Last week, a federal prosecutor in a case involving one of the defendants charged with storming the U.S. Capitol came up with a dollar figure for the physical damage done to the building on Jan. 6.

“Your client acknowledges that the riot that occurred on January 6, 2021, caused as of May 17, 2021, approximately $1,495,326.55 damage to the United States Capitol,” stated a plea agreement letter sent by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Sedky and signed by the defendant’s attorney. According to the Washington Post, this was the first time prosecutors have given such a cost estimate.

In February, Architect of the Capitol J. Brent Blanton told a Congressional committee the cost of repairing damages from the attack and related security expenses have already topped $30 million and will continue to rise.

Whether it’s $1.5 million, $30 million or some other figure, the true cost of the attack on the Capitol and the aftermath of Jan. 6 can’t be calculated just in dollars and cents. Yes, doo...