Normally when we pick tweets to cover, we chose those that are attracting a lot of attention: a lot of replies, a lot of retweets, etc. But we kind of feel bad that NBC News’ “dystopia beat” reporter Ben Collins has an exclusive and it’s just not catching fire. You see, NBC News exclusively received a report done by Harvard University on January 6 defendants, and according to Collins, it affirms Rep. Liz Cheney’s January 6 hearing statement that “Trump summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack.” Rep Adam Schiff is teasing something special for Thursday’s hearing … maybe this has something to do with it.
NEW and exclusive from me + @ryanjreilly + @byjacobward:
In Harvard study of 470 Jan. 6 rioters — the largest yet — motivations for storming the Capitol are clear: "Trump is calling us to fight"https://t.co/n9UBuytp8L
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) July 20, 2022
Just to be clear … are we talking about 470 rioters, or 470 people who were arrested on January 6? Because a lot of people weren’t rioting, but “parading” illegally. (And the story says 417, not 470.)
The report from Harvard, exclusive to @NBCNews, goes through 469 documents filed to D.C.'s U.S. District Court.
The report affirms Rep. Liz Cheney's Jan. 6 hearing statement: “Trump summoned the mob, assembled the mob and lit the flame of this attack.”https://t.co/n9UBuytp8L pic.twitter.com/5dTkEMsbFV
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) July 20, 2022
Yeah, and?
The pro-Trump talking point that rioters were at the Capitol as a "tourist visit," doesn't hold water, according to this Harvard study.
Almost as many went due to a "general interest in violence" as were there to "peacefully protest," data confirmed.https://t.co/n9UBuytp8L pic.twitter.com/z35cqoEF8f
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) July 20, 2022
That’s only 13.2 percent of defendants, though. What about the others? NBC News reports:
Recommended
Researchers at Harvard University who conducted the largest study yet of what motivated Jan. 6 rioters say the data is clear: The most common responses focused on former President Donald Trump and his lies about the election.
The study, which was shared with NBC News ahead of its publication, logged and analyzed the motives of 417 Capitol rioters, all of whom have been chargedin relation to Jan. 6. The motives were derived from 469 documents filed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, including charging documents and sentencing memoranda.
…
The report adds to evidence from thousands of court documents in the more than 840 cases brought forward so far that many of those who stormed the U.S. Capitol and committed violent acts were motivated by their support for Trump and their belief in lies about the 2020 election.
More than 840 cases brought forward so far … the FBI certainly has been busy, and we don’t mean Ray Epps.
Breaking: the people who went to the capitol to support their POTUS went there because they support their POTUS
— Simp sotto voce serenade (@UberBasado) July 20, 2022
I wish they would not use language like "concerns about election integrity." It's like saying "concerns that the earth is flat." They should more accurately say "fervent belief in the lies spread about election integrity," or some such.
— Jodi Jacobson 🇺🇦 🩸🦷 #BlackLivesMatter (@jljacobson) July 20, 2022
Keep in mind that several Democrats, including on sitting on the January 6 committee, objected to the certification of electoral votes for Donald Trump in 2017 over “concerns about election integrity.”
Related:
Jonathan Turley: Adam Schiff promises that what ‘you will see on Thursday will be significant’ https://t.co/tpjrPywTul
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 20, 2022
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