At a Jan. 22 congressional hearing, Jack Smith testified, “Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.”

The Republican congressmen on the Judicial Committee chose not to explore the facts of the indictments but instead went on to attack the messenger. Their questioning was combative, and they were seemingly more concerned with scoring political points than in finding the truth. Meanwhile, we know what happened. We saw it happening in real time! And heard with our own ears President Trump’s desperate actions to remain in power. It’s hard to forget the call to “fight like hell,” or the sight of the violent mob attacking the police officers or the chants to hang Vice President Mike Pence.

Trump and the Republicans’ theatrical attempt to rewrite history will not succeed. We won’t forget their seditious conspiracy. We will continue to work to undo the Justice Department rule against criminal indictment of a sitting president and the Supreme Court’s ruling preventing the prosecution of a sitting president. No one, no matter how rich or how powerful, should be above the law. Without the rule of law, without truth, we have no democracy.

Mary Ann Lauffer

North Huntingdon

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)