I am asking, is accepting criminal behavior by powerful people the standard in the Republican Party?

It was clear from the Senate impeachment trial case presented by the House managers, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s statements after the acquittal, Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher’s reaction during the insurgency Jan. 6, and other Republicans that Trump incited the violence, facilitated the violence by inaction and rewarded the violence by his words, “We love you. You’re very special … but go home and go home in peace,” and “Remember this day forever!”

Trump’s behavior of ignoring previous intelligence cost lives and allowed the violence to happen.

What did the 43 Republicans senators, including Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and 197 Republican representatives, including Gallagher, risk for supporting the criminal behavior of Trump? They may have otherwise been censored by a party tolerant of criminal behavior or primaried next election, hence their job and their power. What would Trump have lost if convicted? The only thing he would have lost was his right to run for federal office.

The patriots in the Republican Party were the seven senators and 10 representatives who stood up for our Capitol, rule of law, government institutions and with the guts to honor Capitol police and military soldiers who risk their lives when called upon.

Both respected conservative and liberal constitutional law experts said this impeachment was constitutional. The lawyers for the defense were personal injury attorneys.

We need a conservative party for a two-party system, but not the party represented by the 43 Republican senators and 197 representatives.