William Steinmeier, Jefferson City
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Jim Dyke for his erudite cartoon on July 18, suggesting the ongoing congressional “hearings” concerning the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in the nation’s Capitol should receive an Emmy Award. They should.
What happened in our nation’s Capitol that day was sad and unfortunate. I have been in that building many times and cherished each experience. I cannot fathom even causing a scratch on a wall, let alone breaking glass or walking into a member’s office uninvited and taking a selfie. It was not, however, an “insurrection.” No government in history has been overthrown by a motley crowd of unarmed people storming into a capitol building.
These “hearings” are directed by a television executive hired by the Democrats. The committee is entirely people chosen by Speaker Pelosi who are antagonistic toward former President Trump. Members nominated by the House Republican minority leader were rejected by Pelosi, which is unprecedented. No cross-examination is allowed, and there is no minority counsel, so only one side of the story is being told. Much of the “testimony” is hearsay (sometimes double or triple hearsay) that would be inadmissible in court. This is not an investigation at all. The committee chairman announces at the beginning of each hearing what that day’s episode will show. The outcome has been predetermined.
President Trump offered 20,000 National Guard troops to Speaker Pelosi and the D.C. mayor on Jan. 4 and that offer was rejected. Why? The crowd on Jan. 6 included numerous FBI informants, for reasons that have never been explained. Video shows Ray Epps outside on Jan. 5 and 6 urging people to go to the Capitol after the Trump rally. Was he part of a plot to turn the peaceful Trump rally into a riot in the Capitol? He has never been arrested. However, many regular citizens were arrested for simply being on the Capitol grounds that day and many are still unjustly incarcerated.
The Capitol police opened the gates and the Capitol doors to many of the people who came to that building that day. Pelosi won’t release the 14,000 hours of videotape from inside the Capitol that day. Why? Why isn’t she called as a witness and examined?
These hearings are entirely a political show trial. And Jefferson City is blessed to have a local editorial cartoonist with the insight and artistry of Jim Dyke.
