The «Trump defense» is taking shape among some alleged Capitol rioters. One by one, die-hard supporters of former President Donald Trump are now blaming him for their actions that day, after being charged by federal prosecutors and facing possible jail time.
One by one, die-hard supporters of former President Donald Trump are now blaming him for their actions that day, after being charged by federal prosecutors and facing possible jail time. A lawyer for one rioter who allegedly attacked police officers with a baseball bat said he was «inspired» by Trump’s incendiary speech at a rally beforehand. The so-called QAnon shaman, whose horned bearskin headdress made him go viral, now claims he was «duped» by Trump, his lawyer said. At this point, the statements may be more of a public relations strategy than an articulated legal defense. But they dovetail with Democrats’ case in favor of impeaching and convicting Trump; they agree that the former president incited the deadly insurrection that overwhelmed the Capitol on January 6. More than 150 people have been charged in connection with the attack, according to CNN’s latest tally. «You become very self-interested very quickly when you’ve been charged by the Department of Justice,» said Elie Honig, a CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor. «Whatever political mission these people thought they were on while invading the Capitol, now that they might get locked up, they’ll point the finger wherever they need to. Political goals now go out the window.» ‘Inspired’ and ‘roused’ by Trump Democrats cited some of initial arrests in their hurried House Judiciary Committee report released before the impeachment vote.
