The activities at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, are as disturbing as any video of violence I’ve ever seen in history. The activity of so many of the participants was as blatantly malicious as those in Milwaukee when their city erupted in violence a few years ago. Or those individuals that chose to riot in cities all over the country after the L.A. Rodney King incident on March 3, 1991. Or, more recently, following the George Floyd murder at the hands of the Minneapolis police department.
The facts came out later in all, of a strong participation of out-of-town, recruited participants. Basically, “hired guns.” There for a purpose, but not of direct need or responsibility. They were the “Glory Seekers.” Following their own sense of moral justice. Measured on their own scale. They were the headline-getters.
The reporters go to the “fire,” not the firehouse. If it wasn’t their agenda they were in support of, why did they need titles or names for the “group” they “represented”? They saw themselves as “The Proud Boys,” NCS-131, The Boogaloo, Rise Above Nation or some of QAnon’s supposed tens of thousands of followers, supporting themselves with flags, banners or particular clothing to identify them.
Any one of those groups, as well as any individual person that damaged our Capitol or injured anyone on that sad day in American history needs to be found guilty of appropriate crimes and punished in accordance.
Let’s look at what government reports have stated as damage costs. When I read that up to $30 million was a number tossed around the media, I looked into why. There was damage to the building, artifacts, marble busts and statues. Believable, according to video documentation.
So, I looked deeper. Those artifacts, paintings, etc., were damaged by chemicals sprayed on them that day. Forbes reported eight items that Conservators reported to the House Appropriations Subcommittee of the Legislative Branch would undertake about six projects costing $25,000 the first year, and between $1 to $25,000 per year after. Estimated cost for increased Capitol security for the next two months was at least $30 million.
Increased damage estimates were released at the trial of Anthony Vuksanaj, of New York, and reported by Forbes April 11, 2021. The Capitol Architect updated to $2.7 million in property damage to the U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C. In March it was estimated at $1.5 million.
The estimated $30 million included cost of mental health counseling for victims and any indirect costs incurred, according to Brett Blanton in February 2021. It’s our government at its best. There was no reason given for the $1.2 million increase in April 2021. Who were they securing it from after the fact?
I remember news showing soldiers sleeping in concrete parking garages for weeks on the ground. From $1.5 million to $30 million in three months with no accountability. As a footnote, the two-year refurbish to the Capitol Dome, starting in 2016, racked up $60 million.
Jeff McDougle
Delphos
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