Feb. 21, 2025 Editor, News-Gazette: The recent Presidents Day provided a good occasion to honor leaders who’ve embodied our nation’s highest values. It also invites reflection upon presidential failures. To me, a lifelong conservative, some of the most shameful become clear from watching “The Sixth,” a 2024 documentary on the January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol (available on Prime Video). By showing what actually happened that day — a violent, bloody assault on our democracy and the rule of law —the film irrefutably thwarts all attempts to whitewash the event.
“The Sixth” reveals President Donald Trump’s multiple disgraceful derelictions of duty. In the last few months of his first term, Trump unjustifiably provoked the anger that sparked the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. On that infamous day itself, Trump for several hours did nothing to stop the lawless, brutal chaos. The resulting catastrophe injured over 140 law enforcement officers and risked many lives, including that of his own vice president. In his second term, Trump pardoned over 1,000 of the rioters — including many who pled guilty to using a deadly or dangerous weapon to assault officers — and now threatens punishment for the lawmakers who investigated the national calamity.
By this reprehensible conduct, President Trump makes a mockery of both his twicesworn oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” and his express constitutional duty to ensure faithful execution of the laws. Although the Office of the Presidency should be steadfastly honored by all Americans, individual presidents must earn that honor. President Trump regrettably dishonored himself —simultaneously embarrassing and gravely injuring our country — by his appalling behavior regarding January 6, 2021. SAM CALHOUN Lexington
