Why they did it
In their words
Why they did it
“Fighting tyranny in the DC Capital.” (Geophysicist Jeffrey Sabol, arrested for vicious assault on officer)
https://news.yahoo.com/geophysicist-accused-beating-cop-capitol-171611713.html
“We’re here to stop the steal.” (Random rioter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGLSjOtrE8
“Trump said to do so.” (Rioter Robert Bauer)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rioters-testimony/2021/01/16/01b3d5c6-575b-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html
“We’re storming the Capitol! It’s a revolution!” (Elizabeth from Knoxville, Tennessee)
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/its-a-revolution-woman-admits-on-camera-to-storming-capitol-says-she-got-maced-video/
“We stormed THE SWAMP for FREEDOM! We want a forensic audit of the vote. Simple. We will not go away. We will not surrender.” (Jonathan Gennaro Mellis, arrested for attempting to stab officers in the tunnel with sticks)
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/court-docs-williamsburg-man-arrested-after-seen-at-us-capitol-riot-clashing-with-officers/291-6d7215f8-010d-4072-8d25-e97d3f279f69
“I don’t feel a sense of shame or guilt from my heart. I feel like I was basically following my president. I was following what we were called to do. He asked us to fly there. He asked us to be there. So I was doing what he asked us to do.” (Jenna Ryan, Trump supporter who posed next to broken Capitol window and said the media was next)
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/01/15/texan-jenna-ryan-cbs-11-hoping-pardon-arrest-riot-capitol/
“Pence is a traitor. We stormed the Capitol.” (Rioter Jessica Bustle)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1378481/download
“We were invited here! We were invited by the President of the United States!” (Man yelling through megaphone at cops on east side of the Capitol)
https://twitter.com/drewharwell/status/1349436733889404928
https://news.yahoo.com/geophysicist-accused-beating-cop-capitol-171611713.html
“We’re here to stop the steal.” (Random rioter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGLSjOtrE8
“Trump said to do so.” (Rioter Robert Bauer)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rioters-testimony/2021/01/16/01b3d5c6-575b-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html
“We’re storming the Capitol! It’s a revolution!” (Elizabeth from Knoxville, Tennessee)
https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/its-a-revolution-woman-admits-on-camera-to-storming-capitol-says-she-got-maced-video/
“We stormed THE SWAMP for FREEDOM! We want a forensic audit of the vote. Simple. We will not go away. We will not surrender.” (Jonathan Gennaro Mellis, arrested for attempting to stab officers in the tunnel with sticks)
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/court-docs-williamsburg-man-arrested-after-seen-at-us-capitol-riot-clashing-with-officers/291-6d7215f8-010d-4072-8d25-e97d3f279f69
“I don’t feel a sense of shame or guilt from my heart. I feel like I was basically following my president. I was following what we were called to do. He asked us to fly there. He asked us to be there. So I was doing what he asked us to do.” (Jenna Ryan, Trump supporter who posed next to broken Capitol window and said the media was next)
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/01/15/texan-jenna-ryan-cbs-11-hoping-pardon-arrest-riot-capitol/
“Pence is a traitor. We stormed the Capitol.” (Rioter Jessica Bustle)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1378481/download
“We were invited here! We were invited by the President of the United States!” (Man yelling through megaphone at cops on east side of the Capitol)
https://twitter.com/drewharwell/status/1349436733889404928
|
|
|
“I was in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, because I believed I was following the instructions of former President Trump and he was my president and the commander-in-chief. His statements also had me believing the election was stolen from him.” (Garret Miller, who threatened to kill Rep. Ocasio-Cortez)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/capitol-rioter-garret-miller-says-he-was-following-trump-s-orders-apologizes-to-aoc-for-threat/ar-BB1d59HF?ocid=msnews
“President Trump is calling us to FIGHT!” (Bruno Cua, teen rioter who breached the Senate chambers)
https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-happy-georgia-teen-bruno-cua-charged-in-capitol-riots?ref=home
“We tore through the scaffolding, through flash bangs and tear gas, and blitzed our way in through all the chambers. We were just trying to get into Congress, or whoever we could get into, and tell them that we need some kind of investigation into [election fraud]. . . . Here, it was a joke to them until we got inside.” (Thomas Baranyi, one of the rioters trying to break into the Speaker’s Lobby with Ashli Babbitt)
ttps://youtu.be/GNQRGohdW9Y?t=6409
“Followed the President’s instructions and gone to the Capitol.” (Firefighter Robert Sanford, arrested for throwing a fire extinguisher at Metro police)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/president-trump-dozen-capitol-rioters-trumps-guidance/story?id=75757601
“Perhaps I missed the part where it was agreed this would be a revolution of ice cream cones & hair-braiding parties.” (Brandon Straka, organizer of a “Stop the Steal” rally)
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/brandon-straka-stop-the-steal-arrested-184834835.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr
“Once we found out Pence turned on us and that they had stolen the election, like officially, the crowd went crazy. I mean, it became a mob. We crossed the gate.” (Rioter Joshua Black)
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/capitol-insurrection-siege-trump-incitement-fbi-charges-rioters/
“We stopped the steal, because they were in there and they weren’t going to stop the steal, so we stopped the steal. We took our country back. F*** you guys.” (Jorge Riley, corresponding secretary of the California Republican Assembly)
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/capitol-insurrection-siege-trump-incitement-fbi-charges-rioters/
“The march was, in my belief, to demonstrate that Trump, a lion, was leading an army of lambs to change the corrupt fraud that had been perpetuated.” (Kyle Fitzsimmons, Maine, covered in blood after attacking police in the inaugural tunnel) https://www.centralmaine.com/2021/02/05/mainer-accused-of-participating-in-capitol-riot-appears-before-judge/
“We proceeded into the broken windows and into Capitol hallways, and the Trump supporters were all going nuts, saying this is our house. We’re here to take back our democratic republic. It’s clear that this election was stolen.” (Kevin Cordon, California, arrested on a tip from Finnish news outlet)
https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000007723759.html
“I know you don’t like Trump, but He is the rightful President!” (Retired police officer Michael Lee Hardin)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1382936/download
“Me and Nick Ochs went there specifically to stop the steal. It happened.” (Nicholas DeCarlo, friend of Proud Boys leader Nick Ochs. The two wrote “Murder the Media” on the Memorial Capitol Door.)
https://www.salon.com/2021/01/15/alt-right-media-personality-nick-decarlo-admits-raiding-capitol-says-maybe-he-spat-on-police/
Said he came to D.C. because of Trump’s Dec. 19th tweet, “Be there, will be wild.” Posted on social media, “We are coming for you traitors.” (Bradon Fellows, arrested for disorderly conduct, which included smoking marijuana in a Senator’s office)
https://nypost.com/2021/01/12/ny-man-brandon-fellows-has-no-regrets-of-role-in-capitol-siege/
“Antifa says f*** you and they stole the election. . . . I’m going to war. I’m ready to just . . . kamikaze.” (Christopher Quaglin, arrested for assaults on officers)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1384546/download
“CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business. The right IN ONE DAY took the f***ing U.S. Capitol.” (Former police Sgt. Thomas J. Robertson, before his arrest)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/01/13/two-virginia-police-officers-arrested-storming-capitol-riot/4155103001/
“If Pence betrays us you better get your mind right because we’re storming that building.” (West Virginia legislator Derrick Evans, before his resignation and arrest)
https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-74d1462c3b3007497d20a206653042e3
“Thinking about heading over to Pelosi C***’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV.” (Cleveland Grover Meredith, texting his reasons for driving to D.C. He arrived too late for the riot, due to car trouble)
https://m.local12.com/news/nation-world/man-arrested-after-allegedly-texting-about-putting-a-bullet-in-nancy-pelosi-cleveland-grover-meredith-jr-georgia
“It’s not like a bunch of people gathered on their own and decided to do this. . . . It’s people who were asked to come by the president, encouraged to come by the president, and encouraged to do what they did by the president and a number of others.” (Lawyer for a suspect)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/justice-department-debate-not-charging-up-to-800-rioters-at-capitol/ar-BB1d2dLM
Who says Trump incited U.S. Capitol riot? The rioters say he did
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/trump-second-impeachment-trial-preview-insurrection-capitol-rioters-biden-stimulus-relief-covid-poll-1.50147245
Video shows crowd reaction to Trump’s speech
https://twitter.com/i/status/1353706505963524096
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/capitol-rioter-garret-miller-says-he-was-following-trump-s-orders-apologizes-to-aoc-for-threat/ar-BB1d59HF?ocid=msnews
“President Trump is calling us to FIGHT!” (Bruno Cua, teen rioter who breached the Senate chambers)
https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-happy-georgia-teen-bruno-cua-charged-in-capitol-riots?ref=home
“We tore through the scaffolding, through flash bangs and tear gas, and blitzed our way in through all the chambers. We were just trying to get into Congress, or whoever we could get into, and tell them that we need some kind of investigation into [election fraud]. . . . Here, it was a joke to them until we got inside.” (Thomas Baranyi, one of the rioters trying to break into the Speaker’s Lobby with Ashli Babbitt)
ttps://youtu.be/GNQRGohdW9Y?t=6409
“Followed the President’s instructions and gone to the Capitol.” (Firefighter Robert Sanford, arrested for throwing a fire extinguisher at Metro police)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/president-trump-dozen-capitol-rioters-trumps-guidance/story?id=75757601
“Perhaps I missed the part where it was agreed this would be a revolution of ice cream cones & hair-braiding parties.” (Brandon Straka, organizer of a “Stop the Steal” rally)
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/brandon-straka-stop-the-steal-arrested-184834835.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr
“Once we found out Pence turned on us and that they had stolen the election, like officially, the crowd went crazy. I mean, it became a mob. We crossed the gate.” (Rioter Joshua Black)
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/capitol-insurrection-siege-trump-incitement-fbi-charges-rioters/
“We stopped the steal, because they were in there and they weren’t going to stop the steal, so we stopped the steal. We took our country back. F*** you guys.” (Jorge Riley, corresponding secretary of the California Republican Assembly)
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/capitol-insurrection-siege-trump-incitement-fbi-charges-rioters/
“The march was, in my belief, to demonstrate that Trump, a lion, was leading an army of lambs to change the corrupt fraud that had been perpetuated.” (Kyle Fitzsimmons, Maine, covered in blood after attacking police in the inaugural tunnel) https://www.centralmaine.com/2021/02/05/mainer-accused-of-participating-in-capitol-riot-appears-before-judge/
“We proceeded into the broken windows and into Capitol hallways, and the Trump supporters were all going nuts, saying this is our house. We’re here to take back our democratic republic. It’s clear that this election was stolen.” (Kevin Cordon, California, arrested on a tip from Finnish news outlet)
https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000007723759.html
“I know you don’t like Trump, but He is the rightful President!” (Retired police officer Michael Lee Hardin)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1382936/download
“Me and Nick Ochs went there specifically to stop the steal. It happened.” (Nicholas DeCarlo, friend of Proud Boys leader Nick Ochs. The two wrote “Murder the Media” on the Memorial Capitol Door.)
https://www.salon.com/2021/01/15/alt-right-media-personality-nick-decarlo-admits-raiding-capitol-says-maybe-he-spat-on-police/
Said he came to D.C. because of Trump’s Dec. 19th tweet, “Be there, will be wild.” Posted on social media, “We are coming for you traitors.” (Bradon Fellows, arrested for disorderly conduct, which included smoking marijuana in a Senator’s office)
https://nypost.com/2021/01/12/ny-man-brandon-fellows-has-no-regrets-of-role-in-capitol-siege/
“Antifa says f*** you and they stole the election. . . . I’m going to war. I’m ready to just . . . kamikaze.” (Christopher Quaglin, arrested for assaults on officers)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1384546/download
“CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business. The right IN ONE DAY took the f***ing U.S. Capitol.” (Former police Sgt. Thomas J. Robertson, before his arrest)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/01/13/two-virginia-police-officers-arrested-storming-capitol-riot/4155103001/
“If Pence betrays us you better get your mind right because we’re storming that building.” (West Virginia legislator Derrick Evans, before his resignation and arrest)
https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-74d1462c3b3007497d20a206653042e3
“Thinking about heading over to Pelosi C***’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV.” (Cleveland Grover Meredith, texting his reasons for driving to D.C. He arrived too late for the riot, due to car trouble)
https://m.local12.com/news/nation-world/man-arrested-after-allegedly-texting-about-putting-a-bullet-in-nancy-pelosi-cleveland-grover-meredith-jr-georgia
“It’s not like a bunch of people gathered on their own and decided to do this. . . . It’s people who were asked to come by the president, encouraged to come by the president, and encouraged to do what they did by the president and a number of others.” (Lawyer for a suspect)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/justice-department-debate-not-charging-up-to-800-rioters-at-capitol/ar-BB1d2dLM
Who says Trump incited U.S. Capitol riot? The rioters say he did
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/trump-second-impeachment-trial-preview-insurrection-capitol-rioters-biden-stimulus-relief-covid-poll-1.50147245
Video shows crowd reaction to Trump’s speech
https://twitter.com/i/status/1353706505963524096
