This is the time of year we look back on the good and the bad. We can all argue about what we think should be included on which list. I have my own list of people who showed us examples of those not afraid to make sacrifices to stare down the world’s bully. They are men and women who finally couldn’t take it anymore no matter what the cost.
Marjorie Taylor Greene: She is a radical, right wing Republican congresswoman from Georgia who was one of the biggest and loudest supporters of Donald Trump. She was obnoxious and crass. She was the last person you would imagine would turn on her hero. It started with the Epstein files. When some of the Justice Department’s hundreds of thousands of files were released after Trump waffled back and forth about releasing them, Greene spoke out. “This is horrifying”, she posted on X. “Trump called me a traitor for fighting him to release the Epstein files and standing with the women who were raped, jailed in stalls, and trafficked to men. Only evil people would hide those and protect those who participated. I pray for these women.” Greene knew this would end her political career. She knew Trump would launch a “hateful primary against me.” Greene then announced she would resign her seat in congress. Her last day will be January, 5, 2026.
Thomas Massie: He is a Republican congressman from Kentucky. A state Trump won by over sixty percent of the vote in 2024 the third highest in state history. Massie certainly has a safe seat. But he teamed up with Democratic congressman Mo Khanna of California to pass a law requiring the federal government to release all of the Epstein files. Trump reacted as expected. On his Truth Social platform he dismissed congress’s interest in the Epstein files as a “scam”, one of his favorite words. The only lawmaker he pointed out by name was Massie, who he called “one lowlife Republican”. Massie replied on line. “Imagine celebrating a blessed Christmas with your family…suddenly phones alert everyone to the most powerful man in the world attacking you…for fulfilling his campaign to help victims!” Massie started getting more campaign contributions which he will need. Trump has already endorsed a retired US Navy Seal, Ed Gallrein, to run against Massie in the Republican primary next year. Massie said Gallrein is a failed…establishment hack” who Trump endorsed out of panic. We’ll see what those Trump voters in Kentucky will decide.
Danielle Sassoon: You probably never heard of Sassoon. I wrote about her early this year. She was the interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. One of the most powerful offices in the Justice Department. Her offices had brought criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams for corruption, including taking bribes from Turkish officials. He was scheduled to go on trial last April. Suddenly, Sassoon was notified by her boss at the Justice Department to dismiss the charges against Adams. Adams had told the federal government he would go along with its crackdown on illegal migrants if it would drop the charges. Sassoon wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I understand my duty as a prosecutor to mean enforcing the law impartially, and that includes prosecuting a validly returned indictment regardless whether its dismissal would be politically advantageous to the defendant or those who appointed me.” Sassoon resigned. The charges against Adams were dropped. Sassoon is a Republican. She clerked for Conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and is a member the conservative Federalist Society.
Mark Kelly: He is the Democratic US senator from Arizona. He was an astronaut who commanded the Space Shuttle on several missions and a naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. He is the husband of former congresswoman Gabby Giffords who shot and badly wounded while greeting voters in 2011. Kelly and five other members of Congress published a video urging service members not to obey illegal orders which is part of the military code. The Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly to determine if he will be punished for his involvement in the video. Trump called the video “seditious” as did Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The investigation could have serious consequences for Kelly. A court-martial is unlikely but, he could have his rank reduced lowering his benefits. The Pentagon could call him back to active duty and he would have give up his Senate seat. Kelly has shown no fear. At a news conference on December 1st, Kelly said, President Trump is “Trying to silence me and threatening to kill me… For most of his career, bullying people has worked out for him. But not now because I won’t let it happen. The American people won’t let it happen.” I would urge everyone to watch the thirty-seven minute video on You Tube where Kelly takes down Trump and articulates what many people are feeling.
As we start the new year, let’s remember these diverse Americans for standing up at very personal risk for what they believe in.
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