As a college student in the summer of '73, I watched the Watergate hearings on TV whenever I had the opportunity to do so. I was working in a shoe store at the time, which I recently wrote about in my novel, King of Soul. But I digress.

Those Watergate hearings were effective insofar as Nixon was eventually pushed out of office.

As the hearings progressed, I became convinced that Nixon had conspired with his underlings to violate the laws of our nation.

In the end, he resigned, which took the pressure off of public proceedings, but the whole process of justice withered, post-abdication.

In this trump situation, it will not be so simple. Because trump is not currently in office, the penalty that he suffers---whether by incrimination or by loss of public adulation and support--will not be as obvious as a disgraced president disappearing into a helicopter.

Our legislators, Raskin et al, need to work speedily and effectively to expose trump's crimes in a media manner that is constantly garnering a high profile in public media. If not, the proceedings will be lost in the jaded consciousness of Americans who are too obsessed with their own entertainments and creature comforts to give attention to the destruction of our lawful republic.

Jan6 committee, what you do, do quickly, officially and as publically as possible.