Rioter’s Lawyer To Jury: Trump “Authorized” The Attack

The Associated Press reports:

Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, doesn’t deny that he joined the mob on Jan. 6, 2021. But his lawyer vowed Tuesday to show that Trump abused his power to “authorize” the attack.

Describing Trump as a man without scruples or integrity, defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said the former president engaged in a “sinister” plot to encourage Thompson and other supporters to “do his dirty work.”

“It’s Donald Trump himself spewing the lies and using his position to authorize this assault,” Shamansky told jurors Tuesday during the trial’s opening statements.

Read the full article.

Thompson last appeared on JMG in January when he sought to force testimony by Trump, Giuliani, Bannon, Lin Wood, and the Kraken.

Blame Trump? Jury hears that defense at Capitol riot trial https://t.co/yEjcw3XKKR pic.twitter.com/uDu8lQ20oS

— The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2022

Dustin Thompson. Snuck into the Capitol, stole a bottle of bourbon, snuck back in with a friend. Tried to steal a coat rack in front of Capitol police after he was ordered to leave. Indicted on *SEVEN COUNTS* pic.twitter.com/NzHFvcjRHG

— Sedition Track (@seditiontrack) March 1, 2021