February 11th, 2021

Ellen Rosenblum: 'We can't ignore
or ever forget what happened Jan. 6'

The substance of this week’s impeachment trial began this morning.
I feel a powerful need to weigh in — to support the House in having voted to impeach and to hope more Senators will realize the crucial nature of this moment.
Here’s why:
Throughout my life and career I have been all about believing in and supporting the Rule of Law — in Oregon, our country, and the world. 
For much of last year, the now-former president sowed the seeds of revolt in this country — in interviews, in speeches and rallies, and on social media, particularly Twitter. After losing the election in November — decisively, by millions and millions of votes — he amped up his charges of a rigged election with incredible false claims and frivolous, time-wasting, lawsuits. In the process he whipped some of his supporters into a frenzy, so that when he called for a rally on the Ellipse (a beautiful park just south of the White House) on January 6, thousands joined him and his family and his most rabid supporters as they furthered the false claim of a “rigged” and “stolen” election and then directed the mob they’d assembled to attack the U.S. Capitol — which they did.
Worse, the president said he would be with them in this attack on our democracy, as he egged them on. (And surely they believed he was good for his word.)
In the intervening weeks, it has become apparent just how serious a threat this insurrection posed to our democracy — and how truly violent and unhinged it was. I suspect we’ll learn even more chilling details in the weeks and months ahead. Five died as a direct result of the insurrection. Numerous others were seriously injured. The damage to our Capitol was significant. Not to mention the harm to our country as a model for democracy. Then there is the cost in dollars of the ex-President’s seditious conduct. (The Washington Post’s tally is at $519 million — and still counting.)
The evidence is abundantly clear: For months Donald Trump whipped up a frenzy based on outrageous and false claims and then, on January 6, he used those passions to launch an insurrection against the government of the United States — at the very moment Congress was meeting to certify the outcome of the election. This was nothing if not an impeachable offense.
Now, we’re in the midst of an all-important national civics lesson. The peaceful transfer of power is the hallmark of democracy. What happened on January 6 was the culmination of the most undemocratic, crowd-sourced rebellion in modern American history. Every American should know what happened — and, more important, understand to the depths of our being how outrageous and criminal a then-sitting president's conduct was.
It is part of my role as the Attorney General of Oregon to protect our democratic institutions against all threats. I have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. So, too, have the members of the United States Senate. More than forty of them, it appears, are about to abandon that oath — in the face of incontrovertible evidence of treasonous and seditious behavior on the part of a president.
We as a nation deserve better than Trumpism and the hateful mobs it inspires.
In the days, weeks, and months ahead, we must replace those in public office who won't condemn these attacks on our nation—our democracy. 
Better times are on the way, but we simply cannot ignore -- or ever forget-- what happened on January 6 — and the massive campaign of disinformation that preceded it.
I’m sure you feel the same sense of outrage and commitment.
Stay strong.