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The defense rests

Posted

To the editor:

This will be my last letter on January 6 but there is a reply to "Capitol Offense" (The Chief, letter, Oct. 10) I cannot ignore.

The commenter suggests "like most Republicans," I "tuned out or dismissed the January 6 hearings as partisan." This is simply untrue. 

While I could keep this private if I chose, I am not a registered Republican. I do not vote the party. I vote the candidate. I've voted for Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

Jan. 6, 2021, was one of the darkest moments in our history. It is indefensible to attempt to use mob rule to overturn the decisions of our courts or encourage others to do so. There is nothing partisan about investigating domestic terrorists. None of my letters defend Donald Trump.

All I am saying is no matter how much Trump incited the mob to riot, the blame is not solely his. His followers could have ignored him. They could have engaged in peaceful protest outside the Capitol. Even their forming a miles-long caravan on the Van Wyck Expressway, while inconveniencing those traveling north, was legal. The decision to illegally storm the Capitol was solely their decision. 

It's fine to disagree with me. But it isn't OK to use snippets from my letters out of context, infer things about me that aren't true, and accuse me of defending what I unequivocally do not.

Nat Weiner

Comments

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  • reenjoe

    Nat, if I misrepresented your position on the January 6 insurrection, I apologize. However, you should choose your words more wisely moving forward. Believe it or not, your letters DO read like a defense of Donald Trump.

    No one excuses the acts of those who actively participated on January 6. Nearly 1,000 have been charged and I believe that number is low as tens of thousands took part. Anyone who crossed the barricade lines set by the Capitol Police should be held responsible. I even think the charges have been too light. Five cops lost their lives. Manslaughter should be among the charges for all, including the ringleader - Donald Trump. He does not bear the sole responsibility, but as the coordinator of the death and destruction of January 6, he should face the most severe charges.

    Wednesday, October 23 Report this