Democracy in action tonight

Thought for the day

This evening, the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection will hold its first prime-time public hearing. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, one of the smartest people I know, is a member of that committee.

Zoe and I first met when we were sophomores at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto. I knew Zoe was smart back in 1964, but didn’t realize how smart (or gifted).

Zoe went on to attend Stanford, while I headed south to USC. Two years after we graduated from college, Zoe and I were reunited when we both worked as staff assistants to the late Rep. Don Edwards on Capitol Hill in 1972.

Because our desks were 6 ft. apart, I often listened as Zoe talked on the phone, and watched as she drafted Mr. Edwards’ daily inserts for the Congressional Record. I was always impressed because Zoe did both so effortlessly.

Well, that was then and this is now. Today, it is clear the riot at the Capitol was an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. Some call that an attempted coup. What we don’t know is the extent of Trump’s involvement, if any, in planning the insurrection on Jan. 6, or the instructions he gave his top White House aides while the break-in, looting and beatings were taking place. (Sadly, 5 deaths have been linked to that fateful day.)

Tonight is the first of six public hearings. I understand every member of the House Select Committee will have a specific role to play as the next five hearings roll out. I don’t know who you will be watching, but I’ll be paying close attention to Zoe’s line of questioning.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and I both remember the Watergate hearings like they were yesterday. The good news is new, federal election laws were created in the wake of that 1972 scandal. My hope is Zoe and her committee colleagues eventually will be able to craft legislation that prevents another Jan. 6 from ever happening again. Democracy matters, people. So stay tuned.

-DF