This morning, I watched with horror more videos of the violent insurrection, which was minutes away from a massacre. As awful as it was, it could have been so much worse had the rioters fulfilled their intent to kill the vice president and members of Congress. Many of the rank-and-file members of the Capitol Police, whose leadership was horrible, fulfilled their duty and saved lives.

There is a lot of discussion about how we find a way forward as a nation, and I am firm believer that the only way forward is if we move past the blatant lies so we build on the same facts. I know people who supported Donald Trump, but he did not win the election. He lost. By 74 electoral votes and 7 million votes.

So in order to indicate your willingness to be part of a unified country that disagrees on polices but condemns the actions of the angry mob and those who egged them on, people just need to be willing to say the truth. Joe Biden won a free and fair election. There was no widespread fraud.

Any of the 74 million people who voted for Trump who can’t say that are not interested in unity. Any elected official who refuses to issue that statement is perpetuating a lie and supporting the insurrectionists. It’s that simple.

You either agree it was a free and fair election, as proven again and again in failed court cases, or you don’t support democracy. I will happily seek common ground with people who want a country with two parties that disagree on ideas but not facts.