Sacking the U.S. Capitol

Cherry

By jxmartin

Thu, 07 Jan 2021
  • 1305 reads
10 comments
 
Seditious Conspiracy and Federal Law
 
The federal law against seditious conspiracy can be found in Title 18 of the U.S. Code (which includes treason, rebellion, and similar offenses), specifically 18 U.S.C. § 2384. According to the statutory definition of sedition, it is a crime for two or more people within the jurisdiction of the United States:
  • To conspire to overthrow or destroy by force the government of the United States or to level war against them;
  • To oppose by force the authority of the United States government; to prevent, hinder, or delay by force the execution of any law of the United States; or
  • To take, seize, or possess by force any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof.
I don’t think any of us has to be an eminent legal scholar to see the application, of the aforementioned statute, on the actions of the mob that over ran and invaded the Capitol Building in Washington D.C on Wed. January 6th.
 
Political logic and rhetoric to the side, the mob was incited to riot by President Donald J. Trump, his counselor Rudy Giuliani and his son Donald junior. There are those who will argue “He didn’t mean for the mob to sack the capitol” and other rationalizations. The facts are that after a large political Trump rally, the mob, at the urging of the President set off to disrupt the Congress of the United States from carrying out its duty to accept the official results of the Electoral College and confirm the next President of the United States. The President assured the mob that “he would be there with them.”
 
During the riot and Capitol seizure, it was reported, by White House staffers, that the President thought the over throw was right and proper. It was Vice President Pence who had to call out the National Guard to back up the Capitol Police in their defense of the complex. The riot and seizure of the capitol resulted in four deaths and the destruction of federal property. More importantly, Congress in session had to run for safety, under the threat of mob violence against them.
 
The events of Jan. 6th are much more grievous than the mindless actions of an unruly mob. The carefully planned and deliberately executed action is an attack on democracy in America. It is an assertion that mobs can assemble, threaten and wreak havoc on anyone that they disagree with. Those who encourage such behavior should be brought before the bar of justice and if convicted, pay the penalty, as prescribed in the above-named statutes. You either live under the rule of law or you have anarchy, where the strong get what they want by violent means.
 
I will long remember viewing the images of vandals sacking the Capitol Building. I didn’t think that something like this would ever happen in the United States of America. And I hope I never get to see it again.
 
-30-
( 494 words)
Joseph Xavier Martin
Certificate U
Non-fiction
BUFFALO STORIES - Joseph Xavier Martin
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Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

I really wish they would arrest / impeach / remove him before the 20th of January. It adds to the ignominy of it all to me that he always seems to evade any kind of justice. 

 

Submitted by jxmartin on

The Congress is considering Impeachment articles as we speak.

JXM

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Amazing events, and many Americans must be very angry! You could argue it was all just a large demonstration that went too far! I imagine authorities may choose not to punish the demonstrators/rioters too much to avoid raising passions much further. 

Submitted by jxmartin on

The collective official opinion is that this was a well coordinated and carefully planned assault on the Capitol, by Trump forces, to delay and/or  prevent the formal acceptance of the resutls in the Presidentiaal election from the Electoral College. Federal Prosecutors are planning to prosecute every individual they can identify from on-line footage.They have several persons already identified and are seeking their whereabouts now.

JXM

Submitted by marandina on

It was genuinely extraordinary. I must ask my son who is working in Moscow what the Russians make of it all.

 

Submitted by celticman on

Nothing the moron's moron does surprises me, until it does. This falls into that category and that of the 'chickens coming home to roost'. 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

According to some Trump supporters/proud boys/MAGA etc etc all those people we saw with the funny hats and the guns were actually left-wing/anarchist agent provocateurs and it's all just a deliberate attempt to cast a slur on their good name

 

Submitted by jxmartin on

Insert, you may wish to put a little distance from those types of friends peddling that destructive fabulism. U.S. authorities have already identified prominent members, of all the trump right wing groups, from file foootage of the attack. Additionally, they have scores of e-mail messages and other correspondence from the aforementioned groups, planning the events for weeks in advance. File footage shows rioters with plastic slip ties. They were planning on taking hostages. Joseph Gobbles (sp?) et al ran the same play book (The big lie )in 30's and 40's Germany. It didn't work out to well for that gang either.

JXM

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Joseph - I mentioned it because I was astonished at their gulibility - but yes, plus ca change etc etc

 

Submitted by jxmartin on

De nada, Insert. Refuting phantasms of fact is difficult, because the believer has drunk the philosophical cool aid (Jonestown metaphor) and will not hear or listen to anything except which they wish to believe. I suppose that is how the tooth fairy, Peter Pan, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny got their start and keep their cult followings:)

JXM