From the Desk of Mike Anthony: Was the January 6th attack on the capitol seditious?

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives held  hearings on the January 6^th attempt to subvert the credentialing of the November election. Some of us have called it an” insurrection,” the Associated Press quotes Republicans saying this:

Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia said that while “there were some rioters” on Jan. 6, it was a “bold-faced lie” to call it an insurrection and likened it in some ways to a “normal tourist visit.”

Let’s check what the federal code says about insurrection, rebellion and sedition and see if it fits the January 6^th uprising:

“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

“If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 1, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

The fact that hundreds of Trump supporters attempted to “oppose by force the authority” of congress to validate the November election is seditious; the fact that Trump supporters “sets foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States” means they should be imprisoned or fined if found guilty by a court of law.

About Mike Anthony

Mike Anthony is the former Chair of the Southampton Democratic Committee, serving in that position from 2006-2008. Mike feels his biggest contribution to the local party is canvassing and speaking to the voters of Southampton Town about consistently good Democratic candidates. Born and raised on the East End, Mike cut his teeth in the political arena in New Jersey where he worked on national campaigns, was elected to his Town Board and benefitted his town with his community activism.  After a career in the public health sector he retired and returned to the East End.

Married blissfully to Ann for 50 years, they typically enjoy their snowbird status in the winter months, but home is and always will be Westhampton.