To the editor: Those of us paying close attention already knew everything in former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith's report on President-elect Donald Trump's plot to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Perhaps those who suddenly surprised by their findings are neglecting to stay informed.
The only explanation for why so many people failed to notice Trump's attempt to overturn the will of American voters and illegally cling to the presidency is willful ignorance. And it is this willful ignorance that allows a convicted criminal to return to the Oval Office.
An old saying goes that you can't fix stupid things. But willful ignorance is corrected by staying informed, and the backbone of a prosperous nation is an informed electorate.
To maintain our democracy, we must remain alert, engaged and informed. Anything else keeps us in our current situation.
Robert Archerd, Rancho Palos Verdes
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To the editor: Smith decided not to charge Trump with insurrection in part because Justice Department policy prohibits charging sitting presidents in federal proceedings, and Trump was president when the attack on the U.S. Capitol occurred. Prosecuting a president for such a crime would be unprecedented.
But the alleged crime itself is unprecedented. Never in the history of our country has a sitting president incited a mob to attack the Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. An unprecedented crime demands an appropriate legal response, even if that response is unprecedented.
Smith's behavior highlights the difference between the two factions in our deeply polarized country. He feels obligated to respect the precedents and laws of our country. Trump and his followers feel justified, even eager, to trample on customs, precedents and laws in pursuit of their goals.
Jerrold Gold, Mil Robles
