An Ohio man on trial for participating in the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, is claiming in court that Donald Trump “authorized” the attack, once again giving the Justice Department evidence to indict him.
Thus far, the DOJ has refused to hold Trump accountable for inciting the insurrection and attempting to overthrow democracy. This failure to defend the rule of law is disgraceful, especially considering that participants in the coup attempt are turning on Trump.
In fact, the most recent participant to finger Trump as the instigator is Dustin Thompson.
According to NBC News:
Dustin Thompson, 38, of Ohio, is the third Jan. 6 defendant to face a trial by jury after the convictions of Guy Reffitt and former police officer Thomas Robertson. Thompson faces six charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding and theft of government property. His co-defendant, Robert Lyon, pleaded guilty last month, admitting that he and Thompson traveled to Washington together and saying stole the coat rack and fled from police when they were confronted on the grounds of the Capitol.
Samuel Shamansky, an attorney for Thompson, told jurors Tuesday that his client had ‘snatched the coat rack, foolishly,’ and that there was ‘no question’ that his client took part in the ‘horrible’ event on Jan. 6 that interrupted a ‘solemn and sacred proceeding.’ But, Shamansky argued, the ‘genesis’ of the attack began months before Jan. 6, and responsibility fell at the feet of Trump, who ‘authorized this assault’ on the Capitol.
Statements like this make Thompson and other insurrectionists witnesses against Trump. And that’s on top of all the video footage of Trump inciting the insurrection. In addition, Trump only allowed the National Guard to clear the Capitol hours after it had begun only once it became clear that his coup attempt had failed.
The DOJ has dithered long enough. This attack on our democracy must not go unpunished or it will happen again.
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