Here are highlights of the January 6th report:
Criminal misconduct in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
It is deeply concerning to see criminal misconduct perpetrated in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Law and order should be upheld first and foremost, not flagrantly broken in a misguided march towards some notion of justice. No matter which political party has done wrong, every effort should be made to maintain election integrity and consequently respect the results of elections. The recent mob-style insurrection at the Capitol is a concrete example of how dangerously far individuals will go to overturn democracy for their own passions and beliefs, and so countermeasures must be taken now to ensure such events never happen again.
Racism was a driver of efforts to overturn the popular vote in different parts of the country
The recent events at the Capitol on January 6th are concrete evidence that racism was a driving force in America’s deep divide. Which pushed to overturn the election results in different parts of the country and in fueling some of the organized groups and individuals who attacked the Capitol. Law enforcement channels were flooded with cries for policies that addressed election integrity, when in fact their goal was to undo the will of the people. This spawned an attempted insurrection fueled by hate and bigotry, intended to defy popular opinion. This is a stark demonstration of how racism is used to manipulate law and order in an attempt to uphold a warped sense of justice against any opinion deemed contrary to certain ideals. It’s time we shift our focus back on upholding and protecting democracy, as any attack on its rightful process is an attack on us all.
The apparent intelligence and law enforcement fails and the Committee’s perspective on it.
It is worrisome to see the apparent intelligence and law enforcement failures in recent months, especially concerning election integrity. Law enforcement was not adequately prepared to confront the January 6 insurrection effort, which sought to overturn a free and fair election due to unsubstantiated claims of fraud. That has prompted serious concerns among members of Congress and led to calls for further investigation into the matter. The Committee is doing its best to examine these troubling events, to improve our nation’s lack of preparedness to guard against similar attempts in the future. Lawmakers must act decisively now if we are going to avert a repeat of this dark chapter in our history.
The pressure campaign on state election officials to deviate from their legal obligations, and responsibilities.
Lawful and free elections are the cornerstone of democracy and must be protected at all costs. The recent pressure campaign on state election officials to deviate from their legal obligations is an alarming development that risks eroding trust in our electoral system. Without trust in the process, we risk empowering further attempts to overturn lawful elections through insurrection or other means. Lawmakers must work quickly to ensure election integrity by eliminating outside influence and reaffirming legal obligations among states’ election boards. Failure to do so could lead to grave consequences for our democratic institutions.
The role of social media in propagating false claims about the election and serving as a mechanism to plan acts of violence.
Social media’s role in propagating false claims about the election has become increasingly concerning, particularly because of the attempted insurrection to overturn the result. Law enforcement officials have pointed out that certain websites and social media platforms were used to plan and organize acts of violence related to this event. These false conspiracy theories can quickly be spread around the world, with no way of verifying their accuracy. It is essential that we protect election integrity in response to heavy influence from these networks and combat any attempts at misinformation by disseminating facts through reliable sources.
It’s been a long investigation since the insurrection of January 6th, 2021.
The release of the January 6th Report provides us with critical insight into persistent threats to democracy and rule of law that was laid bare on this day. It is clear from these findings that Donald Trump not only betrayed our country but attempted to steal an election decided by millions more Americans than himself – making him one worthy of prosecution. Our nation will continue in its pursuit of justice towards those who violated U.S. laws when attempting their coup against America’s constitutional order; however, it should also serve as a reminder never to allow such hatred and division again while working together stronger state-wide foundations centered around elections, racial equity and freedom from political violence moving forward.
After almost two years of intense inquiry and investigation, the January 6th congressional committee has finally concluded that Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn election results through his supporters were a direct attack on our democracy. This report marks an essential step towards justice for those wronged in this act of insurrection against America’s government – emphasizing how no one is above accountability regardless of their title or power. Although this report may not be the end of it all, It should remind us that even in times of darkness, justice will always prevail.
Just over a year and a half ago, I put together a graphic book with documented pictures of the events leading up to and on January 6th. Everything was laid out before the public on that day and yet Donald Trump remains free. The DOJ doesn’t have to access the evidence, the whole country is witness to this event and all the evidence over the past couple of years. Justice now must prosecute Trump and his allies. The report will be used to inform a range of legal proceedings and provide information for further Congressional action. It provides a roadmap for policymakers, prosecutors, and the public on how to ensure our elections are free from political interference and violence. This report should also alert us all to the dangers of authoritarianism in America and serve as a reminder that no one is above the law.
The 845-page report’s executive summary concludes, “The central cause of Jan. 6 was one-man, former President Donald Trump.” The committee showed that between the November 2020 election and the January 6th Capitol riot, Trump, and members of his inner circle “engaged in at least 200 apparent acts of public or private outreach, pressure, or condemnation.” The January 6th Report is a reminder to all of us that our democracy and institutions are still fragile, and we must be vigilant in protecting them. We must also ensure that no one is above the law and that those who commit acts of violence and insurrection will be held accountable. The report should also remind us that American values such as
Trump’s Big Lie: “Beginning election night and continuing through January 6th and thereafter, Donald Trump purposely disseminated false allegations of fraud related to the 2020 Presidential election to aid his effort to overturn the election and for purposes of soliciting contributions. These false claims provoked his supporters to violence on January 6th,” the committee writes. The report also found that Trump’s false claims of a “stolen election” were amplified by right-wing media and social media to undermine the legitimacy of our electoral system. The report calls on Congress to pass legislation to protect our elections from foreign interference and further strengthen political safeguards against domestic interference such as
The report also points out that Trump “sought to corrupt the U.S. Department of Justice by attempting to enlist Department officials to make purposely false statements and thereby aid his effort to overturn the Presidential election.” The panel alleges that “after that effort failed, Donald Trump offered the position of Acting Attorney General to Jeff Clark knowing that Clark intended to disseminate false information aimed at overturning the election.” It also states that Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, “made clear he intended to pressure the Department of Justice to assist in overturning the results of the election.”
In addition to the criminal referral of Donald Trump, the committee issued a criminal referral, a nonbinding recommendation by Congress to the Justice Department to open an investigation. In compiling its report, the committee relied on 1,000 interviews as well as retrieved records including emails, texts, and phone records. With all this overwhelming evidence you’d think that the justice department would have no choice but to prosecute the actors.
The committee also voted to refer four Republican lawmakers, including House minority leader Kevin McCarthy and Representatives Jim Jordan, Scott Perry, and Andy Biggs, to the House Ethics Committee over their refusal to honor the panel’s subpoenas. In my book, I also pointed out these members of congress and the senate, who gave comfort to the enemy of our constitutional process, the United States of America, and our democracy. Finally, the January 6th report provides recommendations designed to help prevent future attacks on our democracy. These include strengthening security protocols at the Capitol and other federal buildings, creating a system for members of Congress to report any suspicious activity, expanding public awareness campaigns about the importance of protecting our democratic process, and creating new legislation that would allow state and local
Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were the only Republicans on the nine-seat panel. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi picked the two anti-Trump Republicans after House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy boycotted the committee. Because McCarthy was for the insurrection and had originally proposed members who sympathized with the former president and his stolen-election narrative, namely Jordan and Jim Banks, Pelosi quickly rejected those choices. The committee’s report also calls for greater transparency in elections and campaign finance, strengthening protections against voter intimidation, defending the civil rights of all Americans, and ensuring that politicians are not exempt from criminal prosecution for inciting violence. Additional measures must be taken to protect our democracy from future domestic threats. We must ensure that our elections are free, fair, and secure and that those who attempt to disrupt our democratic system are held accountable.
Conclusion
The January 6th Commission Report provides a comprehensive account of the attack on our democracy and how it was enabled by Donald Trump’s Big Lie. It also makes clear that there is much work to be done to protect future elections from interference, both foreign and domestic. The criminal referral issued against Donald Trump should not be ignored, as justice must be served for those who committed sedition against the United States government. Finally, Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have set an example for Republicans everywhere by standing up for truth over party loyalty. We can only hope this will inspire more politicians to put the country before politics going forward.
By Peter McKinnon
To see more of what happened on January 6th, please buy my book using the link above.
Thank you!