GOP Must Step Up to Stop the Violence Trump Won't

A historic attack on the US government instigated by a US president has killed five people, and armed protests are scheduled for another week in our nation's capital and across the country. If Republicans don't immediately start trying to prevent further violence, they will own it.

President Trump has made it clear that he is not willing to protect our democracy or victims who have become entangled in deadly melodies that incite "his people." His attempts to still blame antifa or house speaker Nancy Pelosi for a violent mob he encouraged for months have highlighted his unfitness as commander in chief. When he says he wants "peace," but refers to his exhortation speech last Wednesday as "perfectly appropriate," his followers get the message. When he warns Democratic leaders not to blame him for fueling the uprising because they will cause violence, his followers will get that message.

Republicans in Congress who will not proclaim both his exhortation and his behavior in the hours after the Capitol invasion – from refusing leaders' calls to delaying a response to enjoying the visions of anarchy he has on television saw – fall short. their government, their constituents and their country. They are telling the world that we are broken, and that even insurgency and threats to their own security as representatives of our government is just another major electoral issue, or a news cycle from which to go. They have violated their oath to the constitution.

The country is in danger as extremists plan armed clashes near state capitals and a Million Militia March in Washington between January 16-20. Members of Congress face escalating threats to their security in Washington and at home in their districts. We now know that last week's attack was deliberate, planned by Trump's & # 39; hunters & # 39; who – using maps of the building – brought weapons, radios, zip ties, flash grenades and homemade napalm. It could easily have turned into a high casualty event. Our government had the information and the warning, but did not act on it.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, six days after the attack on the Capitol, that the FBI had an intelligence agency that warned of a possible "war". who was to be visited on the Capitol, and noted the group's memo that read, & # 39; Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear how glass breaks, doors are kicked in, and blood is spilled from their BLM and Pantifa slave soldiers. Become violent. Don't call this a march, or demonstration, or a protest. Go there, ready for war. We get our president or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal. "

After the January 6 attack described by many countries around the world as a coup attempt sparked by the US president, it took six days for a briefing from an agency to explain it. The criminals who looted the building must be quite special as there would be no pause in responding if foreign invaders had been attacked.

After all federal resources were not coordinated last week to protect the Capitol and the homeland from known threats, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, resigned Monday. Four years ago at that time there were confirmation hearings for Trump's head of DHS and other security positions. Why is the Senate at home in an ongoing crisis and not trying to help ensure a peaceful and stable transfer of power to the next government, which will take power in just seven days and is supposed to keep us and our lawmakers safe?

Right now, with Big Tech blocking those inciting violence and corporate America refusing to donate to inflammatory lawmakers, Republicans should think about what they can do to help their country and restore their party. Doubling down on a violent movement instigated by a dangerous leader and perpetuating a lie that has disturbed people, damaged democracy and cost five lives is pure nihilism. These threats are real and ongoing, and Congressional Republicans can't play dumb. They must announce that the election has not been stolen and that the legitimate next president will be sworn in on January 20. If the accusation divides them too much, they can & # 39; unite & # 39; the country by working to stop further violence from Trump supporters. . Tweets, press statements, videos, press conferences – everything has to be used.

Senator Rob Portman has done this and other Republicans must follow him. His statement released Monday said, "Violence is never the answer, and we must take all threats seriously." He added, “I call on President Trump to address the nation and explicitly urge his supporters to remain peaceful and refrain from violence. If our nation is experiencing additional violence and destruction at the hands of his supporters in Washington DC and state capitals across the country, and he doesn't speak directly and unambiguously when threats are known, he will bear the responsibility. "

Trump won't rise at this point, and while he will bear the responsibility, his enablers in Congress will share if they don't speak up now. Not only did Trump make a speech urging a crowd to stop Electoral College's certification in Congress last week, but after the attack began, he urged the invaders to punish his vice president. His tweet, sent after 2pm, stated, "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our constitution, giving states a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones they had to certify earlier. US demands the truth! ”Within minutes, the crowd was chasing Pence in the Capitol and threatening to hang him. That tweet alone is worth a deposition.

Trump aides reported that the president expressed regret over the video he recorded Thursday calling for an orderly transition, saying he did not want to add "stay peaceful" to his tweet aired during last Wednesday's violence. It cannot be counted on in the days when he will reject violence and tell his supporters to calm down. He still hasn't given in to Joe Biden, mentioned his name, or congratulated him. His supporters keep a close eye on what he won't do and refuse to say.

Freshman GOP Representative Peter Meijer from Michigan said colleagues around him admitted Wednesday that they knew it was wrong to vote to decertify Biden's election, but feared their families would be threatened if they didn't comply. would rally behind Trump. He told CNN on Monday that among House Republicans who are considering voting to impeach, "our expectation is that people will try to kill us."

Last week's deadly attack on the US government was a predictable and preventable tragedy. Republicans must stop the next. Counting on Trump to do it, or waiting too long, can kill again.