Everyone wants and expects accountability. But accountability isn’t the product of witch hunts or trials by public opinion. Yet, that’s exactly how most of Tuesday’s Senate hearing proceeded. For some, the temptation to transform the senatorial dais into a local theater production was simply overwhelming. Senators shouldn’t aspire to trend on X or govern through soundbites.

No one’s winning an Oscar for Tuesday’s spate of performances.

Accountability requires the accurate and judicious apportionment of blame. In other words, the exercise of justice. Those who say they champion justice and decry government weaponization shouldn’t deny Secret Service agents administrative process, especially in a matter as critical as an assassination attempt.

It’s usually Democrats who seek to burn political opponents in effigy.

Tar and feathering by a social media mob isn’t accountability. It’s the opposite, and it only perpetuates the institutional pathologies that gave rise to tragedy. The opposition to this odious inclination was an inspirational moment in an otherwise lackluster event.

Since the July 13th assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, a mass of questions, commentary, and conspiracy theories have occupied the minds of the American people. Yet, more than two weeks out, we’re still reliant on Congressional oversight hearings for scraps of information.

Yesterday, the Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, and Judiciary Committees conducted a joint hearing to obtain information and compel accountability from the FBI and the Secret Service (SS).........

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