Public Comment

Remember during the first presidential debate, Trump told the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, to “stand back and stand by?”  

Later, Trump urged his supporters multiple times to come to Washington for a rally on June 6, the day the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate were scheduled to certify the results of the Electoral College.On Dec. 20, Trump tweeted that “statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election.” And added, “Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”  

Sure enough, his supporters who were standing by as requested, showed up in force. Trump then told them, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and Congressmen and women” and exhorted them to fight. The crowd — many carrying weapons and without masks — stormed the Capitol building, vandalizing offices, breaking windows. Fifty-two people were arrested, four dead, fourteen D.C. police officers injured, and two explosive devices found. 

Consider that "imminent lawless action" is a standard established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio. The Court held that the government cannot punish inflammatory speech unless that speech is "directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.” Seems like "imminent lawless action" to me. 

Unless Trump is held accountable, we can expect more mischief from Trump and his supporters between now and January 20. House Majority Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Mike Pence to immediately invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump for “inciting sedition.” If he does not, Pelosi threatened to start impeachment proceedings