The January 6th Hearings May Not Change Many Minds But They are Vital to the Future of Our Democracy

After almost a year and more than 1,000 interviews, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by a Trump-inspired mob is ready to lay out its findings to the American public. The first hearing will take place this evening and will be carried by all the major news networks in primetime, except for Fox which will likely spin the hearings as partisan despite the participation of GOP House members Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

The committee will lay out the details of a Republican conspiracy to overthrow Joe Biden’s election, led by former President Donald Trump. The results may even suggest that Trump's efforts constitute a felony and the Justice Department has been following the investigation closely.

From what we know, there is good reason to believe that the committee has uncovered a substantial cache of evidence of a criminal conspiracy, but even that may not be enough to change many minds among Trump's followers. They've heard plenty about his history of sexual assaults, his attacks on honored veterans like John McCain, his self-dealing, bankruptcies, questionable business practices, incompetence, corruption, impeachments, and bizarre conspiracy theories. None of that has derailed the former president and there is little reason to believe these hearings will be any different.

Gullible Trumpists will believe the hearings are just part of the "deep state's" efforts to conceal the evidence of a stolen election, and the Ultra MAGAs will write the whole thing off as partisan political theater and dream of the Hunter Biden hearings to come if the GOP captures the House this Fall.

Still, these hearings are vital to the nation's future. They may not stop Trump from gaining the Republican nomination in 2024, but they will demonstrate to open-minded voters why he is undeserving of the office, having plotted to steal an election and subvert our democracy.

But, more importantly, the hearings must convey that the insurrection didn’t end on Jan. 6, 2021. All across the country, there are Republicans running for office who proclaim Trump's "big lie" and, if elected, would have the authority to decide which votes are counted and which slate of electors will select our next president. Americans must understand that our democratic institutions depend on principled men and women who can put aside partisanship to honor the will of the people. If the wrong individuals gain office this November, some version of January 6th is almost assured after the 2024 election.

#politics #Trump

By: Don Lam & Curated Content