Nightly Nuance - January 11, 2021

Hello my friends. 

It was very hard to decide what to talk about today. I begin here with sharing some practices around news consumption and boundaries that I'm setting for myself. Then, I turn to the Campaign for Accountability's complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which asks for an investigation into Rep. Mo Brooks for inciting the Capitol riot. 

The Campaign for Accountability is a non-profit watchdog organization that exists to expose misconduct in public life. The Office of Congressional Ethics is an independent nonpartisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against House Members. 

The letter requests that Mo Brooks be investigated for his comments at the "Save America March." Here is an excerpt of those remarks: 

Rep. Brooks: "America does not need and cannot stand, cannot tolerate, any more weakling, cowering, wimpy Republican Congressman and Senators who covet the power and prestige the Swamp has to offer while groveling at the feet and the knees of the special interest group masters.

As such, today is important in another way.

Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass!
Now our ancestors sacrificed their blood, their sweat, their tears, their fortunes and sometimes their lives to give us, their descendants, an America that is the greatest nation in world history. Are you willing to do the same?
My answer is yes!
Louder!
Are you willing to do what it takes to fight for America?
Louder!
Will you fight for America?" 

These remarks potentially violate: 

18 USC 2101 - which prohibits inciting riots 

18 USC 2384 - which criminalizes seditious conspiracy 

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits service by people who have participated in insurrection 

Rule XXIII of the House Ethics Rules, which prohibits conduct not reflecting creditably on the House 

I hope that this information is helpful as we continue to process this moment in history together. As always, I'll do my best to answer any questions. 

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