Capitol riot defendant blames actions on Trump and false election claims
by Associated Press in Washington from US news | The Guardian on (#5Y4P7)
Lawyer for man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol has vowed to show Trump abused his power to authorize' attack
Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the US Capitol, but that has changed: the latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen election.
Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, doesn't deny that he joined the mob on 6 January 2021. But his lawyer vowed Tuesday to show that Trump abused his power to authorize" the attack.
Continue reading...