As we’ve often famous round these elements, the record of explanation why Donald Trump ought to by no means be allowed inside 1,000 toes of the White Home once more is a really lengthy one that continues to develop longer with every passing day. The newest entry? His continued protection of the individuals who violently attacked the US Capitol following his 2020 loss, which appears to counsel he’d encourage such habits once more, ought to his bid to retake the presidency in 2024 not go based on plan.
The Washington Put up reviews that in a video aired at a fundraising occasion on Thursday night time, Trump “expressed solidarity” with the mob that broke into the federal government constructing in an try to dam Joe Biden’s electoral win, saying: “Individuals have been handled unconstitutionally, in my view, and really, very unfairly, and we’re going to unravel it. It’s the weaponization of the Division of Justice, and we will’t let this occur in our nation.” The occasion was hosted by the Patriot Freedom Mission, which payments itself as “a nonprofit group offering authorized, monetary, psychological well being, and religious assist for people and their households—together with younger youngsters—who’re struggling by the hands of a weaponized justice system.”
Whereas that is removed from the primary time Trump has gone to bat for the violent mob—final September, he stated he would difficulty “full pardons with an apology to many” of the rioters—it seems to be the primary time he’s accomplished so since saying he’ll run for president for a 3rd time. As a reminder, quite a lot of the rioters he says he stands with brutally attacked regulation enforcement officers on January 6, whereas 5 individuals died throughout or after the assault. Earlier this week, Stewart Rhodes, the chief of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia, was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his plot to maintain Trump in energy. Because the assault on the Capitol occurred practically two years in the past, greater than 800 individuals have been arrested and federally charged with crimes, the Put up famous.
Trump’s function in January 6 is at present below investigation by the Justice Division, which appointed conflict crimes prosecutor Jack Smith to function particular counsel to supervise the case final month, after Trump announce his candidacy for workplace. In June, former White Home aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that Trump knew his supporters have been armed on the day of the assault and however demanded they be allowed onto the Ellipse for his pre-insurrection speech—and later, to march to the Capitol—arguing that they weren’t there to harm him.
In different information about why there ought to be a federal ban on Trump getting into not simply the District of Columbia however the complete Washington metropolitan space—that’s proper, throw Maryland and Virginia in there too: On Thursday, a man whom he had dinner with simply final week stated issues like, “I like Hitler” and “I am a Nazi,” after which tweeted a picture of a swastika inside a Star of David. So, y’know, add that to the tab.
If you want to obtain the Levin Report in your inbox each day, click on right here to subscribe.
