1. In the weeks following the election that he loses, the ex-POTUS repeatedly calls it a fraud and claims that he really won, and that the sacred democractic rights of his supporters are being trampled on by dark forces. He calls on his political allies to join him in disputing the results, and for his VP to refuse to certify them. During this same time, the fraud narrative is repeated on social media and right-wing groups prepare to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6 at the ex-POTUS' behest.
2. On the day the election is being certified, the ex-POTUS holds a rally near to the Capitol building to decry the results of the election. He encourages his supporters to march on the Capitol building where that election is being ratified, and fight for their rights. His minions use language like "be a hero or a zero" (don Jr. )and "trial by combat" (Rudy).
To be clear, 1 and 2 above alone are encouraging sedition no matter what happens after that. The entire Trump clique should be in jail right now, and in most countries they would be.
3. Leading up to that day, Capitol security is aware problems are brewing and asks for help from the National Guard. The acting Sec. Defense refuses that help, making himself complicit in the events that follow.
4. After the ex-POTUS holds his rally the mob goes to the Capitol building and overwhelms the security forces, breaking into the building (trespassing) and then doing damage (vandalism), including one taking a shit inside someone's office, and stealing items (looting). The elected officials inside are forced to retreat to a basement for their own safety.
5. Trying to enter a secure area, the mob are filmed smashing windows and in another area, pinning a security guard in the door frame. Security at this point has barricaded the door, and when a member of the mob tries to enter through a broken window, she gets killed. One police officer is also killed by someone swinging a fire extinguisher, and three other members of the mob die (one apparently from accidentally tasering himself in the balls and giving himself a heart attack).
6. Finally the National Guard is called in and the mob is removed. Among the items recovered are pipe bombs and a noose.
There's no doubt in my mind that Trump and his henchmen tried to stage a coup. The mob were his weapon, and whether the members of said mob were serious about trying to overthrow the gov't, just a bunch of MAGA-tards who thought it'd be fun to bust up the Capitol and stick it to the man, or both, is an open question.
But calling them a group of "peaceful" protestors who did nothing worse than "occupy a gov't building" is something only an idiot would say. It's kinda dumb to say that at first when the facts aren't in yet, but when the facts come in and you keep sticking to that argument, you are indeed an idiot.
Reply With Quote