Trump Trial Also A Referendum On Authoritarianism In America
A conviction would send a message that Republicans believe that elections and the rule of law are foundational, but so far, leaders prefer to avoid the issue.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File
Then-President Donald Trump speaks at a rally protesting the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden as president on Jan. 6, 2021.
WASHINGTON — As the Senate readies for yet another Donald Trump impeachment trial and prepares to judge the former president’s conduct, senators also may be voting on a much bigger question: American democracy versus American authoritarianism.
Because, while Trump is charged specifically with inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, his and his allies’ and supporters’ own words show that the assault was the culmination of a monthslong attempt to overturn the election he lost and included a discussion of invoking martial law.