by Alan Dershowitz
The Hill
On Wednesday our Constitution was tested. For the first time in modern history, violent protesters breached the Capitol building and entered the chambers and the offices of members of Congress, endangering lives and destroying property. Deaths and injuries occurred.
The primary fault lies with the protesters themselves. But there is more than enough blame to go around. The Capitol police should have been better prepared for the rioters, who were urged by President Trump to go to the Capitol. It was inevitable that some might break the law, trespass on government property and, perhaps, engage in violence.
It is a mistake, however, to cast blame on public officials who were exercising their constitutional rights to protest the election at rallies and on the floor of Congress.