Editor,

The impeachment charge of “incitement of insurrection,” which leans on the wording in Trump’s “Save America March” speech, is a shortsighted overreach that threatens freedoms of speech.

His inflammatory words hyped his violent-prone supporters, but nothing suggests he intended for them to breach police barriers, harm people or disrupt Congress.

It’s hard to argue that he anticipated this rioting, given that Capitol police and FBI failed to do so.

Asking people to “fight like hell” for the country they want is what activist like myself have said about the country we want.

Such words are not a call to insurrection.

Trump also told the crowd they’d be marching to the Capitol to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard,” and to “cheer on” friendly lawmakers, which suggests he hoped to influence, not disrupt Congress.

The impeachment resolution references Trump’s unsupported claims of rigged and stolen elections — the same made by his enablers in Congress and state houses.

Many, now feigning courage and integrity, are abandoning him to protect their own political futures.

Can we impeach Trump for lying to the public when we excused another who led us to war over false claims about weapons of mass destruction?

The impeachable offense that falls squarely in Trump’s lap is his strong-arming of Georgia’s election officials. It has conveniently taken a back seat to charges related to a violent event that has people more upset.

We should remember that loose interpretations of “incitement” can be used against those expressing legitimate grievances, including Black Lives Matter organizers whose protests witnessed unwanted violence.

The lawbreakers at the Capitol made personal choices that hurt the country, their cause and their president. They and Trump’s enablers share in the blame for the deaths and destruction that occurred. Their vision of an America “made great again” is a problem that Trump’s impeachment won’t make go away.

Rick Abraham

Greenbank