THE SECOND-MOST AMAZING ASPECT of life in Trumpistan in the
last four years has been the credulity of supporters of Donald J. Trump. Their
god-hero was a brazen liar. Many of them even realized that fact. Yet, they
still had unquestioning faith that their
orange savior would make America great.
Again.
____________________
Did Trump incite a riot on January 6, with his words that
day? He incited a riot with his words for more than four years.
____________________
What, then, was the most amazing aspect? That such a
despicable human being was ever voted into office to begin. His followers
turned out in even greater numbers, four years later, and tried to elect him
again.
For some, the explanation was their own racism. Racists loved
Trump from the start and loved him more the more they saw of how he worked.
Those easily duped fell for the charlatan’s tricks. Oddly
enough, good religious people came to imagine that Trump was god-chosen to lead
the nation out of godless, transgender-people-using-the-bathroom-of-their-choice
Satanic times. Some had good reasons, of course, a believe their hero could
save jobs, a hope that he would challenge China on trade. Above all, fear and
hate were the driving forces. Trump was a master at fueling the hate of certain
groups for certain other groups, turning Americans against other Americans, as
never before. It was his most unpatriotic act.
Did Trump incite a riot on January 6, with his words that
day? He incited a riot with his words for more than four years, starting from
the moment he announced he wanted to run for president.
He stirred the anger, and on Capitol Hill, we saw the fruits
of his poisonous seeds sprout. Not all Trump supporters are haters. Not all of
the people who voted for him are beyond hope. Yet, the men and women who tried
to destroy the rule of law, and thwart the casting of certified electoral votes,
they were Trump fans all the way. We have the proof and
perhaps the proof can set people free.
Newly arrested, we had,
…Robert Gieswein, 24, of
Woodland Park, Colo. Charging documents and videos indicate he may have links
to the three extremist groups that have drawn the most attention from the FBI:
the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters. Some of the videos appear to
include members who discussed storming the Capitol about an hour ahead of the
riot.
In court papers, FBI agents say
Gieswein — charged with assaulting police, civil disorder and obstruction of
police and government — runs a private paramilitary training group and is
affiliated with the Three Percenters. The FBI said in court filings that
Gieswein was apparently recorded multiple times inside and outside the Capitol
on Jan. 6, decked out in military garb with two distinctive markings that
made it easier for investigators to trace his actions that day — a patch for
his paramilitary group, the Woodland Wild Dogs, and a black pouch on his chest
that said, “MY MOM THINKS I’M SPECIAL,” evocative of the Proud Boys anthem,
“Proud of Your Boy.
Someone who appears to match the
description of Gieswein laid out in FBI arrest affidavits shows up on a
live-streamed Proud Boys video from about 11:14 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. that day.
About 30 minutes into the video, viewed by The Washington Post, one member in
the group with people in blaze-orange hats, camouflage backpacks and
military-style vests yells, “Let’s take the f---ing Capitol!” Someone else then
admonishes, “Let’s not f---ing yell that.”
… Then, about 2:13 p.m.,
according to FBI affidavits, Gieswein appears in a different video with
a helmeted group breaking a window on the Senate side of the Capitol using a
riot shield and a piece of lumber, one of the earliest breaches of the
building.
CNN reported an additional arrest on January 21:
Joseph Randall Biggs, 37, of
Florida was arrested Wednesday and is facing three counts, obstruction of a
proceeding, entering restricted grounds and disorderly conduct, for his part
in the siege of the Capitol on January 6,
according to the Justice Department and an FBI affidavit. The FBI described
Biggs in the affidavit as an organizer for the Proud Boys.
Authorities say Biggs said, “This
is awesome!” on livestreamed footage of rioters entering the Capitol building,
according to the affidavit.
“Your affiant also notes that
multiple individuals were photographed or depicted on videos with earpieces,
including other individuals believed to be associated with the Proud Boys,” the
FBI affidavit says.
The charges are among a recent
spate of federal cases that allege planning and organization among far-right
groups.
The FBI said that Biggs told
agents he entered the Capitol but not by using force, and denied knowing about
any planning for the storming of the building.
CBS noted the arrest of yet another rioter. “Come on guys.
We need patriots. You guys, it’s the way in,” Gina Bisignano can allegedly
be seen calling out in several videos circulating on social media. In one she’s
seen pushing against officers in an attempt to get inside the Capitol building.
In another she’s standing near a window into the building exhorting others to pour
into the building. “Gina’s Beverly Hills…Everybody, we need gas masks…we need
weapons...we need strong, angry patriots to help our boys,” she calls out. “They
don’t want to leave. We need protection.”
She has admitted she was there, and has now been charged with
civil disorder, destruction of government property, aiding and abetting,
obstruction of an official proceeding, knowingly entering a restricted building
or grounds and violent entry or disorderly conduct.
(Upon her return to Beverly Hills, California, where she
lives, the magnitude of what has happened apparently hits her. She tells a local newspaper, “My life is over. I’m going to
jail. I’m going to lose my son.”)
CBS also reported on the arrest of Couy Griffin, a Nevada county
commissioner, and the founder of Cowboys for Trump.
Before leaving for D.C., Griffin noted:
My vehicle is an extension of my
home in regards to the constitutional law, and I’ve got a right to keep those
firearms in my car. I’ve got a .357 Henry, big boy rifle lever action I’ve got
in the truck of the car and I’ve got a .357 single action revolver Colt Reuger
that I’ll have on the front seat on the right side. And I will embrace my
Second Amendment and keep my right to bear arms. My vehicle is an extension of
my home in regards to the constitutional law and I’ve got a right to keep those
firearms in my car. I’m going to be in D.C. by God’s grace, God willing.”
He did go. By the grace of God, he did riot. Judges and
juries willing, he’ll get convicted and sent to prison.
Also arrested, Maryland man, Bryan Betancur, who expressed a
desire to be a “lone wolf killer” prior to the riot. He was wearing a GPS
monitoring device as a condition of probation, related to a fourth degree
burglary, when he allegedly took part in the attack on Capitol Hill.
The affidavit describes Betancur as having,
made statements to law
enforcement officers that he is a member of several white supremacy
organizations. Betancur has voiced homicidial ideations, made comments about
conducting a school shooting, and has researched mass shootings. Betancur
voiced support for James Fields, the individual convicted for killing an
individual with his car during protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Betancur
has stated he wanted to run people over with a vehicle and kill people in a
church.
Investigators found photos on his social media platforms appearing
to show him in a Proud Boys shirt and holding up a Confederate battle flag at
the Capitol.
*
Add Keith Lee, a Texan, an Air Force veteran, husband and
father of two small children (at least based on pictures he posted in social
media) and a former police detective to the list of arrestees. In the weeks leading up to the
November election, Lee helped organized a number of pro-Trump car and truck
caravans. Afterwards, he helped raise money online to pay expenses for “patriots”
who wanted to make the trip to D.C. on January 6, and claimed to have passed
out tens of thousands of dollars.
The day after
Trump called on his supporters to come to D.C. on January 6, because it “will
be wild,” a new website appeared, Wild Protest. At least 2,000 people donated
at least $181,700, with calls for people to rally and halt the certification of
the vote. Right-wing extremist groups like the Oath Keepers solicited donations
online to cover “gas, airfare, hotels, food and equipment.”
Now, probably:
bail money and for legal expenses.
In online videos, Lee,
41, is allegedly seen casing the Capitol grounds on the morning of January 6.
He points out the flimsiness of the fencing. Even before Trump’s rally ends, he
is cheering on the arrival of far-right militiamen who encircle the building. When
the larger crowd arrives, Lee calls out with a bullhorn, urging members of the
mob to rush break in, until he and hundreds of others crowd the Capitol Rotunda.
Lee is live-streaming events at that point, and even finds a moment to do a
little fund-raising.
“If you couldn’t make the trip, give five to 10
bucks,” he told his viewers, seeking donations for the legal costs of two
jailed “patriots,” a leader of the far-right Proud Boys and an ally who had
clashed with police during an armed incursion at Oregon’s statehouse.
Lee did not respond to requests for comment
[from reporters]. He has often likened supporters of overturning the election
to the signers of the Declaration of Independence and has said he is willing to
give his life for the cause.
Of course, if Lee was willing to die for the cause, he had to
be willing to kill other Americans for the cause, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment