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Related: About this forumGOP Gives Aid & Comfort to J6 Defendants by Declaring their Conduct "Legitimate Political Discourse"
In a pronouncement that would make George Orwell blush, the Republican Party announced that the conduct of those who violently attacked the US Capitol on January 6 trying to stop the certification of the election results was "legitimate political discourse."
The more than 700 insurrectionists who are being prosecuted will attempt to use this GOP pronouncement as a defense at trial, claiming that an entire political party has concluded that their conduct was not criminal but was rather legitimate political discourse. Put another way, the GOP just attempted to give aid and comfort to the insurrection, a potential violation of 18 USC section 2383. Here are the legal implications of the GOP's actions.
captain queeg
(10,035 posts)Once people are charged and brought befor a judge or jury its going to be very obvious that it was more than political discourse.
Aussie105
(5,211 posts)The violence and property damage that went along with it, isn't.
The violence can't be swept under the carpet with that tag.
The political motivation of the insurrectionists won't be the focus in their legal prosecution, the violence is, and will be.
Sitting on a park bench discussing the relative merits of capitalism versus communism is fine.
If it turns to violence, it's not.
Any policeman watching will see the violence, not the political discourse. Or ignore the violence because of 'political discourse'.
Why is the GOP even proposing such a dumb defense?
Warpy
(110,900 posts)and hangs this rotting albatross of outrageous opinion around the neck of every single GOP incumbent, they might have a chance.
Otherwise, they might as well toss Kevin McCarthy and Moscow Mitch the keys and go on permanent vacation.
Justice matters.
(6,873 posts)They also saw them violently (criminally) attack CPOs and threaten politicians.