One week passes – the inauguration is over, so many executive actions, a defense secretary who abuses women and has a drinking problem – it’s hard to choose.  But for it to be a national disgrace, the action needs to be counter to our common values.  Thus the pardoning of men who attacked police officers at the nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021 exceeds the boundary of how low it can get (until another week passes, of course). 

A man who tasered a police officer – pardoned.  A man who assaulted a police officer with a baton – pardoned. A man who attacked a police officer with a chemical spray – pardoned.  A man who attacked a police officer with a poll – pardoned.  A man who took police riot gear from police to smash windows at the Capitol building – pardoned.  People who organized the insurrection and stockpiled weapons – pardoned.  

The country that is built upon laws and gives police officers the accountability to uphold those laws cannot be the same country that excuses attacks on police officers.  The idea that the man who took an oath to uphold the Constitution turns around within a day and excuses people who violently attacked our nation’s Capitol and the men and women sworn to protect it – it is a national disgrace.