efforts to vary state legislation, and even makes an attempt to enlist his Attorney General to search out proof of
widespread fraud—all whereas he falsely insisted to his supporters that the election had been stolen
from him.6 After these strategies failed, President Trump recognized the Joint Session’s electoral vote
rely as his closing likelihood to retain his grip on the Presidency. He due to this fact deliberate a rally for the
morning of January 6, simply hours earlier than Congress and the Vice President had been to convene to affirm
President Biden’s election victory. He introduced that he would personally seem at the rally, which
he promoted continually. The occasion “will be wild!”7 he promised; a “historic day”8 to
“StopTheSteal!”9
his barrage of lies a few stolen election, had been susceptible to violence. An earlier pro-Trump rally in
Washington, D.C. had resulted in brawls, vandalism directed towards church buildings, and quite a few assaults
on law enforcement officials.10 One GOP election official even warned President Trump that his rhetoric
6 William Cummings et al., By the Numbers: President Donald Trump’s Failed Efforts to Overturn the Election, USA Today (Jan. 6, 2021); Michael Balsamo, Disputing Trump, Barr Says No Widespread Election Fraud, Associated Press (Dec. 1, 2020); Jesse Byrnes, Barr Told Trump that Theories About Stolen Election Were “Bulls—”: Report, The Hill (Jan. 18, 2021); Amy Gardner & Paulina Firozi, Here’s the Full Transcript and Audio of the Call Between Trump and Raffensperger, Wash. Post (Jan. 5, 2021); Maggie Haberman et al., Trump Targets Michigan in His Ploy to Subvert the Election, N.Y. Times (Nov. 19, 2020); Amy Gardner et al., Trump Asks Pennsylvania House Speaker for Help Overturning Election Results, Personally Intervening in a Third State, Wash. Post (Dec. 8, 2020); Ryan Randazzo et al., Arizona Legislature ‘Cannot and Will Not’ Overturn Election, Republican House Speaker Says, Arizona Republic (Dec. 4, 2020). 7 Donald J. Trump (@actualDonaldTrump), Twitter (Dec. 19, 2020, 1:42 AM). 8 Donald J. Trump (@actualDonaldTrump), Twitter (Jan. 3, 2021, 10:27 AM). 9 Donald J. Trump (@actualDonaldTrump), Twitter (Jan. 1, 2021, 2:53 PM). 10 Peter Hermann & Keith Alexander, Proud Boys Leader Barred From District By Judge Following His Arrest, Wash. Post (Jan. 5, 2021); Jason Slotkin et al., 4 Stabbed, 33 Arrested After Trump Supporters, Counterprotesters Clash in D.C., NPR (Dec. 12, 2020); NBC Washington Staff, 4 Stabbed, 33 Arrested as Trump Supporters, Counterprotesters Clash in Downtown DC, NBC Washington (Dec. 12, 2020).
By the morning of the rally, President Trump knew that a lot of his supporters, agitated by
6
