Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Blame Trump’ defense in Capitol riot looks like a long shot
The Associated Press ^ | February 27, 2021 | By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Posted on 02/28/2021 4:06:09 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

The “Trump-made-me-do-it” defense is already looking like a longshot.

Facing damning evidence in the deadly Capitol siege last month — including social media posts flaunting their actions — rioters are arguing in court they were following then-President Donald Trump’s instructions on Jan. 6. But the legal strategy has already been shot down by at least one judge and experts believe the argument is not likely to get anyone off the hook.

Trump was acquitted of inciting the insurrection during his second impeachment trial, where Democrats made some of the same arguments defense attorneys are making in criminal court. Some Republican lawmakers have said the better place for the accusations against Trump is in court, too.

While experts say blaming Trump may not get their clients off the hook, it may help at sentencing when they ask the judge for leniency.

“It could likely be considered a mitigating factor that this person genuinely believed they were simply following the instructions of the leader of the United States,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney in Michigan who’s now a professor at the University of Michigan Law School.

It could also bolster any potential cases against the former president, experts say.

“That defense is dead on arrival,” said Bradley Simon, a New York City white-collar criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. “But I do think that these statements by defendants saying that they were led on by Trump causes a problem for him if the Justice Department or the attorney general in D.C. were to start looking at charges against him for incitement of the insurrection.”

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election2020; impeachment; tds

1 posted on 02/28/2021 4:06:09 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

>> rioters are arguing in court they were following then-President Donald Trump’s instructions

People who didn’t vote for Trump or support him

People who were already headed to the Capitol while President Trump was speaking

People who’d already plotted on Facebook to gather and storm the Capitol before January 6th

Their false narrative is falling apart


2 posted on 02/28/2021 4:10:50 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

>>Trump was acquitted of inciting the insurrection during his second impeachment trial, where Democrats made some of the same arguments defense attorneys are making in criminal court. Some Republican lawmakers have said the better place for the accusations against Trump is in court, too.

Conspiracy cooks

Hey Ass Presss, the better place for accusations about voter fraud is ALSO in court but the activist gods in black dresses said “nope!”


3 posted on 02/28/2021 4:12:17 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
While experts say blaming Trump may not get their clients off the hook, it may help at sentencing when they ask the judge for leniency.

Waste of time. The prosecution is going to request the harshest possible sentences for everyone convicted in this, saying that anything less will encourage it happening again.

4 posted on 02/28/2021 4:17:47 AM PST by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
rioters are arguing in court they were following then-President Donald Trump’s instructions

Did Trump summon his supporters to Washington on the 6th? Yes. Did he encourage them to storm the Capitol and trash it? No.

5 posted on 02/28/2021 4:19:31 AM PST by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
...NaziCommie Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney in Michigan who’s now a professor at the University of Michigan Law School...

These pieces of Commie Mitt are SO transparent.

The Commie whore [legal advisor to Biden Transition] might have pulled it off it she wasn't on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BarbMcQuade

6 posted on 02/28/2021 4:25:54 AM PST by kiryandil (New Movie: The Assassination Of Ashli Babbitt By The Anonymous Coward)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

How many have actually been charged with insurrection?


7 posted on 02/28/2021 4:26:33 AM PST by moovova (Yo GOP....we won't forget.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Of course prosecutors could point out the evidence that trouble was brewing weeks before the incident...and they could point out Trump's "peaceful and patriotic" comment.

But being Rat Party operatives they probably won't.

8 posted on 02/28/2021 4:38:00 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Trump: "They're After You. I'm Just In The Way")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

“Their false narrative is falling apart.”

It doesn’t matter. It’s all you’re going to hear until the mid-terms.


9 posted on 02/28/2021 5:21:14 AM PST by D_Idaho ("For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
The cutting off of the debate at JUST THE RIGHT TIME is what should look suspicious to everyone.

The only person who could have orchestrated the cutting off of the debate was Nancy Pelosi.

Trump could not have controlled the timing.

When that one Republican Senator objected THAT was supposed to begin the debate.

The debate would have caused all the truth of the fraud to be exposed on live TV.

Pelosi could not let that happen.

The Trump "insurrection/impeachment" crap is Russia-gate all over again.

Trump could not have caused the so-called insurrection to happen because too many things were out of his control.

Nancy is the hinge.

10 posted on 02/28/2021 8:28:55 AM PST by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: D_Idaho

In the 1990s Bill Clinton and the media blamed the OKC bombing on right wing talk radio.

It’s the same game plan. Forever.


11 posted on 02/28/2021 10:23:52 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: moovova

Has the BLM guy who called his website some “insurrection” thing been charged with leading a riot and insurrection yet?


12 posted on 02/28/2021 10:25:40 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Here is what your gonna say..................................


13 posted on 02/28/2021 10:27:10 AM PST by ronnie raygun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Seems they’d be better off saying “Hey...cops let me in...”


14 posted on 02/28/2021 10:58:16 AM PST by stylin19a (If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
"deadly Capitol siege"


When did this happen? I never heard about it!
15 posted on 02/28/2021 12:29:38 PM PST by Bikkuri (If you're conservative, you're an "extremist." If you're liberal, you're an "activist.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson