The United States House of Representatives passed an article of impeachment (H. Res. 24) against President Donald Trump on January 13, 2021. The single article stated that “In his conduct while President of the United States…Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the government
of the United States…” (emphasis added).
Sedition is a serious offense in the U.S. It specifically refers to a criminal conspiracy to “overthrow, put down, or to
destroy by force the Government of the United States, or prevent the execution of any U.S. law. ”
During the coming impeachment trial in the United States Senate, we are going to see that words matter, both the words of the accused, President Trump, and the words of the lawyers on both sides. To use a technical, legal phrase, there is going to be a lot of “hummahumma” during the trial. Some of the hummahumma words will be ducking, dodging, and hiding to obscure what some people said and did in plain site before, during, and after the violent coup attempt at the United States Capitol on January 6th.
However, when you watch the coverage of the Senate ’s trial, cut through all the hummahumma and keep a few simple words and definitions of those words in mind.
Merriam Webster’s online dictionary is really helpful here.
Definition of incite (verb): to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on
Definition of insurrection (noun): an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government
Definition of sedition (noun): incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority
Definition of coup d’état (noun): a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics especially : the violent overthrow or
alteration of an existing government by a small group
You can put these basic words together—along with the videos and photos you have seen before and will see again—to determine if you think the House of Representatives Members provide sufficient evidence and arguments for the Senate to convict former President Trump of “inciting an insurrection against the United States” and in so doing carried out an act of sedition for the purpose of fomenting a coup to overthrow our government.
