Dustin Thompson, one of the domestic terrorist who attacked Congress during the January 6th insurrection to undermine the Constitution, admits to virtually all the things he’s charged with in a six-count federal indictment, but according to Politico, he’s claiming he’s not guilty because he was bewitched by Donald Trump.
Thompson claims that his actions were a direct result of months of indoctrination and violent rhetoric coming from Trump and his supporters, urging people to use any means necessary to stop the certification of the Electoral College tally on January 6th. The kicker: Trump telling people to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop Congress.
To support his claim, Thompson’s attorney, Samuel Shamansky, began asking the police officers from that day who were called to testify by prosecutors if they would characterize the actions of those who attacked the Capitol as “fighting like hell.”
“Absolutely,” Capitol Police Officer Ronald Lucarino responded, noting that he could feel the butts of handguns in people’s waistbands as he tried to hold back the mob that was trespassing in the Capitol.
Shamansky’s line of questioning of prosecution witnesses seems to be developing into a defense position that Thompson is not responsible for his actions because he was enthralled with Trump and would do anything to support Trump, essentially claiming he wasn’t operating under his own power, but was manipulated cultishly by Trump.