A few years ago, I was attending a Democratic Party dinner, and I was seated next to a young fellow I hadn’t met and who was remarkably impressive. By dessert, I was fully on board and hopeful this fellow, a former teacher and principal and then-state legislator would have a bright future in public service. My wife Dana and I left the dinner captivated by his intellect, good humor and character. He was running for the U.S. Senate, and though I was fully on board as a John Hickenlooper supporter, I made a mental note to keep track of this Mike Johnston fellow.

Well, he ended up mayor of Denver.

I was so pleased when he was elected and then, as now, I have no doubt he will always do the right thing. And as recently reported in Colorado Politics, one of the nastier fellows soon to be empowered by the incoming Trump administration, wants to put Johnston in jail, in yet another outrageous overreach of federal power (you know, the things that used to bother Republicans until they got into office).

Apparently, Johnston recently made remarks in support of protecting undocumented people in Denver against massive raids and mass deportations, a key promise of President-elect Donald Trump. What he said, when clarifying his thinking, was he was “mulling over options” to help those folks. He also noted that, though he preferred not to, he would go to jail in defense of liberty if need be.

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Guess who replied: the new “border czar,” Tom Homan, a fellow who seems to me to be a cross between a schoolyard bully and, well, other kinds of bullies. Homan vowed to go after Johnston and to put him in jail. Let’s think that over for a moment, shall we? A federal official is vowing, and is clearly enjoying the threatening, to put a local elected official in jail if he doesn’t bend the knee to King Trump.

Perhaps even more distressing was the comment by Trump’s son, an unelected private citizen, in response to Johnston’s willingness to go to jail, who said on twitter, “your terms are acceptable.” I taught the U.S. Constitution at the Air Force Academy for many years, and I’m pretty sure we don’t have the title of prince in this republic, and this is yet more proof Trump seeks king-like power. The idea the child of a president would attempt to take on the trappings of power is terrifying and should make the blood of actual democracy supporters run cold. Oh, and Elon Musk, yet another unelected Trumpian minion wrote on twitter “Those who break the law will be arrested and that includes mayors.”

And as reported in CoPo, “U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, argued on ‘Face the Nation’ Sunday that Johnston could face prosecution and removal from office for attempting to block any mass deportations under the incoming administration.”

“What he is offering is a form of insurrection,” Paul said.

So, the GOP sycophants are gathering, and they are now appalled at the idea of an insurrection, right? I suspect most peoples’ irony meters blew a fuse on that last one.

And I bet most of these folks, when they bother, attend Christian church services without feeling even a trace of insincerity or hypocrisy. Having actually read the Bible cover to cover, unlike most of these “Christians,” I note this Jesus fellow seemed especially concerned about the poor. I don’t recall any place in the gospel wherein Christ called for the rounding up and deportation of the poor.

Rather the opposite, as I recall. Yet these Christian nationalists wrap themselves in the flag, to borrow an expression, and march around holding a cross, all the while defying actual Sermon on the Mount guidelines. Heck, recently a preacher quoted from the Sermon on the Mount, only to find some of his right-wing members objecting to that “liberal” stuff. Walking the path of Jesus may be turning into marching with tiki torches.

I’ve not spoken to Major Johnston since that lovely dinner years ago, but I have followed his career with interest and excitement. He’s dedicated his life to service, especially as a school principal. He volunteered, during his school years, in a variety of services, including helping the homeless and tutoring kids in a housing project. His life has been one of service, and yet the un-anointed son of a wannabe dictator has the gall to threaten his arrest for refusing to go along with horrible policies that will damage families, communities and, frankly, our state and nation.

I’m glad we have Mike Johnston in office, and I applaud his strong backbone. Good luck with the bullies who after you. Hopefully, the miasma of flawed character that has enveloped much of Washington D.C. will disperse.

Until then, keep fighting.

Hal Bidlack is a retired professor of political science and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who taught more than 17 years at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.