Even Trump's Defense Secretary During the Capitol Riot Blames Him for Inciting It

[Generic Other]

NEW: Even Trump's Defense Secretary During the Capitol Riot Blames Him for Inciting It

Former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller told VICE on Showtime he believes Trump's speech caused the violent mob to attack the US Capitol on Jan. 6.

Link to tweet

One of the most senior Cabinet officials in the Trump administration, Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, has told VICE on Showtime that he believes the speech made by former President Donald Trump on the morning of January 6 was responsible for causing the mob to violently attack the Capitol later that day.

Trump installed Miller after firing his predecessor Mark Esper in the days after the election. Speaking exclusively to VICE on Showtime, Miller said, “Would anybody have marched on the Capitol, and tried to overrun the Capitol, without the president’s speech? I think it’s pretty much definitive that wouldn’t have happened.”

“This is a criminal enterprise,” Trump told the crowd in a 70-minute speech on January 6, referring to the election. “And we fight. We fight like hell. If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Hours later, members of the same crowd were rampaging through Congress to stop lawmakers from certifying the results.

Recalling the events of that day, Miller said he wasn’t sure whether Trump was aware that his speech might have such extreme consequences, but he was certain the attack wouldn’t have happened without them. Listening to the remarks that morning, he said he found some of the comments “concerning” and that they set off alarm bells.

“It seems cause-and-effect,” Miller said, referring to Trump’s speech and the violent riot that left five people dead. “The question is, did he know he was enraging people to do that? I don’t know.”

https://www.vice.com/en/article/wx83v4/even-trumps-defense-secretary-during-the-capitol-riot-blames-him-for-inciting-it

[empedocles]

1. Sounds like an ad for a 'cooperating witness'?

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Get him under oath. Nt

[uponit7771]

3. +1

[uponit7771]

4. Hmmm, seems like Trump SHOULD have known he was doing it. I can't rob a bank with a gun

... then say I didn't know I was robbing a bank.

[Rustyeye77]

5. Gutsy statement... after the fact.

A real profile in courage.

[tanyev]

6. I don't think he 'enraged' people to do it. Not that day, anyway.

They were already enraged and made plans long before the 6th. Trump's remarks that day were the final authorization/approval.