Guys, these are words that never in a million years would I have thought I would write, but there is no other way to say it:  A sitting United States president actually tried to overthrow a democratically held, perfectly legal election.

Donald Trump tried to overthrow the election in the courts. He tried to overthrow it by sweet talking, shaming and threatening members of the Electoral College. He tried to overthrow it by harassing and bullying election officials, Department of Justice employees, members of Congress, state legislators and governors.  And, in the big finale, he tried to overthrow it by inciting his loyal followers to stop the constitutionally mandated congressional electoral vote count.

One might even call Donald Trump and his enablers and supporters’ actions a failed coup d’état (i.e., defined as a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government).

You may think my likening the events surrounding January 6th to a coup is hyperbolic — and that I am being overly dramatic — but am I? Seriously, just stop and really think about this for a second.

“Seditious conspiracy,” as defined by the U.S. criminal code is an effort by two or more people to “conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof.”

That was exactly what these people were trying to do that day. Don’t confuse what went down that day as “free speech.”  These people were actively trying to prevent our government from functioning, by preventing, hindering, and delaying the execution of a law of the United States. 

As U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Donald Trump, said of the Proud Boys: “No matter defendants’ political motivations or any political message they wished to express, this alleged conduct is simply not protected by the First Amendment. Defendants are not, as they argue, charged with anything like burning flags, wearing black armbands, or participating in mere sit-ins or protests.”

Regardless of how hard certain Republicans and conservative media outlets try to rewrite history, the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6th — and the events leading up to it — were seditious (i.e., conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state). As Americans, it is really hard for us to wrap our minds around this concept, but the assault on the Capitol was an insurrection (i.e., a violent uprising against an authority or government.)  When you look at the evidence, listen to their words, and see the images, there is really no doubt about it.

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In fact, we now know that the U.S. Department of Justice views January 6th as sedition as well. Almost a year to the day – January 13, 2022 – eleven Americans were charged with Seditious Conspiracy, including the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes. Six months later, five members of the Proud Boys, including its former national chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, were also charged with Seditious Conspiracy.

The 885+ people charged with various crimes from that fateful day must take personal responsibility for their own actions (more on this in a minute).  But many people present that day were nothing more than chess pieces in a game they didn’t know they were playing.  As District Judge Amit B. Mehta said to a man named John Lolos as he was sentencing him to jail for entering the Capitol that day, “I think you are a pawn. You are a pawn in a game that’s played and directed by people who should know better.”

As Mehta put it, “People like Mr. Lolos were told lies, falsehoods, told the election was stolen when it really wasn’t.”

Although the attack on the Capitol was obviously planned and groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys coordinated in the weeks before the attack, there is no denying that Donald Trump was the driving force behind the entire disgusting episode, both before and on January 6th.  The causation is clear: But for Donald J. Trump, the revolt on January 6th would not have happened.

If you really think about it, he had been grooming his army of insurrectionists for years.  It started in earnest the minute he descended that escalator:  The incendiary language, the constant undermining of the media and government institutions, the subtle racist undertones and the not-so-subtle nod to White supremacists — to the point where, after the domestic terrorist event in Charlottesville, former KKK leader David Duke gushed on Twitter: “Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville & condemn the leftist terrorists in BLM/Antifa.”

As a result, the treasonous events on January 6th couldn’t come fast enough for the Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, and other anti-government militias and far-right extremists, plus QAnon whackos and other violent conspiracy theorists who had been waiting for this “storm” for years. None of them could believe their luck!  Finally, there was someone in power who validated their delusions.

Once forced to hide in the darkest corners of the Internet, Donald Trump gave these people permission. He gave them legitimacy. He gave them cover.  He gave them orders: Stand back and stand by you very fine, very special people…we love you… “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th.  Be there, will be wild!”

The morning of January 6th, Donald was on a roll:  Remember, Joe Biden is being controlled by “people in dark shadows” so “we’re going to have to fight much harder…You have to show strength, and you have to be strong…When you catch somebody in a fraud, you are allowed to go by very different rules…We will never give up.  We will never concede. It doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved…Our country has had enough…We will not take it anymore, and that is what this is all about.”

If we don’t fight “you will have an illegitimate president. That is what you will have, and we can’t let that happen. These are the facts that you won’t hear from the fake news media. It’s all part of the suppression effort.  They don’t want to talk about it; We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”  “It’s just bullshit.”  “Bullshit!  Bullshit!” repeated his adoring crowd. Then the chants turned to “Invade the Capitol.”

The ex-president’s inflammatory language that morning reflected the exact same themes his little army had been hearing from him for years.  And they answered the call, some well before that fateful day.  

An FBI situation report, released on January 5th, warned: “An online thread discussed specific calls for violence to include stating ‘Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and antifa slave soldiers being spilled.  Get violent.  Stop calling this a march, or rally, or a protest.  Go there ready for war.  We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal.’”

The FBI also found social media posts directing people to the multiple rally points across the country: “MAGA Cavalry to Connect Patriot Caravans to Stop the Steal in D.C.”  There were maps of the U.S. Capitol building showing how the various tunnels were connected.  The maps had the heading: “CREATE PERIMETER.”

In the days after Donald Trump lost the presidential election, one of the leaders of the Oath Keepers, the now convicted Stewart Rhodes, said the group was ready for a “bloody fight.”  Another one of their leaders, Thomas Edward Caldwell, said, “This kettle is set to boil.  It begins for real Jan 5 and 6 on Washington D.C. when we mobilize in the streets.  Let them try to certify some crud on capitol hill with a million or more patriots in the streets.”

A QAnon supporter tweeted: “It was a rigged election but they were busted.  Sting of the Century!  Justice is coming!”  Naturally, Donald quickly retweeted the message.

On the day of the assault, inside the Senate chamber, one devout Trump follower said, “While we’re here, we might as well set up a government.” Another one reminded his fellow insurgents, “You are executing citizen’s arrest.  Arrest this assembly; we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud.”

In May 2020, Couy Griffin, a county commissioner in New Mexico who also leads the group Cowboys for Trump, said on a video, “The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.”  Naturally, Donald Trump wasted no time promoting the video adding, “Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico!”

Later that month, Mr. Griffin told The Daily Beast that Democratic governors who shut down their states because of the coronavirus could be guilty of treason and could get the death penalty: “You get to pick your poison: You either go before a firing squad, or you get the end of the rope.” When the reporter asked Mr. Griffin if violence may be necessary, he said, “I’ll tell you what, partner, as far as I’m concerned, there’s not an option that’s not on the table.”

Cut to January 7th, the day after the Capitol riot.  Once again on video, Mr. Griffin said of Joe Biden’s inauguration: “We could have a Second Amendment rally on those same steps that we had that rally yesterday. You know, and if we do, then it’s going to be a sad day, because there’s going to be blood running out of that building.”

If you are not convinced that Donald Trump’s words incited the riot at the U.S. Capitol — both before and on January 6th — just ask the very people whom he incited. 

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The leader of the Florida Oath Keepers, Kelly Meggs, made it clear he was answering Donald Trump’s call when he posted on Facebook, “He called us all to Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!!  Sir yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC.”  Kelly has since been charged with conspiracy.

QAnon loyalist Kenneth Grayson said, “I’m there for the greatest celebration of all time after Pence leads the Senate flip!!  OR IM THERE IF TRUMP TELLS US TO STORM THE FUKIN CAPITAL IMA DO THAT THEN!” Kenneth has since been charged with 5 felonies.

A bodybuilder named Samuel Fisher who, for some odd reason also goes by the name Brad Holiday, posted that “at 1 when congress certifies the election…Trump just needs to fire the bat signal…deputize patriots…and then the pain comes.”  Samuel (a.k.a. Brad Holiday) is facing multiple charges for his role in the Capitol riot and was arrested with over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a tactical vest plus another vest with ballistic plates and a knife, two machetes, a shotgun, and, of course, a copy of the Daily News with Donald Trump’s face on the cover and an American flag. 

Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins sent messages in advance of the 6th that said, “Trump wants all able bodied patriots to come” and “if Trump activates the Insurrection Act, I’d hate to miss it.”  The day of the assault, Jessica — dressed, as the rest of her group was, in tactical gear including bulletproof vests and helmets — posted a message that said, “Trump’s been trying to drain the swamp with a straw. We just brought a shop vac.”

Incidentally, this is also the gal that said, “If (Biden) is (sworn in), our way of life as we know it is over.  Our Republic would be over.  Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights…If Biden get the steal, none of us have a chance in my mind.  We already have our neck in the noose.  They just haven’t kicked the chair yet.”

Two other ladies (I use that term loosely all the way around) in red MAGA hats, Dawn Bancroft and Diana Santos-Smith, recorded a video for Bancroft’s children (these poor kids) documenting their big day which was later confiscated by the FBI: “We broke into the Capitol…We got inside, we did our part.” 

But Bancroft, who is obviously not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, wasn’t finished.  “We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the friggin’ brain, but we didn’t find her.”  Thereby threatening to kill the fourth highest ranking person in the United States government.  On tape.

In other parts of the Capitol that day, insurrectionists can be heard on camera yelling at law enforcement, things like: “Our president wants us here; Stand down.  You’re outnumbered.  There’s a f---ing million of us out there, and we are listening to Trump — your boss; We wait and take orders from our president; We were invited here by the president of the United States…”

Interestingly enough, many of these Trump loyalists were pretty quick to throw him right under the bus once they got arrested.  For instance, Jessica Watkins’ attorney wasted no time in saying that Jessica was there that day “not to overthrow the government, but to support what she believed to be the lawful government.  She fell prey to the false and inflammatory claims of the former president, his supporters, and the right-wing media.”