January 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S127 And he was famously averse to raising There being no objection, the mate- in a country are targeted by a perpetrator money, even for his own campaigns. (His son rial was ordered to be printed in the with the same citizenship’’ as the victims. , who represents his father’s RECORD, as follows: It is worth noting that in the middle of the old congressional district, has carried on [From the VTDigger, Jan. 8, 2021] January 6 invasion, the FBI became in- that tradition by sponsoring the House’s volved, presumably on the basis of a logical DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THE CAPITOL leading campaign finance reform legisla- conclusion that they were looking at an act tion.) Indeed, much of the Senator’s career (By Haviland Smith) of domestic terrorism. The FBI’s definition success was due to his savvy longtime chief It is a fact that the best, noblest political of domestic terrorism is ‘‘violent, criminal of staff Peter Marudas, another Greek Amer- movements often attract the worst kind of acts committed by individuals and/or groups ican who could not only go toe to toe with violent participants. These people barge in to further ideological goals stemming from Sarbanes on the issues but ably manage the and commit the kinds of violent acts that ul- domestic influences, such as those of a polit- more transactional demands of his office. timately change the focus of a previously be- ical, religious, social, racial or environ- has spoken optimistically—na- ively in the opinion of many—about his abil- nign movement to violent terrorist activi- mental nature.’’ ity as president to work productively with ties. These are viewed quite differently and It is clear that the invasion of the Capitol Mitch McConnell and other Republicans on are generally punished more severely than building involved criminal activity. It is substantive issues. To the degree he honestly normal criminal activities. equally clear that if the criminals are to be believes that, it is because he has done so in That is what we are seeing today in the identified and tried for their crimes, as has his own career, and watched others, like . Whether you agree with their been clearly stated by all the government Paul Sarbanes, do so as well. goals or not, the vast majority of Trump elements involved, it will be the FBI that After the Senator died, Biden tweeted: supporters are non-violent Americans who will lead the way. They are, after all, the ‘‘Paul Sarbanes and I served together on the seek basic changes in American life. They premier law enforcement organization in the Foreign Relations Committee for 30 years. plan to reach their goals by supporting United States. As such, they are most likely There was no one sharper, more committed, Trump. Right now, that means dem- to be the only organization capable of resolv- or with firmer principles. And he, too, re- onstrating peacefully on his behalf and ing the many complicated issues involved in turned to his family nearly every night. agreeing with and backing his claims of this crime, most emphatically including the They meant the world to him. Rest In Peace, fraud in the 2020 presidential election which issue of domestic terrorism, its initiators, Paul.’’ he lost to Joe Biden. motivators and perpetrators. The other part of this picture is the violent f one. There is unquestionably a smaller group ‘‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THE or groups who, for whatever reasons, see f CAPITOL’’ these peaceful demonstrations as an oppor- tunity to raise havoc, to partake in the only THE POWER OF HUMAN CHOICES Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, what form of protest that turns them on—vio- our Nation witnessed and what Mem- lence. Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, amid the bers of Congress and the dedicated staff What none of these folks seem to realize is chaos of the last 4 years, it is almost that work in the Capitol witnessed on that in the commission of felonies (entering difficult to parse out the particular January 6 was a deadly attack on one the U.S. Capitol forcefully, etc.) in the pur- challenge that was 2020. Faced with of our most sacred and historic con- suit of political goals (the illegal participa- deadly pandemic wrought by COVID–19 stitutional duties: the count and final tion in maintaining Trump in power) they qualify nicely for classification as terrorists. and the ensuing economic crisis, mil- certification of the results of our Presi- lions of Americans lost their jobs and dential election. The violent insurrec- At one point during the invasion of the Capitol, it was announced by the TV com- found themselves in a newfound state tion that occurred in the Capitol, mentators that the invaders were beginning of uncertainty and instability. Hun- which took the lives of five people, in- to leave the area. Careful examination of the dreds of thousands of Americans have cluding an officer of the U.S. Capitol TV footage at the time shows that the people died from the pandemic, and millions Police, was an attack on our democ- leaving the area were old, often female—a have been infected. Meanwhile, fami- racy. The votes cast in the 2020 Presi- less fit, less bellicose group. In fact, they lies across the country have lost their dential election were counted and re- were the Capitol invaders who had no inten- tion of getting involved in what clearly was homes and businesses due to worsening counted. The results were challenged in hurricanes, floods, and wildfires the courts and ultimately were cer- becoming a potentially violent situation. brought on by intensifying climate tified in every single State. Yet, citing They simply were not up to it politically, mentally or physically. change. And there are socioeconomic the baseless chant that the election On the other hand, who stayed behind? challenges, too, that linger and grow was ‘‘stolen,’’ an angry and violent Those who were actively interested in be- due to inequality, political division, mob stormed the Capitol in an effort to coming involved in violence. Did you notice and racial injustice, all things that suspend the democratic process, over- how many of them wore helmets? The only have defined the last year. turn the will of the American people, reason you wear a helmet is to protect your- and ensure that now-former President self from violent attacks on your head and George Will poignantly wrote on Jan- Trump remained in office. These insur- that is clearly what they were doing. They uary 1 in about rectionists vandalized the very heart of anticipated participating in violence. In ad- the challenges we faced throughout the our government and threatened and dition, the stay-behinds were a major cut in past year and will continue to face age below those who were leaving. They were moving forward. In his piece, Mr. Will harmed those sworn to protect it. the sort who could climb vertical walls, In a column in the VTDigger, break through windows and throw projectiles highlights a greater overarching chal- Haviland Smith, a Vermonter and the at the protecting police force. The fact that lenge as well: that we, as humans, do first chief of counterterrorism oper- 5 people died, over 80 were arrested, and 50 not have all encompassing control over ations for the Central Intelligence police officers were injured bears eloquent our circumstances. There are greater Agency, makes the strong case that testimony to the fact that this was a ter- forces in play; yet our choices and deci- the insurrection on January 6 was an rorist invasion encouraged by the sitting sions can dictate to some degree the act of domestic terrorism. I am certain President of the United States, his family impact of those forces. that the FBI and the Department of members and Republican colleagues. Ever since the results of the November As we begin our work in the 117th Justice will continue to investigate election became known, the President has Congress, I hope we can come together and, where appropriate, to file charges created and maintained the fiction that to better equip our families, commu- and hold these people to account. But widespread fraud was involved in the Biden nities, and society to respond to our in this Chamber, we must heed Mr. win. Whether Trump knows that his major current challenges and prepare our Smith’s wisdom. As legislative body, as premise is all lies (which would make him a country to effectively combat similar public servants, we must reckon with calculating criminal) or doesn’t know that challenges in the future. the lies and anti-democratic discourse his positions are all lies (making him de- that fueled this attack and work to en- ranged) is almost irrelevant. In either case, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. sure that such an act of domestic ter- calculating or deranged, he is a strangely Will’s column, ‘‘2020 was a booster shot questionable choice for leader of this coun- ror never occurs again. against human hubris,’’ be printed in try. the RECORD. I ask unanimous consent that the Terrorism is the use of fear (terror) and piece written by Haviland Smith, titled acts of violence to intimidate societies, gov- There being no objection, the mate- ‘‘Domestic Terrorism in the Capitol,’’ ernments or ideologies. Domestic terrorism rial was ordered to be printed in the be printed in the RECORD. is a form of terrorism in which victims with- RECORD, as follows:

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