Treason. Traitor. Insurrectionist. Sedition.
These terms are bantered about online, on cable news, and in some of the finest dying newspapers in Alabama and around the country.
But you know where these terms don’t appear?
Charging documents.
Why?
Because it was a riot, and nothing more.
AP analysis of charges filed so far finds that the most serious charges filed are conspiracy charges, which carry a 20-year prison sentence. Pretty serious.
But talk of arresting people who spoke at the rally ahead of time, like President Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is beyond political silliness.
When then-acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin suggested a bunch of charges, including seditious conspiracy charges, he was mocked and gone from the Department of Justice shortly thereafter.
I could define sedition and treason for you, but it is a waste of time. Even Attorney General Merrick Garland isn’t interested in it.
Why? Because he can’t get a conviction, and he knows it.
Headlines framing with phrases like “Jan. 6 insurrection participants not traitors or seditionists in the eyes of the law — as yet” are wish-casting by activist journalists who want to keep the silly talk going.
Remember — President Joe Biden said that if you wanted to overthrow the government, you would need F-15 and nuclear bombs. These people were largely unarmed and not one bullet was fired by a rioter. Hardly a real threat.
This wasn’t sedition or treason. it was LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) for wannabe patriots, and while crimes were committed, there was no serious attempt to overthrow the government.
This was mostly a small group of criminal-minded malcontents and a large group of willfully stupid fools who wandered into the U.S. Capitol and waved flags. Treating them like they were the Boston Tea Party or revolutionaries is just not accurate, and the media should stop.
This does not minimize what these idiots did. Charge them, lock them up, and cage them for as long as the law and their crime(s) call for.
Calling them all these things that they clearly aren’t, and the Biden administration doesn’t even attempt to charge them for, is politics.
I am done calling this an insurrection. It was a riot and a terrible moment for the country.
And that is enough.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.
