Dr. Fiona Hill is one of the most credible public servants who risked a great deal by testifying of her concerns regarding the coercion of Ukraine to benefit the president.* In an article called “Former Trump official Fiona Hill: ‘President’s actions have put us on the brink of civil war'” by Justine Coleman of The Hill, she cautions of more civil unrest. Here are a few paragraphs along with a link below.
“Former Trump National Security Council member Fiona Hill on Monday said that President Trump’s ‘actions have put us on the brink of civil war’ after pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol last week.
Hill, who served as the senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council, called the Capitol raid a “coup” in a Politico op-ed, saying that a coup does not need to be a ‘sudden, violent seizure of power involving clandestine plots and military takeovers.‘
‘Trump disguised what he was doing by operating in plain sight, talking openly about his intent,’ she said. ‘He normalized his actions so people would accept them. I’ve been studying authoritarian regimes for three decades, and I know the signs of a coup when I see them.’
The former Trump official said Trump’s efforts to stay in power during his presidency amounted to a ‘self-coup’ that was ultimately unsuccessful. But she noted ‘the bad news is that his supporters still believe the false narrative’ that the president won reelection after he and other Republicans have promoted unfounded claims that widespread voter fraud led to his loss.
Trump has not repudiated it, nor have the House and Senate Republicans who voted against the Electoral College results, she wrote. ‘Millions of people still think the election was stolen. They still support Trump the person, not the Republican Party, and many are prepared to take further action on his behalf.‘
‘As in the case of other coup attempts, the president’s actions have put us on the brink of civil war,’ Hill continued. ‘Trump did not overturn the election results, but, just as he intended, he disrupted the peaceful democratic transition of executive power.’
Her voice is one of experience and reason. She needs to be listened to by all, but especially Republicans in position of leadership.
*Per Wikpedia, Fiona Hill is a British-American foreign affairs specialist and academic. She is a former official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs. She was a witness in the November 2019 House hearings regarding the impeachment of President Trump. A PhD in history from Harvard University, she is currently a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
I have had immense respect for Ms. Hill ever since her courageous testimony before Congress, and her words today are certainly words of wisdom and caution. Thanks for sharing this, Keith, as shall I!
Thanks Jill. I agree, she deserves the esteem.
Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
Fiona Hill … a woman of great courage and one who remembered her oath to the Constitution and to the people of this nation when she testified before Congress in October/November 2019. Today, she cautions us, and we would do well to listen to her words of wisdom. Thank you, Keith, for sharing this!
Thanks for the reblog.
“The truth is that for the past four years, Trump has been stress testing the U.S. democratic system to see if anyone will rein him in.” No one in his party did. It happened in plain sight.
Janis, well said. The only way to stop a bully is to confront him. Ansent that, it is truly a license to steal, pun intended. Keith
Fiona Hill’s is a voice I trust.
Kim, I agree. She exudes credibility and concern for our country. Keith
An interesting and informative post, Keith. Thanks for sharing this information. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne. Keith
Note to Readers: One of the more fascinating exchanges when Dr. Hill testified occurred when some of the Republican Congress people started throwing claims at her. She noted that right now you are parroting Russian disinformation. Adding what they were saying was not true. Here was an expert telling legislators they have been misled.