In the first presidential debate of 2024, former President Donald Trump made several claims regarding the events leading up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, as well as his numerous ongoing legal battles. Here is a fact check of his claims.
January 6th and Election Claims
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the 2020 election was stolen, which culminated in the Capitol insurrection by his followers on January 6, 2021. Despite extensive investigations and numerous court cases, no substantial evidence has been found to support claims of widespread voter fraud that would have altered the outcome of the election. The bipartisan January 6th Committee, established to investigate the events of that day, concluded that Trump and his allies spread false claims about the election, leading to the insurrection.
Claims of Forced Prosecution
Trump has also alleged that President Biden is behind his various legal troubles, claiming the charges are politically motivated and the prosecutions were “‘all done by Biden and his people.”
However, the justice system operates independently of the executive branch, and numerous legal experts have affirmed the integrity and impartiality of the investigations. Trump is currently facing charges related to his attempts to overturn the election results, among other crimes.
Trial and Accountability
Trump's recent hush money trial and conviction have also spurred claims from Trump about baseless, politically-motivated charges. But the legal proceedings for the hush money trial are a result of investigations conducted by multiple independent agencies and overseen by a judge unaffiliated with the Department of Justice. By claiming to be a victim of a political witch hunt, Trump is undoubtedly attempting to further discredit his upcoming hearings regarding classified documents and election interference. During the debate, Trump repeated over and over again, “I did nothing wrong.”
Blaming Others for His Actions
Trump claimed at the debate that during the Jan. 6 attack, Nancy Pelosi turned down the National Guard and later accepted responsibility for the attack. This is a distortion of Pelosi’s words as she does not have the authority to turn down troops and did not admit to doing so.
Detecting Trump’s Lies
None of Trump’s claims about the stolen election, political prosecution, or unfounded criminal charges are supported by evidence. The independent investigations and legal processes reflect this country’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law, regardless of Trump’s attempts to prove otherwise.
