UPDATE: Donald Trump Once Again Summons Violence for His Own Personal Gain
UPDATE: During a live interview on CNN, attorney John Pierce, who represents numerous alleged participants in the January 6, 2021,
Ivy Griffith
UPDATE: During a live interview on CNN, attorney John Pierce, who represents numerous alleged participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, faced a fact-checking moment when he attempted to downplay the severity of the event and mansplain the insurrection to host Abby Phillip.
Pierce falsely claimed that the “narrative” portraying the riot as violent was inaccurate and argued that there was violence on “both sides.” However, Phillip promptly corrected him, asserting that it was indeed a violent event.
Refusing to accept her correction, Pierce interrupted Phillip, stating, “Abby, Abby, Abby. Some of the police officers were not doing their jobs.”
Pierce: The narrative that sometimes has been pushed that this was a just a violent event that, there was violence on both sides.
Phillip: No, no. It was a violent event. Look, it was a violent event. Police officers were there doing their jobs pic.twitter.com/4zi9tPfAME
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 7, 2023
Phillip then highlighted how the mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol, some of whom were armed and seriously assaulted police officers. Despite this evidence, Pierce continued to dismiss the characterization of the events as violent, condescendingly stating to Phillip, “I know this stuff better than you, with all due respect, way better.”
The exchange on CNN exemplified the ongoing controversy surrounding the January 6 insurrection and the attempts by some to downplay its seriousness. Fact-checking and holding accountable those who seek to minimize or distort the events of that day remain crucial in ensuring an accurate understanding of the events that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol.
Original story (June 12, 2023): Former President Donald Trump will be arraigned in Florida on Tuesday on 37 felony charges.
The polarizing former POTUS is the first US president to be impeached twice, and the first to be indicted twice – as well as the first to be federally charged with a crime.
But charging Trump does not come without its perils to the country and democracy as a whole.
His followers have already shown a willingness to use violence and intimidation to try to gain the upper hand – January 6, 2021, and the riot at the Capitol comes to mind.
Now, it seems as though Trump is trying to summon another mob to his defense on Tuesday, and it’s unclear what the country can expect to materialize.
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Trump took to Truth Social this weekend to ominously suggest that things are about to change drastically, writing, “AMERICA WENT TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT WITH TEARS IN ITS EYES. SOMEDAY SOON, HOWEVER, IT WILL BE ABLE TO WIPE AWAY THOSE TEARS AND SMILE, BIGGER THAN EVER BEFORE, FOR WE WILL HAVE DEFEATED THE RADICAL LEFT MARXISTS, FASCISTS, COMMUNISTS, LUNATICS, & DERANGED MANIACS, & CLEARED THE PATH TO PUT AMERICA FIRST & THEN, QUICKLY, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
And early Monday, Trump wrote on the social media platform, “Getting ready to head down to Doral in Miami. We must all be STRONG and DEFEAT the Communists, Marxists, and Radical Left Lunatics that are systematically destroying our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Taken out of context, either of those could be innocent enough – which is likely what Trump is hoping the Department of Justice assumes.
But when paired with the reality that three of Trump’s surrogates have called for violence, and the fact that there is a pro-Trump rally planned for Tuesday about which Trump told supporters, “See you in Miami on Tuesday” – and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Over the weekend, rabid Trump cohort and Arizona Republican Kari Lake spoke before Georgia Republicans, issuing a bone-chilling threat which threatens the very bedrock of Democracy.
Lake told the crowd, “I have a message tonight for [US attorney general] Merrick Garland, and Jack Smith, and Joe Biden. And the guys back there in the fake news media, you should listen up as well, this one’s for you. If you want to get to president Trump, you’re going to have to go through me, and you’re going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me.”
She added, “And I’m going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA [National Rifle Association]. That’s not a threat – that’s a public service announcement. We will not let you lay a finger on President Trump. Frankly, now is the time to cling to our guns and our religion.”
Representative Andy Biggs, upon hearing of Trump’s indictment last Thursday, took to social media to write, “We have now reached a war phase.” He added, “an eye for an eye.”
And Representative Clay Higgins wrote on Twitter, “President Trump said he has ‘been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.’ This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all.”
President Trump said he has “been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM.”
This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this.
Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all.
— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) June 9, 2023
Although, Higgins later backed off and added, “Patriots, we’ve manipulated the MSM to establish deep commo, now copy this… do NOT trip the wire they’ve laid for you. Maintain your family. Live your life. Know your bridges. Hold.
Let Trump handle Trump, he’s got this. We use the Constitution as our only weapon. Peace. Hold.”
What can be expected Tuesday is anyone’s guess. When Trump “called the troops” to rally for him ahead of his arraignment in Manhattan, they didn’t show. A few lackluster supporters arrived, but no significant presence.
However, Manhattan is the heart of a Democrat stronghold.
Florida is another ballgame entirely.
But Miami, where Trump will be arraigned, is deeply Democratic. So there is the potential for serious clashes and violence – and Miami police have been preparing for the potential.
Trump’s arraignment on June 13 comes just one day before the former President’s 77th birthday.