In three public hearings so far, the House committee tasked with investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, has decisively shown that Donald Trump and his confederates attempted a coup to end American democracy and the rule of law. The scope of their plot was nationwide, sophisticated and premeditated, and violent. As became clear during last Thursday's hearing, Trump's refusal to accept defeat was so extreme that he encouraged or celebrated the murderous rage of his followers on Jan. 6 as they attempted to hunt and in all likelihood kill Vice President Mike Pence to prevent him from certifying the Electoral College votes.
Trump and his confederates certainly knew that their attempt to nullify the election results could result in widespread civil unrest. That was seen not as an obstacle but rather as an opportunity: Street violence might have provided Trump a pretext for invoking the Insurrection Act and declaring martial law as a means of remaining in power indefinitely.
