The former president on Tuesday issued a rambling statement citing “exonerating tweets” that he said to show he wasn’t responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The remark came as a potentially damning report regarding Donald Trump’s election interference was ready to be unsealed.
Trump highlighted tweets from January 6, 2021 in which he urged his followers to maintain calm in the 10-page paper “A STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP ON THE WITCH HUNT OF JANUARY 6th.” “Please keep the U.S. Capitol peaceful, everyone, please. No violence!” reads one. Another appeal to his followers to assist Capitol police. “They genuinely support our nation. Stay calm!” it exclaims.
Trump says in the statement, “It is dubious that any President has ever been so plain or concise about desiring peace and harmony, and most definitely not conflict. In addition to my complete and total immunity as president, my speech at the Ellipse, statements, and tweets provide unmistakable evidence that I acted lawfully and appropriately.”
Trump told supporters in his address that if they don’t fight like hell, they won’t have a country anymore and that radical-left Democrats were rigging the election with more power, but he neglects to underline these themes.