This week, the Senate will hear arguments in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, whom the House of Representatives charged with inciting an insurrection in his historic second impeachment. Ten House Republicans voted in favor of the impeachment resolution, making it the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in American history.
Trump's months-long lie campaign that Democrats somehow orchestrated widespread election fraud that "stole" the 2020 election prompted a mob of pro-Trump extremists to storm the United States Capitol during the joint congressional session to nationally certify the victory of now-President Joe Biden.
Even moments before the deadly failed insurrection, Trump spoke at a "Save America" rally near the Capitol, where he urged his followers to "fight" for him and to "peacefully and patriotically" make their way to the Capitol to air their misgivings. Location information shows that nearly half of the attendees at this rally went to the Capitol right before the riots unfolded.
But Trump's allies are scrambling to distance the former President from liability for the riots, with some even claiming that anti-Trump activists secretly planned the attack to defame Trump. The hundreds of arrests made since the riots have virtually all been supporters of Trump.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)—who was recently expelled from her committee assignments due to her support for deranged conspiracy theories—unleashed a bizarre Twitter rant claiming that the riots were pre-planned and that Trump was a victim of them, rather than their instigator.
They placed pipe bombs at the RNC and the DNC the night before.
They did NOT just target one party.
They targeted Republicans and Democrats.
They were against the government ALL together.
Cont'd..
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 9, 2021
I will be forever grateful to my Republican colleagues who bravely helped the police protect us and blocked the door.
They courageously risked their lives against the attackers trying to get in. pic.twitter.com/xnIrdSOkrK
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 9, 2021
The Capitol attack was planned and organized, NOT incited in the moment by President Trump, and NO Republican Member was involved.
We were ALL victims that day.
And once again, Trump is the victim of the never ending hate fueled witch hunt.
Cont'd..
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 9, 2021
This impeachment trial a circus for the Democrat media mob to entertain the masses that they have brainwashed and addicted to hate, so they don't see the Dem policies being rapidly forced into place that are destroying our lives, stealing our freedoms, and putting America last.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 9, 2021
Over the course of the thread, Greene said the riot wasn't incited by Trump, but rather that Trump was a "victim of the never ending hate fueled witch hunt."
It was Trump who spent months telling his supporters that Democrats stole an election, and it was Trump who encouraged his supporters to descend on the Capitol during the joint congressional session, and who encouraged lawmakers to object the results of certified elections.
People balked at the absurdity of Greene's statement.
They didn't hesitate to remind Greene who contributed to the riot's instigation.
It's up to the House impeachment managers to convince Senators of Trump's role in the riots at the Senate impeachment trial.
