Huffman says Trump must be convicted
Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents Del Norte County, said during a town hall last week that he fully supports impeaching and convicting former Pres. Donald Trump.
Huffman, who voted to impeach Trump, said the Senate needs to convict him and vote to ensure Trump can never run for office again.
I believe it is the most urgent thing we have before us because we have seen for the first time in the United States, a president actively incite a deadly insurrection against our country,” Hoffman said. “This is building momentum in real time. This is one of those big historic moments where one of those things you think is unthinkable suddenly gains a life of their own.
If he is convicted after a Senate trial, the Senate can prohibit him from holding office ever again. As unlikely as it is to imagine Donald Trump coming back and ever being president ever again, I don’t think we can take that chance. So, I support doing it, even if it can’t be culminated until after he takes office.”
Huffman hosted the virtual town hall to update constituents on the events after the Jan. 6 mob invaded the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Hoffman urged those listening to be aware of threats of violence across the nation.
“This is a big, historic moment for our nation. It is something I never imagined I would be experiencing as a member of Congress but really, we’ve all been attacked and violated. All of us are Americans. This is our capital,” he said. “So, when that disgraceful mob stormed the capitol and literally took it over for a few hours, that’s just a wakeup call for all of us. It speaks to the level of violence and insurrection that we all saw with our own eyes and ears. We don’t really have to debate whether these are crimes and how serious it is. It raises security issues that we are trying to work our way through.
“I’m worried that giving some of the threats we’re seeing, other places could be threatened. This is the time fort all of us to be vigilant. We need to understand these threats are real and could very well be heightened in the days ahead.”
Huffman said the FBI has warned of violence at all 50 state capitols, but he said there is even a risk of violence at local government facilities and federal buildings.
“But this is the United States of America. and we will get through this,” Huffman said. “There’s no hesitation on my part to step into the arena.”
Huffman said he believes several members of Congress crossed the line into aiding and abetting the rioters and said Congress should act to expel them from their elected positions.
“It is really hard to understand how some of my colleagues followed this dangerous, combustible rhetoric and indirect calls to violence that pretty quickly became direct calls for violence,” he said. “They just followed in every way and it is hard for me to look some of them in the eye.”
Huffman said despite political differences, some of those members were people he considered friends. He remembered playing ping pong with Rep. Mo Brooks.
“I can’t do that anymore,” Huffman said. “They did things that were despicable to this country.”
When asked why there is so much outrage now as compared to mild concerns when left-wing mobs were rioting over the summer, Huffman said there is a big difference.
“I deplore ANTIFA. ANTIFA is the flip side of this murderous mob we saw last week,” he said. “They should go crawl under their rock. No one within the Democratic Party has ever incited them or has ever funded them. What happened last week is fundamentally of a different character. Shame on ANTIFA, they should crawl under their rock, but it’s a very small rock. But the rock this Trump crowd should crawl under is a very large rock.”
Huffman also pointed out even over the summer, there was a big difference between ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter protestors.
“Black Lives Matter was overwhelmingly a peaceful protest,” he said. “ANTIFA went rogue.”
Huffman also pushed back on the idea the Senate should postpone an impeachment trial to focus on confirming Biden’s cabinet and passing needed legislation. He said it ludicrous to say the Senate can’t do both.
Huffman admitted he isn’t sure if domestic terrorists are treated like those from outside the country, said he would work to pass legislation to ensure they are.
“I think they should be treated the same way,” Huffman said. “I’m certainly willing to work with my colleagues to make sure it is. If what we saw last week wasn’t domestic terrorism, I don’t know what is.”
Huffman said after the riots, it is incumbent on Congress to have more control over social media.
“Obviously, social media had a huge role in the rise of this movement,” he said. “Even Facebook and Twitter have recognized they have some responsibility here. This is part of a broader conversation that had begun long before the events of last week. In addition to the wonderful aspects of social media, it has the ability to terrible harm, so we will have to regulate it. I’m not ready say you repeal Section 230, but I want to revisit that. We’re going to have treat these platforms much more like publishers. Stay tuned, I don’t have all the answers, but we’re going to be tackling that in the months ahead.”
By: David Rupkalvis
Source: Del Norte Triplicate
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