions carried on the electoral process and the incoming administration. Realistically, many of them did know but chose to keep pandering to terrorists in order to retain the “Trump Base” for upcoming elections. Their actions have to carry consequences in order for the precedent to be set for future generations.