Holding those who commit violence accountable

If reelected for a second term, former President Donald Trump has stated that one of his first acts will be to pardon those convicted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

This campaign promise is particularly dangerous, according to Andrew G. Reiter, associate professor of politics and international relations at Mount Holyoke College. In an Op-Ed published in the Boston Globe, Reiter details why the U.S. must not repeat the mistakes of the Civil War in dealing with Jan. 6 offenders and advocates to hold those who commit violence accountable to deter future violence.

“Indeed, many of the current political tensions, from state attempts to use the 14th Amendment to keep Trump off the ballot to conservative attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on college campuses, stem from the failure of the United States to effectively address the causes and effects of the Civil War,” he said. “It’s imperative that we learn from these mistakes and avoid repeating them.”

Further, Reiter said that the U.S. has a chance to take the “right approach” in dealing with recent events. Since Jan. 6, 2021, the Justice Department has charged more than 1,300 people in connection with the attack, and nearly 500 have been sentenced to prison. Trump and a number of his associates have been indicted in the Georgia election interference case, which continues to move forward. A congressional committee undertook a thorough investigation of the attack and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which produced an 845-page report.

“A pardon of those involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection would undo these efforts, just when the United States is finally coming to terms with its last insurrection, and probably lead to an era of increased political violence,” said Reiter.

Read the rest of the Op-Ed. 
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