We are appalled that individuals convicted of violent felonies, including assaulting police officers during the January 6th insurrection, were recently welcomed inside the White House, treated as guests, and allowed to pose triumphantly in the press briefing room.

This is not a harmless photo op. It is a dangerous message.

Shane Jenkins was sentenced to seven years in prison for violently assaulting officers with metal objects. He expressed violent intentions before and after the riot. Dominic Box, convicted of felony civil disorder and later arrested for DUI, has a documented history of using racial slurs while in police custody. These men were not tourists or political prisoners. They participated in an attack on our democracy and harmed law enforcement in the process.

Allowing them into the heart of the executive branch is not only an insult to the officers who defended the Capitol, it is a normalization of extremism and political violence. It degrades the integrity of our institutions and emboldens others who might follow in their footsteps.

We demand immediate transparency regarding how these visits were arranged, who authorized them, and what measures are being taken to ensure that the White House does not become a stage for celebrating sedition. Our democracy cannot afford to treat insurrectionists as heroes.

There must be accountability, not applause, for those who attack the rule of law.

Photo: NPR