The January 6th Committee Report

I didn't know what to expect when I sat down to watch the report last Thursday night. I thought that maybe it would be an explanation of methodology used; numbers of interviews conducted and documents reviewed, and work yet to be done. Much like one of those boring House or Senate speeches. That's not what took place. It became apparent early that this committee, charged with investigating the full spectrum of the January 6th insurrection actually has as its goal the crucifixion of Donald Trump. I found that to be distasteful, disappointing and just plain stupid. 

The appeals to emotion were distasteful. Officer Edwards testimony contained little factual evidence; most of it concerned thoughts and feelings. The 12 minute video was mostly rehash and except for establishing a timeline added nothing knew. Emotion should have played no part in the presentation. It detracted from relevant information. In my view the same applies to the overly long speeches of Chairman Thompson and Rep. Liz Cheney. The several  substantial points made by both were watered down by the expression of their personal feelings. 

Most damaging was the stupidity of blatantly targeting Trump. This committee better have a lot more evidence than the stuff that was presented in the initial presentation. An average man might be prosecuted and convicted of a felony crime based on the committee's circumstantial evidence, but this is Donald Trump we're talking about, and unless there is a smoking gun in the form of audio and/or video evidence, or corroborating testimony by multiple credible witnesses that proves beyond doubt that Trump was directly involved in the insurrection, neither the Department of Justice, the Attorney General or Homeland Security would dare to prosecute him. His influence is still too great to challenge. Targeting him has only increased his stock with politicians currying his favor, and the MAGA people who live in an alternate world unaffected by fact. The far-right spin doctors are already having a field day putting out reams of disinformation and dismissing the committee findings as "bullshit." 

The above banner was displayed three weeks ago at a faire in Chickamauga. After a year and one-half, with 50-some dismissed law suits and not one shred of evidence, the faithful are still going at it. Apparently Ivanka Trump has accepted the explanation of then Attorney General Barr that there was no evidence of election fraud. So I suppose we'll start hearing cries of, "Hang Ivanka!" 

Personally I don't believe that Trump was directly involved in the insurrection. I have no doubt that once aware of it, or maybe even before, that he welcomed it, encouraged it, and took no action to stop it because he was transfixed in front of a television watching his people storm the Capitol in his name and to his glory. To that degree he was complicit in the insurrection. And yet he is likely to walk away free. I find that troubling, if for no other reason than the precedence it sets.