Don’t confuse them for real heroes

Re “Trump ignored aides who told him election was not rigged,” June 14

Even though the depositions of former Atty. Gen. William Barr and Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien laid bare the ultimate truth behind the “Big Lie,” let’s not induct these people into the hero hall of fame.

They kept silent for nearly a year and half while former President

Trump peddled his toxic lies about the election and ultimately incited his rabid followers into a violent bloody coup attempt.

The fact that Trump and his dishonorable sycophants raised more than $250 million, duping his followers into believing that their money would be used to fight widespread fraud and put him back into office, is flagrantly corrupt and should enrage those who were conned. Ramona Saenz

Alhambra

Strictly speaking, the Jan. 6 committee is bipartisan, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t monochromatic. It would have been better served by having some dissenting voices.

Yes, the Democrats and the media would have been highly annoyed by, say, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). But his presence and that of a few like-minded Republicans would have acted as a basic fairness check.

Also, they would have added an element of true drama (breaking: conflict sells). They might have caused more voters friendly to Trump to tune in. And to the extent that there is anyone still persuadable about this event, they would have forced the committee to pay more attention to Jan. 6 counternarratives that could be debunked.

Instead, Democrats opted to take the easy way out. Brian Goldenfeld

Oak Park