The New York Times said that testimonies of some supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump were involved in the Capitol riots - revealed by investigations and court records - that may play a role in the proceedings of his second trial during his term.
The newspaper stated - in a report - that after Trump became desperate, supported by his loyalists in denying any responsibility for him for the riots that broke out in the Congress building on the sixth of this month, blaming the responsibility sometimes for a "potential bugaboo" such as extreme left-wing anti-fascists or activists "Black Life" Important, "a group of supporters of the president began accusing him directly of causing incitement to what happened.
Interview and court records revealed that at least 4 pro-Trump rioters said they joined the march, which later developed into violence in Congress "among other things" because the president encouraged them to do so.
During the past few days, a retired firefighter accused of assaulting police officers on the Capitol building told a friend that he had gone to the building in response to "the president's instructions," according to the record of a criminal complaint filed against him.
A Texas real estate agent accused of storming the Congress building also told a reporter that by protesting in Washington she only "heeded the president's call."
A Virginia man told the FBI that he and his cousin walked toward the Capitol because Mr. Trump said "something about taking control of Pennsylvania Avenue" (the street connecting the Congress building to the White House).
The attorney for one of the mobs who invaded the Capitol wearing a Viking warrior uniform - later known as the "two-horned rioter" - stated that Mr. Trump was guilty and planned to seek pardon from his client from the White House.
Allegations of incitement
Although identifying the network of all those accused of storming the Capitol Building is still in its early stages and may take weeks, with dozens of people now in detention and their court appearance, the accounts they presented about Trump could support not only the criminal proceedings, but Also, allegations of incitement directed at the President during his second trial.
While it would be unlikely - according to the newspaper - that any of these defendants would be called to testify during the "trial drama," it is possible that Democrats could cite statements made by some publicly or by investigators regarding the president's statements and behavior.
At the very least - the newspaper adds - the frequency of "Trump pushed me to do what I did" could undermine the unfounded narrative propagated by some of the president's allies in Congress and his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, who sought to mount "outside agitators" and "" Traitors' employees responsible for the Capitol attack.
As criminal cases related to rioting work their way forward through the legal system, these cases may put some of Trump's most enthusiastic followers in an unenviable position, as they may find themselves forced to blame the man they came to support by arguing that their clients They are not guilty because it was a "government official" that motivated them to commit their crimes.