Connect with us

International

Accused rioters blame Trump for ‘inspiring’ Capitol invasion

Published

on

Accused rioters blame Trump for ‘inspiring’ Capitol invasion

The former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has been blamed by accused rioters who invaded Capitol Hill on the 6th of January for ‘inspiring’ the action.

Brandi Harden, the lawyer of one of the accused identified as Emanuel Jackson, who court filings describe as a “recently homeless”, wrote in a filing on Monday calling for pretrial release stating that Trump “roused the crowd by telling them ‘we will stop the steal’ and ‘you’ll never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength, and you have to be strong … if you don’t fight like hell you are not going to have a country any more’”.

As such, “the nature and circumstances of this offense must be viewed through the lens of an event inspired by the President of the United States”, Harden wrote.

READ ALSO: Amid Republican discord, Trump insists he’s going to stay in politics

Other defendants who accused Trump of inspiring the invasion include; Jacob Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, the “QAnon Shaman” who donned a horned headdress and face paint during the attack, and Dominic Pezzola, a member of the Proud Boys right-wing group who is accused of shattering a window in the Capitol with a stolen police shield so rioters could enter.

This came days after the newly elected President of the United States of America, Joe Biden said in a US media interview that Trump should not continue to receive intelligence briefings normally available to former presidents because of his “erratic” behaviour.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now