Posted on Jan 4, 2024
The Trump campaign embraces Jan. 6 rioters with money and pardon promises
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https://www.npr.org/2024/01/04/ [login to see] /the-trump-campaign-embraces-jan-6-rioters-with-money-and-pardon-promises
Three years after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the future of the government's massive investigation into the riot, as well as the fate of many rioters themselves, may hinge on this year's presidential election.
In response to the violent assault on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, federal agents and prosecutors launched one of the largest investigations in American history. FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Republican appointed by Trump, called the attack an act of "domestic terrorism."
The FBI has now arrested upward of 1,200 people. Prosecutors have secured around 900 guilty pleas or convictions at trial – in cases ranging from breaching the Capitol building to assaulting police, obstructing Congress, bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds and seditious conspiracy.
Three years after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the future of the government's massive investigation into the riot, as well as the fate of many rioters themselves, may hinge on this year's presidential election.
In response to the violent assault on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, federal agents and prosecutors launched one of the largest investigations in American history. FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Republican appointed by Trump, called the attack an act of "domestic terrorism."
The FBI has now arrested upward of 1,200 people. Prosecutors have secured around 900 guilty pleas or convictions at trial – in cases ranging from breaching the Capitol building to assaulting police, obstructing Congress, bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds and seditious conspiracy.
The Trump campaign embraces Jan. 6 rioters with money and pardon promises
Posted from npr.org
Riots
Crime
Washington
Donald Trump
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 3
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."'A lack of consequences emboldens criminals'
Among the approximately 140 police officers assaulted while protecting the Capitol is Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges. One of the most widely viewed videos of the riot shows rioters crushing Hodges in a doorway to the Capitol.
"I was assaulted many times throughout the day," Hodges told NPR. "I was beaten, punched, kicked, pushed, beaten with my own baton in the head, crushed with police shields, experienced O.C. spray or pepper spray." At one point, he said, "someone tried to gouge out one of my eyes."
Hodges said the physical scars from that day have healed, but he still experiences the mental trauma of that day.
"Jan. 6 is still a huge part of my life," he said.
Hodges, who said he was speaking only for himself and not on behalf of the police department, has testified at two criminal trials stemming from the riot. He has also offered testimony about his experience as part of the legal effort that removed Trump from the presidential ballot in Colorado. Trump has appealed that ruling.
"It's a very intense experience when you're testifying about it, and it all sort of comes rushing back," Hodges said. "So many Americans were trying to essentially overthrow the United States government, whether they admit it or not. It's overwhelming emotionally, because you never thought you'd be in those circumstances."...
..."'A lack of consequences emboldens criminals'
Among the approximately 140 police officers assaulted while protecting the Capitol is Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges. One of the most widely viewed videos of the riot shows rioters crushing Hodges in a doorway to the Capitol.
"I was assaulted many times throughout the day," Hodges told NPR. "I was beaten, punched, kicked, pushed, beaten with my own baton in the head, crushed with police shields, experienced O.C. spray or pepper spray." At one point, he said, "someone tried to gouge out one of my eyes."
Hodges said the physical scars from that day have healed, but he still experiences the mental trauma of that day.
"Jan. 6 is still a huge part of my life," he said.
Hodges, who said he was speaking only for himself and not on behalf of the police department, has testified at two criminal trials stemming from the riot. He has also offered testimony about his experience as part of the legal effort that removed Trump from the presidential ballot in Colorado. Trump has appealed that ruling.
"It's a very intense experience when you're testifying about it, and it all sort of comes rushing back," Hodges said. "So many Americans were trying to essentially overthrow the United States government, whether they admit it or not. It's overwhelming emotionally, because you never thought you'd be in those circumstances."...
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https://www.npr.org/2024/01/03/ [login to see] /trump-appeals-ruling-barring-him-from-the-colorado-ballot-to-the-u-s-supreme-cou
Trump appeals ruling barring him from the Colorado ballot to the U.S. Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a landmark decision by Colorado's top court that ruled him ineligible from appearing on that state's primary ballot.
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