There is a consistent pattern in Donald Trump’s life: He engages in all sorts of dishonest and nefarious conduct but evades accountability for his actions, while those who trusted him pay the price. Never has that pattern been more pronounced than in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether Trump is immune from prosecution for any crimes he committed as president. But its decision may not come till June, which means his trial for his role in the insurrection may not be held until late summer or fall — or even after the November election. It’s not at all implausible that his systematic attempt to overturn the 2020 election will ultimately go unpunished.
Fortunately, the same cannot be said for hundreds of deluded followers who showed up at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the goal of preventing Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory. One by one, they have had to face severe consequences for being foolish and malevolent enough to follow Trump’s lead.
Since that shocking day, when members of Congress literally ran for their lives, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged with crimes ranging from assaulting police officers to theft of government property. More than 700 have entered guilty pleas, and 467 have been sentenced to time behind bars. Other prosecutions, convictions and custodial sojourns are in the works. And the FBI is still hunting for several rioters captured on video assaulting police officers.
Some of the villains have qualified for extended lodging at the Graybar Hotel. Enrique Tarrio, leader of the extremist Proud Boys, earned 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy for helping to foment the attack. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the hard-right Oath Keepers militia, who expressed a burning desire to lynch then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is serving an 18-year term for seditious conspiracy.
Displays of contrition have been fervent if not necessarily sincere. Tarrio apologized, saying: “Please show me mercy. I ask you that you not take my 40s from me.” Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola feigned remorse before being handed a 10-year sentence but as he left the courtroom shouted, “Trump won!”
Other villains were thoroughly unrepentant. Rhodes avowed, “My only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country.” Marc Bru, who used a barricade to shove police officers, said, “You could give me 100 years, and I would still do it all over again.” The judge graciously gave him just six years.
Moments like these should refresh our memories of what happened 38 months ago, which in many minds has faded to insignificance. A legion of Trump supporters stormed the seat of democracy as Congress prepared to certify the result of the presidential election. They trampled police barricades, smashed windows, invaded the Capitol, ransacked offices and chanted, “Hang Mike Pence,” all on behalf of their delusional effort to “stop the steal.”
They were not only contemptuous of the law but also violent toward those sworn to uphold it. No fewer than 140 of the outnumbered law enforcement officers were injured in the riot. Cops were attacked with bats, riot shields, pipes, flag poles, pepper spray, stun guns and other weapons. Some thought they would die. At least four died by suicide following Jan. 6.
Chuck Wexler, who heads the Police Executive Research Forum, captured the horrific nature of the attack. “If you’re a cop and you get into a fight, it may last five minutes, but these guys were in battle for four to five hours,” he told The New York Times. “You would be hard-pressed to find another day in history like this when the police encountered this level of violence in one event.”
Trump, who watched the mayhem on TV, refused for hours to call off his horde of followers, whom he praised that day as “very special.” He has since defended the criminals — calling them “hostages” and “political prisoners” and promising to pardon many of them if he regains the White House.
This is just what you might expect from someone who urged the crowd on the Ellipse in Washington that morning to “fight like hell” and to march to the Capitol — fully aware that some of his listeners were armed. His attempt to upend democracy came unnervingly close to success.
It may be that Trump will never pay the price for his disgraceful conduct. It may be that some of those who heeded him can look forward to presidential clemency. But at least for the moment, at least for many of the guilty, we can savor the gratifying spectacle of justice being done.
Steve Chapman was a member of the Tribune Editorial Board from 1981 to 2021. His columns, exclusive to the Tribune, appear the first Thursday of every month. He can be reached at stephenjchapman@icloud.com.