• [ network ]
  • goatmatrix.net
  • gvid.tv
  • img.gvid.tv
  • games.gvid.tv
  • apps.gvid.tv
HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Don’t Jail Trump for January 6

Views:1081
@ReasonVids

As the latest testimony at the January 6 committee hearings makes clear, there is no doubt that former President Donald Trump is morally responsible for the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
---------
https://reason.com/?posttype=video&p=8194521

But there's a big difference between being morally responsible and being criminally liable, and anyone who thinks this is going to end with Trump being prosecuted for incitement, and then going to prison, desperately needs a reality check.

Eyewitness testimony from the January 6 hearings earlier this week does show that Trump wanted his supporters to march to the Capitol. "I will be making a Big Speech at 10AM on January 6th at the Ellipse (South of the White House)," he wrote in a draft tweet that was never sent "Please arrive early, massive crowds expected. March to the Capitol after. Stop the Steal!!"

On December 19, he tweeted: "​Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

During his actual speech just before the attack, Trump told his supporters to "fight like hell" and to march to the Capitol "peacefully and patriotically." Shortly after, the protests got out of hand, and some members of the crowd smashed the windows of the Capitol, pushed past police, and invaded the building.

It's fair to hold Trump responsible for that; if he had not stoked the mob's anger by falsely claiming, repeatedly, that Democrats were stealing the election from him, there would have been no riot.

But do Trump's actions meet the legal definition of incitement to violence? No.

Under federal law, incitement is defined as "urging or instigating other persons to riot." The landmark 1969 Supreme Court case Brandenburg v. Ohio established that speech must be both likely to incite "imminent lawless action" and "directed" at achieving that result.

Trump's words inspired lawless action but didn't specifically call on the mob to engage in it. Asking his supporters to march to the Capitol is protected by the First Amendment.

Now some media commentators have said that recent testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, changes the equation: She said under oath that Trump knew that some of the protesters were armed with weapons, and didn't seem to care.

But that isn't legally relevant. People don't lose their First and Second Amendment rights just because they're exercising them at the same time.

We should be glad that these rights are protected by the Constitution. You may not like Trump. Personally, I think he's unfit for office. But we don't want to live in a country where people can be sent to jail because they said the wrong thing. Everybody benefits from a legal regime in which the rights to speak, to protest, and to be armed are vigorously protected.

So let's not send Trump to jail. Let's just never send him back to the White House.

Written and produced by Robby Soave; edited by Regan Taylor.

libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
    Thumbnail for Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 8)2:33
    Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 8)
    ReasonVids
    1065 views
    Thumbnail for Pop Rock Radio [ 24/7 LIVE ] Best of Pop Rock Songs! Best Rock Music Hits Mix | Best of Mix1:00
    Pop Rock Radio [ 24/7 LIVE ] Best of Pop Rock Songs! Best Rock Music Hits Mix | Best of Mix
    invidious
    394 views
    Thumbnail for cozy weekend vlog!🧁🧸baking, smoothies, sleep :) | toomuchzozo16:49
    cozy weekend vlog!🧁🧸baking, smoothies, sleep :) | toomuchzozo
    invidious
    92 views
    Thumbnail for This is why white men are getting their passports 0:50
    This is why white men are getting their passports
    bestofupgoat
    168 views
    Thumbnail for dave 😼0:18
    dave 😼
    bestofupgoat
    286 views
    Thumbnail for What is the Ideal Strategy for the Libertarian Party? A Soho Forum Debate1:34:01
    What is the Ideal Strategy for the Libertarian Party? A Soho Forum Debate
    ReasonVids
    906 views
    Thumbnail for Dangus has an encounter with an elephant 0:06
    Dangus has an encounter with an elephant
    bestofupgoat
    152 views
    Thumbnail for Jew High School0:16
    Jew High School
    bestofupgoat
    94 views
    Thumbnail for Ep. 2469a -[CB] Panics Over Inflation, Moves To Counter It 70’s Style, Big Fail | X22report16:53
    Ep. 2469a -[CB] Panics Over Inflation, Moves To Counter It 70’s Style, Big Fail | X22report
    bitchute_topics
    1065 views
    Thumbnail for at the last second0:11
    at the last second
    bestofvoatxyz
    896 views
    Thumbnail for LIVE: Executive Secretary Bersamin holds press conference after Marcos' courtesy resignation call | Rappler33:50
    LIVE: Executive Secretary Bersamin holds press conference after Marcos' courtesy resignation call | Rappler
    invidious
    152 views
    Thumbnail for LAPD Stands Down on Occupy LA3:32
    LAPD Stands Down on Occupy LA
    ReasonVids
    1103 views
    Thumbnail for Is Nick DiGiovanni's CHILI RAMEN as easy as it seems? | Little Remy Food 🐭🍝0:22
    Is Nick DiGiovanni's CHILI RAMEN as easy as it seems? | Little Remy Food 🐭🍝
    invidious
    306 views
    Thumbnail for What Should Have Happened at the Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearings6:26
    What Should Have Happened at the Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearings
    ReasonVids
    936 views
    Thumbnail for Insane Clown Posse: 'We're First Amendment Warriors' for Juggalo Nation12:39
    Insane Clown Posse: 'We're First Amendment Warriors' for Juggalo Nation
    ReasonVids
    978 views
    Thumbnail for A Cop's Lies Put Her in Jail for 2 years—Now She's Asking the Supreme Court for Justice6:08
    A Cop's Lies Put Her in Jail for 2 years—Now She's Asking the Supreme Court for Justice
    IJvids
    936 views
    Thumbnail for The Hitler Home Movies (2023)39:08
    The Hitler Home Movies (2023)
    bestofvoatxyz
    557 views
    Thumbnail for The sky meets the ocean0:09
    The sky meets the ocean
    bestofvoatxyz
    786 views
    Thumbnail for Economist Richard Vedder on Why College Costs So Much9:36
    Economist Richard Vedder on Why College Costs So Much
    ReasonVids
    889 views
    Thumbnail for NEVER GETS OLD0:31
    NEVER GETS OLD
    bestofupgoat
    471 views
    Thumbnail for What are you thinking about0:58
    What are you thinking about
    bestofupgoat
    286 views
    Thumbnail for Margaret Sanger Was Anti-Abortion!?!? Peter Bagge on Planned Parenthood, Eugenics, and "Woman Rebel"6:22
    Margaret Sanger Was Anti-Abortion!?!? Peter Bagge on Planned Parenthood, Eugenics, and "Woman Rebel"
    ReasonVids
    953 views
    Thumbnail for Tug of war0:13
    Tug of war
    bestofupgoat
    144 views
    Thumbnail for Pizza Sandwich! #shorts #cooking | albert_cancook0:29
    Pizza Sandwich! #shorts #cooking | albert_cancook
    invidious
    152 views
    Thumbnail for Strawberry jam 🍓#abirzkitchen #strawberry | Abirz Kitchen1:00
    Strawberry jam 🍓#abirzkitchen #strawberry | Abirz Kitchen
    invidious
    131 views

points

Permalink
Reply
libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle