Donald Trump was paying attention to the Thursday night proceedings of the House committee investigating the Capitol riot, where panel investigators laid out — among other points — his choice not to act more forcefully against the rampaging mob that descended on the Capitol.
Trump posted on his alternative social media platform known as Truth Social essentially all Thursday evening, with posts directly referencing the committee or matters it has under investigation extending for some four hours. In one of his earlier posts, Trump directly admitted he’d been pushing for action that could have changed the 2020 election outcome. Obviously, that’s long been clear, but it’s not always the case that Trump lays it out so directly. Using that language helps make his direct, personal intent clear — although he delusionally alleges the original election outcome was faulty. He said:
‘Mike Pence told me, and everybody else, there was nothing he could do about the Electoral Vote Count — it was etched in stone. But if so, how come the Democrats and RINOs are working so hard to make sure there is nothing a VP can do. This was a major event, because everybody ganged up and said that Mike had no choice, he could not send the slates back to the States (which is all I suggested he do) for possible retabulation and correction based on largescale Voter Fraud and Irregularities. This may have proven to be an Election-changing event.’
There was no legally recognized power held by then-VP Pence by which he could have actually stopped the certification in Congress of Biden’s win, as Trump wanted. What’s currently under consideration by the “Democrats and RINOs” Trump mentioned is an initiative that would essentially tighten up the process of certifying the election outcome, eliminating opportunities for faulty, alternative interpretations of the relevant legal provisions.
In another statement to Truth Social from late Thursday, Trump added: “Will there be any mention or study by the Unselects of how the Election was Rigged and Stolen? There is sooo much evidence, but the Unselects don’t want it seen in any way, shape, or form – and for good reason – it would ruin their latest Scam!” He’s using “the Unselects” to refer to the January 6 committee. In fact, the committee’s recent public hearings covered topics including the issue of whether the election really was rigged or somehow stolen. Obviously, it wasn’t an open question; the committee was simply making sure its case was as full as possible. The panel heard from, among other figures, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who discussed the extensive efforts his team undertook to examine potential instances of widespread voter fraud, finding nothing of the sort Trump claimed. They’ve also heard from former federal officials who attested to the security of the last election.
“Liz Cheney is a sanctimonious loser. The Great State of Wyoming is wise to her. Why not show the tapes, or interview, those that, with evidence, challenge the election?” Trump said in another angry post. In yet another, he added: “It’s Nancy Pelosi’s fault, she turned down the troops! Perhaps she was disengaged – maybe looking for her husband!” In short, there is no real-world evidence Pelosi “turned down” a plan from Trump for troops to protect the Capitol. She wouldn’t even have the authority to block a presidential troop mobilization.
Trump even angrily turned his ire on Mitch McConnell, who pushed back on the riot and Trump’s election subversion attempts. “Is this the same Mitch McConnell who was losing big in Kentucky, and came to the White House to BEG me for an Endorsement and help? Without me he would have lost in a landslide. A disloyal sleaze bag!” There’s no real-world evidence McConnell would’ve lost without a Trump endorsement — he’s been in office for decades, so he clearly knows what he’s doing politically. No matter any earlier polling showing a surprisingly tight race that year, it’s more likely a poll or two were off-base than the entire state of Kentucky suddenly swung towards the Democrats and only swung back because of a Trump endorsement.
