Donald Trump was unique among all the men who have occupied the presidency from George Washington to Joe Biden. Only he was twice impeached by the House of Representatives. Only he opposed transferring power to his successor. Only he fomented a violent insurrection against the legal government he swore to defend. And now, only he has been referred by the Congress to be prosecuted for committing felonies.
How much more history can one man make?
The final public meeting of the Jan. 6 Committee Monday, aired live on every broadcast TV network, was a series of opening statements by the nine members, starting with Chairman Bennie Thompson through Elaine Luria, each who added texture and detail to the portrait of Trump’s offense against democracy. But the last to go, Jamie Raskin, used his opening statement as would be a prosecutor, laying out evidence of Trump’s criminal offenses.
Obstruction of an Official Proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)) is the crime of interfering with the counting of the Electoral College votes and declaring Biden the winner. Anyone with eyes and ears knows that was the goal of Trump’s mob ransacking the Capitol.
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) is the crime of acting in concert with others to use deceitful or dishonest means to impair government functions. Here, Trump’s coup plotting with John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani and other creeps is the clear evidence.
Conspiracy to Make a False Statement (18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 1001) is the crime of knowingly and willfully lying to the government and Trump’s plan for slates of fake electors fits the bill.
“Incite,” “Assist” or “Aid and Comfort” an Insurrection (18 U.S.C. § 2383) is the most serious of the crimes found by the committee. Rebellion and domestic violence are anathema to the Constitution and insurrection is automatic grounds to be permanently barred from public office. It wasn’t just some paperwork that Trump sought to stop. He tried to overthrow the government and install himself in power.
What say Special Counsel Jack Smith?
