Threats to our Democracy:
Attempted Violent Overthrow of a US Election
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Article 1 of the United States Constitution
Our cherished First Amendment rights of speech, association, peaceful assembly and to petition our government for redress of grievances do not encompass efforts to violently overthrow the results of elections.
On January 6, thousands of Americans sought to overturn the election of Joe Biden as the next President of the United States and secure the continuation in power of Donald Trump. They were entitled to assemble and express their points of view and to ask their representatives to listen to their grievances about the election, even though Donald Trump lost by over 7 million votes. That did not give them the right to assault police, break into offices, vandalize the US Capitol, or interfere with the ceremonial counting of the Electoral College votes.
Some got caught up in the moment. Others were involved in extensive planning and efforts to overthrow the government by violence. So let’s take a look at some of those who may have organized and executed the attack on the US Capitol.
Guy Reffit and Rocky Hardie of the Texas Three Percenters drove from Texas to Washington DC armed with handguns, semi-automatic rifles, zip ties and radios for the Capitol takeover. Among those who testified against Reffit was his 19-year-old son Jackson, who said his father threatened him to keep quiet. "He said 'if you turn me in, you're a traitor". "And traitors get shot". The jury took four hours of deliberations to convict Reffit; he faces up to 60 years in prison. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60670105
Enrique Tarrio and five other leaders of the Proud Boys are being charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; he is alleged to have planned and directed the Proud Boys actions in the assault on the Capitol. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/08/enrique-tarrio-proud-boys-leader-arrested-us-capitol-attack-conspiracy
Stewart Rhodes and 10 other members of the Oath Keepers are being charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the takeover of the US Capitol. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/13/leader-of-far-right-extremist-group-oath-keepers-arrested-for-january-6-riot-conspiracy-reports-say.html They face prison terms of up to 20 years. According to senior researchers from the Counter Terrorism Center, Rhodes is a lawyer and graduate of Yale Law School who founded and has led the organization for over a decade as they sought to enroll law enforcement and military personnel in their efforts to overthrow the US government. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-oath-keepers-and-their-role-in-the-january-6-insurrection/ They had heavy weapons under the care of their quick response team cached in a motel across the Potomac, if needed in support of the insurrection.
The FBI is probing a meeting between the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers in a downtown DC garage on the day prior to the insurrection to assess their efforts to coordinate the January 6 assault on the Capitol. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/exclusive-fbi-probes-pre-capitol-riot-meeting-far-right-groups-2022-02-08/ Both groups deny any joint advance planning for the attack.
Also being investigated by the House January 6 committee for their possible roles in planning and executing the attack on the Capitol are Nick Fuentes and Patrick Casey of America First, an avowedly white supremacist organization. https://january6th.house.gov/sites/democrats.january6th.house.gov/files/2022-1-19.BGT%20Letter%20to%20Fuentes%20-%20Cover%20Letter%20and%20Schedule_Redacted2.pdf and https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/19/jan-6-subpoena-far-right-promoters-527422 Their group offers a far right alternative vision filled with praise for Hitler and Putin, anti-semitism, racism, and white supremacy; it has recently attracted prominent politicians, such as Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, to speak to their annual conferences. https://www.salon.com/2022/03/02/is-nick-fuentes-a-young-nationalist-hopes-to-pull-the-all-the-way-to-hitler/ They are constitutionally entitled to speak and assemble and organize, no matter how odious their views; they cannot however take violent actions to overthrow the government It will be interesting to see if they are willing to testify under oath before Congress about their actions or if they prefer to exercise their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
Were the actions of January 6 simply those of a handful of right-wing fanatics, as claimed by ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows? Were White House and Trump Campaign officials involved in the planning? Was it just a coincidence that thousands of people showed up armed with crowbars, bear spray and the like at the Capitol? Why were they all chanting “hang Mike Pence” and searching everywhere for Speaker Pelosi and other leaders? Was it just a Second Amendment coincidence that caches of heavy arms were brought to a motel across the Potomac? A recent Rolling Stone article describes one witness’ account of the White House and Trump campaign’s involvement in planning the January 6 events at the US Capitol and their efforts to conceal their involvement. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/jan6-trump-mark-meadows-capitol-attack-republicans-1324218/ So much more still needs to be known.