Editor,
Find an individual who works in law enforcement and ask him or her if they think it was honorable for President Trump to pardon 1,500 convicted, sentenced and incarcerated insurrectionists and domestic terrorists. The convicted felon serving as our 47th President, who is protected from further prosecution while in office, has just turned loose the very people who took up arms and weapons against our country. We Americans collectively witnessed what they did, and attempted to do, on Jan. 6, 2021. No one I spoke to has ever said that the storming of the Capitol was legitimate or lawful.
Trump calls the perpetrators “hostages” and “unbelievable patriots.” Policemen were held as “hostages” while some “unbelievable patriots” assaulted them with flag poles, barricades, fire extinguishers and whatever else they could grab as a weapon. After witnessing a full blown mob attack that injured and killed people who were defending federal personnel, institutions and national monuments, the Americans expected real consequences for their devastating unlawful behavior.
It’s one thing to disagree and voice opposition to policies and political decisions. That is the American way — Freedom of Speech. It is morally wrong, outrageous and insulting to all of us to pardon those who assaulted our fellow Americans and laid siege to our government.
Mike Diamanti
Coupeville