What course of action will unify the country as the U.S. Senate prepares for the 2nd impeachment trial of now former President Donald? Move on or hold the President accountable for “inciting insurrection?” Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer explains there’s only one path to travel.
“You have to have accountability before you can unify.”
U.S. Representative Peter Meijer stands by his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump. He explains the political divisions will remain if, as he puts it, the wound and the infection isn’t treated.
“And I would rather we never go down the path of seeing another January 6th. We never go down the path of this increasing political violence which has reached a crescendo on January 6th and the assault at the Capitol, but has very much been present on both sides of the isel with mobs thinking that the threats of violence and intimidation can be used to achieve a political end.”
The Grand Rapids Republican says all of this has come about because of a declining trust arguing disputes through political processes or the courts. What does Meijer identify as the source of declining trust?
“Too many politicians have seen it in their selfish interest to sit there and under cut and undermine trust in those institutions or have done nothing to build it up and act in a way that can be consistent and viewed as acting with integrity. So that's what we're trying to restore and working to restore and, in my mind, you know, excusing away what happened on January 6th for whatever, you know, procedural reason it just moves us further away from actually coming to an ultimate accountability and in understanding who should be held responsible and for what?”
How important is that for the future of the Republican Party?
“Essential. If this is a party that continues to pander to a Qanon caucus, that continues to, you know, wink at conspiracy theories, that continues to operate without any regard for just core foundational values than this will be a party that does not endure. And I think it's essential for the country, I think it's essential for the conservative movement, that we have you know conservative party that we have a Republican Party that can regain the trust that's been lost, you know, not just on January 6th but, you know, because of the increasing number of just flat out lies in the process.”
You can watch the entire interview with U.S. Representative Peter Meijer Wednesday, January 27th @ 6pm and Sunday, January 31st @ 10am on WGVU Public Television's West Michigan Week.
