Bill Gerling
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Anyone who watched the events on Jan. 6 unfold with the violence against Capitol Police, the destruction of public property, and the desire to overturn a completely fraud-free, fair election, had to be shocked that our democracy was endangered. People who say it was a hoax continue to promote the "Big Lie."
Trump proclaimed before he was elected in 2016 that it would be fraudulent if he lost. He lost the popular vote by 3 million he won the electoral vote in 2016. Trump got 8 million popular votes more in 2021 but lost the popular vote by 7 million and electoral vote by 74. Over 60 court cases found there was no evidence of fraud in the election as judges refused to throw out ballots because of changes in election procedures. Because of the pandemic, some procedures were adopted to make voting safer and easier. Republican governors from Texas, Arkansas and North Dakota altered election rules in their states. Yet Texas and Missouri tried to get votes from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia thrown out.
There was Russian interference in the 2016 election which was verified by the Mueller Report and by a bipartisan Senate investigation. In spite of this, Trump said he believed Putin instead of the FBI, Mueller and the Senate investigation. Even though Mueller could not indict Trump, there was evidence of obstruction of justice in his report. In fact, several close Trump advisers were convicted of various offenses as the result of the report: Michael Flynn, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, George Nader, George Papadopoulos and Roger Stone. These men were all tried and convicted in court - not framed - if one believes in our system of justice.
Trump unleashed a mob on the Capitol after failing to win in court, coercing election officials, state Republican officials and Mike Pence during the presidential election certification. Then he did little or nothing to stop the riot. The mob was violent as they attacked Capitol Police, injuring 150 police with flag poles, batons, stun guns, baseball bats, bear spray and pepper spray. Officer Byrd was trying to protect House members barricaded in the chamber when he told Ashli Babbitt repeatedly to "get back." She was shot climbing through a glass door she broke. Byrd has been cleared of wrongdoing but had to go into hiding because of threats on his life. These are not alternative truths.