(Trump issues sweeping pardon of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who attacked police, Jan. 20.) Consider the ramifications of President Donald Trump pardoning violent insurrectionists, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers and threatening the lives of members of Congress and the vice president.
Now, even if he doesn’t order them to do anything, they will be his personal enforcers. They are aware that Trump’s Justice Department will not pursue them for attacking Trump’s enemies and that any conviction or punishment will be pardoned even if it does.
This is meant to scare us into keeping quiet. Will we, as citizens, rise to the occasion?
Are you comfortable with this if you voted for Trump, presumably believing that your life would be better? Your voice will sound even louder if you don’t. To what extent will we allow Trump to undermine our democracy?
Portland’s Kristie Duyckinck
Visit regonlive.com/opinion to read further letters to the editor.
