A federal watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has found that approximately 210 defendants charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 directly expressed that they only came to Washington, D.C. and participated in the Capitol attack because former President Donald Trump asked them to.
The organization parsed through defendants’ letters, public appeals, court documents, congressional reports , and other open source records to compile a table that they say is further confirmation Jan. 6 was “the result of organized efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to halt the certification of a free and fair election by force.”
Specific Examples
One of the two men involved in the assault of Metropolitan Police Officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges claimed he came to the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 to “help” the former president. He told prosecutors: “I thought [Trump] was calling for help. I thought we were doing the right thing.”
Another man named Alan Hotsetter, former California police chief, also heeded Trump’s call for help at the “wild rally.” He traveled to D.C. loaded with weapons and recruited others to join him in supporting Trump.
On Twitter, Hotsetter wrote, “I will be there with bullhorns on fire, to let the swamp dwellers know we will not let them steal our country from us. I hope you can join me!! #fightfortrump #stopthesteal.”
