On Wednesday, federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson singled out former President Donald Trump and certain allies of his for their role in fostering the attack on the Capitol in January. Pretending like some other course of events played out, of course, would be ridiculous — those who swarmed the premises on that fateful day did so under the inspiration of Donald Trump’s lie that the election had been rigged for Biden, and Trump has since come to their defense over and over again. At this point, violence could easily be described as a defining feature of Trumpism.
At the risk of being scolded by all the pundits who want Trump to be in the rear view mirror I would like to say that it’s very uncool to expose people to Covid knowingly, and what’s even more uncool is planning, in plain sight, to overthrow the results of the next election.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) December 1, 2021
As Jackson put it, those behind the January 6 rally in D.C. that immediately preceded the Capitol violence are guilty of having “deliberately stoked the flames of fear and discontent and explicitly encouraged [attendees] to go to the Capitol and fight for one reason and one reason only: to make sure the certification of the election didn’t happen.” Jackson made her remarks during a sentencing hearing for Capitol rioter Russell Peterson, who pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor offense and was ultimately sentenced to 30 days in jail. Addressing Peterson, Jackson added that there “may be others who bear greater responsibility and should be held accountable. But this is not their day in court. It’s yours.”
NEW: Another federal judge says that Trump and his allies "stoked the flames of fear and discontent" that helped fuel the Jan. 6 violence and should be held accountable.
But she also says the defendants made their own choice to storm the Capitol.https://t.co/22H7tjfDdt
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 1, 2021
Peterson was not accused of perpetrating direct physical violence while at the Capitol. Those who did so are facing significantly steeper charges, with potential penalties including much longer stints in prison. Capitol rioter Scott Fairlamb, who assaulted police during the violence, was recently sentenced to nearly three and a half years in prison — but he pleaded guilty, and going to trial instead of accepting responsibility might lead to longer sentences for rioters, if found guilty.
It seems like this law is hard for the Trump Organization to understand, so let us break it down for them: Federal criminal law prohibits the use of the presidential seal to falsely convey government endorsement or approval of its commercial interests. https://t.co/jyKJIxLJ1H
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) December 1, 2021
Other serious charges faced by those who stormed the Capitol include weapons offenses, conspiracy, and obstruction of an official proceeding. There’s not yet been a single trial involving someone who was actually at the riot — so far, all of those who were charged for being at the riot and who’ve since been sentenced had previously pleaded guilty. Certain defendants, though, have been held in custody anyway — despite their lack of a trial — because of the severity of the violence that they perpetrated at the Capitol.
The former President tested positive for COVID and hid it.
He then put Gold Star military families, who have already sacrificed so much, at risk.
And then Trump lied by blaming Gold Star families.
This was dishonorable, disgusting, despicable behavior by the former President. https://t.co/2azZ21oJ30
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 1, 2021
