A mob of Donald Trump followers assaulted the Capitol to stop the pro forma ratification of Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, 2021. Questions immediately began whether the role of the president’s rhetoric and legions of his followers’ quixotic quest for evidence of fraud fueled the violence.

Unlike Watergate, Republicans refused to establish a bipartisan investigation. Democrats established one with only two courageous Republicans.

Like Watergate, large portions of the public deride this investigation as a “witch hunt.” Like then-President Nixon, some of Trump’s aides refuse to cooperate, and like Nixon’s tapes, Trump invoked executive privilege to shield his papers until the Supreme Court ruled against him.

Like Watergate, released papers are being scrutinized, and scores of persons of interest are cooperating with the committee. Like Watergate, public hearings begin in the spring, and the question of Republican Howard Baker in 1973, “What did the President know, and when did he know it?” will be answered.

The big difference between 1973 and 2022 is that the Republican Party in 1973, after initial resistance, took the high road and decided that only a bipartisan airing of evidence could clear the fog and reinforce that the rule of law included the president. Nixon resigned, and America was the better for it.

Today’s Republican Party would rather sweep this sordid affair under the rug than to clear the air.

George Howitt, Lewiston

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