WASHINGTON – First, some people blamed the left-wing anti-French armed opposition for the deadly attack on the US Capitol on January 6. This theory was quickly debunked. Then it compares the rioters with peaceful protesters and even tourists.
Now, former President Donald Trump’s allies call those charged in the Capitol riots as “political prisoners,” an amazing effort to change the deadly story of that day.
The brazen remarks that preceded the planned rally in the Capitol on Saturday are the latest attempt to explain the terrible attack and cover up what the world saw: thugs loyal to the then president stormed into the building, fought the police and Attempt to stop Congress from passing the election of certifying Democratic Joe.
“Some people call it the truth of January 6th-they are rewriting the narrative to make it look like January 6th is no big deal. This is an attack on our democracy,” said Heidi Beric, against hatred And co-founder of the Extremism Global Project, researching extremist movements.
All in all, the whitewashing attempt of the January 6 attacks has the potential to further split an already polarized country that finds itself shifting from shared facts and shared commitment to civil order to a disturbing new normal.
As the next election approaches, the country has not healed eight months after the fatal attack, but faces the risk of further fragmentation.
The size and intensity of the expected crowd for Saturday’s rally is not yet known, but law enforcement seems not to take a risk. The security fence in the area around the Capitol was approved on Monday, and reinforcements are being called to support the Capitol Police, whose leadership was criticized for handling the actions on January 6 and was immediately dismissed.
Although the authorities have been preparing for the re-appearance of right-wing extremist groups and other Trump supporters who besieged the Capitol, it is unclear whether these actors will participate in the new event. Extremist groups are worrying because although members of the Pride Boys and the Keepers of Oath were only a small part of the rioters on January 6, they were accused of some of the more serious crimes in the attack.
Whether these groups participate or not, the rally may bring lone actors to Washington. Just after midnight on Monday, Congressional police arrested a Californian man holding a bayonet and machete in a pickup truck outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This Donald Craighead from Oceanside, California drew a Nazi logo and other white supremacist symbols on his truck and told the police that he was “on patrol.” The police said that it is not yet clear whether he plans to participate in any upcoming demonstrations.
Rally organizer and former Trump campaign strategist Matt Brainard has been promoting the event and other similar events in cities across the country, focusing on his so-called “prisoners” who were unfairly prosecuted for participating in the January 6 riots .
“I am proud of all the brave patriots who participated in these rallies. Their rights are under the same threats. Many people are now being held in prison for non-violent expression of their First Amendment rights,” he said in a statement Said in. Press release in July.
Brainard refused to respond to other questions via email, and the Associated Press refused to accept the conditions he set for the interview.
As Trump publicly considered running for the White House again, many Republican lawmakers who challenged Biden’s victory with him stayed away from Saturday’s rally, although many still echoed his false claims that the election was rigged—despite many special court cases. Lampe’s allies failed to confirm these allegations.
His spokesperson said in an e-mail that on January 6th, Trump encouraged the crowd to go to the Capitol in a rally near the White House. Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks declined to comment. Brooks is now running for the Senate.
His office said that another Republican, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, voted to challenge some Electoral College statistics, and he could not be interviewed.
Also declined to be interviewed was Senator Josh Hawley, who raised his fist to salute the mob when he entered the Capitol that day.
More than 600 people face federal charges in the riots, which injured dozens of policemen and forced legislators into hiding. In the end, five people died, including Trump supporter Ashley Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police when she tried to break into the lobby of the House of Representatives. Several police officers later committed suicide.
Hundreds of people have been charged with misdemeanors for entering the Capitol illegally, but hundreds of others face more serious felony charges, including assault, obstruction of official procedures, or conspiracy.
The most serious cases were filed against members of two extreme right-wing extremist organizations—Pride Boys and Oath Guardians—because the authorities are investigating the planned extent of the attack. None of the January 6 defendants were charged with sedition, although the authorities initially considered this.
More than 60 people have pleaded guilty, most of whom were charged with misdemeanors of protests in the Capitol.
Only a small number of defendants are still in custody while awaiting trial. Lawyers complained that the defendants’ conditions in DC prison on January 6 were too harsh, saying that they were being held in a place known as the “Patriot Unit.”
Defenders of the alleged Capitol attackers claim that because of their political views, they face more severe prosecutions than others, including “the life of black people” protesters, but the Associated Press’s review of the court case refuted This statement.
Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and member of the Select Panel investigating the January 6 attacks, said that those who violated the law need to be prosecuted. “Otherwise, we will just rationalize, justify, and encourage More of the same things.”
The tree-lined venue of the Capitol is the best place for people to take photos in front of the iconic dome, and it is usually rare to see lawmakers or staff on Saturdays. Although the Senate resumed its meeting on Monday, the House of Representatives will not resume its meeting until next week.
When the wall was erected around the Capitol for the first time after the January attack, it drew severe criticism from those who feared that the message sent would be shut down as a symbol of democracy. Now, it is increasingly seen as a necessary preventive measure.
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin in Boston and Michael Balsamo, Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
