This article was republished with permission from 海角社区app’s news partners at .聽Sign up for today.
The way Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery) sees it, 鈥渢here are consequences to actions.鈥� If you were convicted for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, you should not be able to serve on a Maryland state panel or garner 鈥渁 special appointment鈥� by the governor for certain positions.
That鈥檚 the thrust of Kagan鈥檚 , which was heard Tuesday by the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee. The bill would still allow those individuals to vote, run for a political office and even apply for various state jobs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just the prestigious appointments by the governor to be on a board, a commission, task force or work group,鈥� said , who serves as vice chair of the committee. 鈥淚 hope that some of them regret their ways and would like to give back, but they shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to get a prestigious appointment, in my opinion.鈥�
The bill also says that anyone convicted in the 2021 attack on the Capitol could not be appointed to certain positions within the of state government. In addition, a person wouldn鈥檛 be granted 鈥渁 position categorized as a special appointment鈥� under this .
A subsequent pardon by President (R) 鈥� who pardoned nearly 1,500 Capitol rioters on his first day back in office last year 鈥� wouldn鈥檛 make a difference. They would still be prohibited from serving on a state board.
Another part of the bill states, 鈥淚f an appointing authority determines that an individual鈥� did participate in the Jan. 6 insurrection, that board must 鈥渢ake immediate action to remove or terminate the employment of the individual.鈥�
Kagan had two major backers on hand Tuesday: former U.S. Capitol Police officers and who both were on the front lines at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Gonell, 45, told the committee he was assaulted by more than 40 rioters, sustaining injuries that required surgery on his right foot and left shoulder. Gonell鈥檚 now retired after eight years in the Army and 17 years in the Capitol Police.
Although Gonell wrote about that day, 鈥淎merican Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy,鈥� he said the attack 鈥渃hanged my life, but not for the better.鈥�
鈥淭his bill would help to remediate some of this trauma and PTSD because the people who assaulted me and my colleagues on that day should not be awarded,鈥� said Gonell. 鈥淗e [Trump] pardoned them and that鈥檚 a betrayal on our democracy and in law enforcement.鈥�
has kept himself busy running a political action committee called聽 He ran unsuccessfully for Maryland鈥檚 3rd District seat in Congress in 2024, and is now one of two dozen Democrats seeking to replace 5th District Rep. Steny Hoyer, who is retiring after more than four decades in Congress.
Dunn said Tuesday it鈥檚 hard to forget Jan. 6, especially when the calls nine people who stormed the Capitol and died 鈥� four on Jan. 6 and five later by suicide 鈥� 鈥渂eautiful souls.鈥�
鈥淚 would be less inclined to throw my full unwavering support behind this legislation if the Trump administration wasn鈥檛 actively trying to rewrite history,鈥� Dunn said.
Sen. Ron Watson (D-Prince George鈥檚), a member of the committee, said the individuals who stormed the Capitol 鈥渉ad a deranged president who coached them into those activities.鈥�
But Watson asked what would happen if the governor pardoned someone convicted of a crime.
鈥淚s there an opportunity to be able to resurrect some goodness out of that horrible, horrible event that could be to the benefit and be a part of the whole rehabilitation鈥� process? he asked.
Kagan said the bill doesn鈥檛 deter anyone convicted from voting, seeking state employment, or even running for public office. She reiterated that the bill has a focus on gubernatorial appointments.
鈥淭his is just related to the one dark day, Jan. 6, 2021, and that stands alone. They can come back and serve and have a second chance,鈥� she said.
Kagan said all the Democratic senators joined as co-sponsors and urged her Republican colleagues to join them.
None of the Republicans on the committee spoke, but at least two people submitted written testimony against the bill.
鈥淭his bill is partisan, overreaching, and unnecessary,鈥� said Trudy Tibbals of Mount Airy. 鈥淪uch measures politicize government employment and elected office, setting a dangerous precedent for disqualifying individuals based on past political involvement or protest activity.鈥�
