How can Trump’s supporters square his actions in DC now with Jan. 6? | Opinion

Donald Trump’s militarization of Washington, D.C. has been done in the name of stifling the rampant lawlessness he claims against the evidence is plaguing our nation’s capital. What a difference from January 6, 2021.

Then, fading President Trump incited an armed mob to storm the halls of Congress while leaving the police unsupported to face the rioters.

A rapid deployment of the National Guard then may have saved lives and property damage. How do Republican Trump supporters square the difference between Trump’s actions then and now?

Michael A. Clark, Charlotte

Wrongfully convicted?

James Richardson, a former international basketball pro, has spent 16 years in prison for a double homicide shooting. Evidence shows the jury was misled: video evidence was altered, testimony was unreliable and jurors felt pressured to convict.

Two independent experts concluded the video was so degraded that no identification should have been made, and that it may have hidden other people or objects. Their findings support James’s account that others used his car and multiple people, including a shooter, were present.

When an innocent man is imprisoned, families suffer and perpetrators remain free. Court officials must reinvestigate and deliver justice by setting James Richardson free.

Denise Everett, Hickory

Bad deal

Mecklenburg County residents only need to look at who is pushing the latest transit tax referendum to understand why this is a bad deal. The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is putting $3 million with backing from corporate giants like Bank of America to push a sales tax vote which will also, with approval by voters, completely change the authority in charge of transit.

Currently, the Metropolitan Transit Commission is chaired by elected officials we can hold accountable. In the new transit authority, positions will be appointed and unaccountable to anyone other than the cronyism that this scheme engenders.

That means a transit system that doesn’t respond to its residents but to those who seek to use transit as a moneymaker for land speculators and developers. This is a bad deal for residents, especially working class residents, which will leave us with less transparency at a high cost.

Tom Pontecorvo, Charlotte

More Moore

When we elect someone to represent us, we expect them to show up — not just in Washington, but here at home. With Congress on recess, Congressman Tim Moore should be holding a real, in-person town hall. Not a tele-town hall or podcast where questions are screened and scripted. Not a closed-door meeting with a select few. A real town hall where every voter has a chance to be heard, ask questions, and get straight answers.

There are real issues facing our community: funding cuts to food assistance programs, the impact of tariffs and many others that deserve open and honest discussion. We deserve to be part of that conversation — not shut out of it. I’m urging Rep. Moore to step up and schedule a town hall this August. Show up. Listen. Answer questions. That’s not too much to ask. That’s democracy.

Anne Larsen, Charlotte

DMV leader

The NC DMV needs a real leader. One who will visit the offices throughout the state personally on regular occasions unannounced. It also needs a secret shopper from an outside source, or select various people that are due for renewal, or, at the very least, send a questionnaire to recent renewal people and ask about their experience, just as most successful other businesses do. Typically, the personnel at these locations are rude and know they won’t get fired for being rude.

C. Ryder, Charlotte

Russia’s Alaska

President Trump has been upset with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not simply giving away the eastern regions of his country to the invading Russians because they claim that used to be part of Russia prior to Ukraine‘s independence. So, since Alaska was at one point connected to Russia via a land bridge, I assume President Trump would be fine if Russia just killed US citizens living there and took it back.

Sam Hatcher, Matthews