From Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10):
Donald Trump was arraigned this week in our nation’s capital on criminal charges over his scheme to subvert the will of the American people and overturn the results of a free and fair election.
The conscious and corrupt actions by Trump and a group of co-conspirators culminated in the horrific events of January 6, 2021 — the day my colleagues and I sheltered in place as a violent mob broke into the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to shatter the sacred process of the peaceful transfer of power.
I’ve seen how the trauma of January 6 has impacted Capitol Police, congressional staffers, members of the press, and people throughout the D.C. region (including in my district). I am thinking of all of them as I consider what it means for a former U.S. President to be indicted on charges for the deliberate and criminal lies which led to that day.
Donald Trump and his associates made a concerted effort to convince the public of false “fraud” in the 2020 election – and many of my colleagues were all too happy to parrot these lies. I’ll never forget that on the same day of the insurrection, a majority of House Republicans voted against certifying the election.
Today, Trump’s grip on the GOP remains as strong as ever. We’ve already seen absurd attempts this week from many elected official to distract from or justify his behavior. And at the state level, the far right continues to try to circumvent democracy through blatant voter suppression.
So…it’s clear to me that as we approach 2024, the rule of law and the core tenets of our electoral process will once again be on the ballot. And we must fight for them with all the courage and tenacity that we showed in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
The days ahead will test our country. But am determined to do all in my power to ensure that truth and accountability prevail. The stakes are too high for any of us to give up.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
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