I love history, but I am by no means a historian. However, I do believe in the adage, “history repeats itself.” After watching much of the Senate impeachment hearings this week, I applaud Jamie Raskin and the impeachment managers for presenting concrete evidence that Trump did incite the storming of the capital on January 6. And yes, inciting violence and sowing discord was always a major part of his M. O. The evidence and video footage presented by the impeachment managers was heartbreaking. And what is more heartbreaking is a majority of GOP Senators will no doubt vote to acquit him again. Comments by Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that the trial was absurd and unconstitutional boggles my mind, as well as the fact that 14 -17 GOP Senators didn’t even bother to show up during day two of the trial. Senators are witnesses as well as jurors in this trial.  What would a judge say in a normal courtroom if the jurors didn’t show up?  

I took Latin in High School and College. Luckily my instructors included snippets of history along with the conjugation of verbs.  I remember my college professor was particularly fond of Cicero, the noted orator, statesman, philosopher, lawyer, scholar, and noted critic of the Rome’s Senate and tyrants.  Unfortunately, he was assassinated by Mark Anthony in 43 BC. I remember a lecture about Brutus, the long-time sycophant of the ambitious Julius Caesar and ultimately his assassin. He went to Cicero with his plea that something had to be done to save the nation from Caesar. Brutus confessed he was wrong about him. He believed in Caesar until he betrayed, not only his trust, but that of the Republic. Cicero’s reply to Brutus was, “Do not blame Caesar, blame the people of Rome who have so enthusiastically acclaimed and adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and gave him triumphal processions and laughed delightedly at his licentiousness and thought it very superior of him to acquire vast amounts of gold illicitly. Blame the people who hail him when he speaks in the Forum of the ‘new, wonderful good society’ which shall now be Rome’s, interpreted to mean ‘more money, more ease, more security, more living fatly at the expense of the industrious.’ Julius was always an ambitious villain, but he is only one man.”

This speech certainly resonates to this day. It sounds like Cicero could have attended any of Trump’s rallies in which he promised to make America great again, restore jobs and prosperity, meanwhile demeaning Democrats and his opponents.  As I watched the impeachment trial this past week, there seems to be the same cult-like adoration for Trump in the majority of GOP Senators.  I was flabbergasted at Josh Hawley’s (R-MO) comment that he answers to his constituents, not to the Constitution or the law. Then there’s Graham, Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ted Cruz (R_TX) going in and out of the defense team’s conference room, like it was a bus depot.  What are they doing meeting with Trump’s defense team?  So much for the impartiality oath sworn to by these Senators.

The line in Cicero’s speech –  They “adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and gave him triumphal processions and laughed delightedly at his licentiousness,” sounds like every one of Trump’s supporters, from the Proud Boys to GOP Senators and Representatives. The principles of democracy do not matter to them. They are blinded by conspiracy theories and lies about a stolen election. Democracy certainly is fragile, and this is most apparent now. 

Cicero was right. He saw the Roman Senate as corrupt and weakened which allowed a series of strongmen to gain dictatorial powers. I see a parallel with the fanatical fealty to Trump. Given the disrespectful display of inattention by many GOP Senators during the trial and the spewing of lies and disinformation by defense lawyers, it is obvious that their loyalty is to Trump.  They act as if the person is equal to the country, that he is the United States, not the people or the Constitution. 

The first and second Senate impeachment trials showed the leader and the state have moved closer together, almost merged into one. Trump supporters characterize his opponents as leftists, communists, and cannibals who hate the United States. His supporters see themselves as patriots and see everyone else as enemies of the nation. In both impeachment trials, we saw the will of the cult leader is the will of the state. That’s a scary thought.

The Roman Senate complied with the autocratic rule of numerous emperors and morphed into a body of men dependent on the emperor’s whims and fancies. And it’s interesting to note that there was no formal change from a republic to an autocracy. It was a gradual erosion of institutions, the steady creep of authoritarian decisions over decades and the consolidation of power by an individual in the name of preserving the republic. Just as in Rome, Trump loyalists are unable to separate the personal interests of their leader from the interests of the country.

Much of Rome’s slide into authoritarianism happened during the rise of Augustus, Caesar’s challenger who held no imperial title, but was called “Princeps,” meaning “first among equals.”  After Caesar’s death, the Senate gave him both power over Rome’s military and the traditional tribune’s power to veto legislation.  So, these powers gave him immunity from prosecution. He was above the law.  Augustus and the Roman Empire were one and the same. This sure sounds familiar. Trump’s defenders cry he cannot be impeached, he cannot be prosecuted, he too is above the law.

Another interesting fact is many of Rome’s emperors claimed they were ordained to rule by the gods. This sounds a bit too familiar. Former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo stated that he thought Trump was sent by God to protect Israel from Iran. Former Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry told him he was the “chosen one” to lead the United States. Former Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders said God wanted him to be president. He even said it himself. Luckily, things didn’t go as far as erecting a temple to him as they did for Augustus. Perhaps we could say Trump Tower in NYC would suffice.

I am skeptical that the Senate will convict. And what’s most concerning is the endorsement of Trump’s crimes. It sets a precedent for more manifestations of authoritarianism. If we look at the Roman Republic’s rapid slide into authoritarianism while masquerading as a republic, we cannot ignore the similarities and signs in our republic. Cicero fought tyranny and advocated for justice and collaboration. He influenced Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence. As former President Barack Obama stated, “You have to tend to this garden of democracy, otherwise, things can fall apart fairly quickly. And we’ve seen societies where that happens.”

Note: A hearty thanks to Thomas Campbell for editing this blog.