Who knew? The official position of the Republican party is that ransacking the U.S. Capitol, parading a Confederate flag through the building and deliberately tracking feces over the Capitol floor constitutes “legitimate political discourse.” This attempted whitewash of Jan 6. appeared in their recent statement censuring Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for daring to get to the bottom of the Jan. 6 attack as members of the House Select committee on Jan. 6.

This is how foxnews.com put it on Jan. 8, 2021,” Marauders roamed the capitol. Trashed the Senate parliamentarian’s office. Wielded Confederate flags in the Ohio Clock Corridor outside the Senate chamber. Ripped down the nameplate to the entrance of the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Vandalized a statue of President Zachary Taylor. Carved “Murder the Media” in a capitol doorway. Extremists defecated in the hallways, stomped in their own feces and tracked their excrement across the encaustic, Minton tiles.”

Before it was over law enforcement officials suffered multiple injuries, many serious. Five deaths have been linked by authorities to the mayhem. When violence has become acceptable as a political argument it is clear the Republicans are no longer a credible political party. Iowans have a right to know where their elected officials stand. So, Senators Grassley and Ernst and representatives Hinson and Miller-Meeks; where is the accountability for what these Trump Republicans did? Ultimately, it’s simple, are you on the side of the rule of law or on the side of the “patriots” who tracked their own excrement through the U.S. Capitol? Iowans deserve forceful statements from all of you.

Tom Jacobson

Riverside