Many of the rioters charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection reportedly donated to former President Donald Trump even after he lost the 2020 election.
According to an analysis published by USA Today on Thursday, Federal Elections Commissions records for 2019 and 2020 show at least 75 of the 307 people charged through March 18 made political contributions. Republican candidates and committees received more than 98% of their contributions, and close to 87% donated to Trump.
Accused rioters reportedly donated at least $39,734, with $24,822 being given to Trump. More than $10,600, or 25% of donations, flowed in after the election.
The former president appeared to defend his supporters for storming the Capitol during a Fox News interview Thursday, as IJR reported.
“It was zero threat, right from the start. Some of them went in, and they are hugging and kissing the police and the guards … a lot of the people were waved in, and then they walked in and they walked out,” Trump said.
Michael Sherwin, the former top prosecutor leading the investigation into the riot, suggested Trump might be “criminally culpable” for the insurrection, as IJR reported.
“We have plenty of people — we have soccer moms from Ohio that were arrested saying, ‘Well, I did this because my president said I had to take back our house.’ That moves the needle towards that direction,” Sherwin said during an interview with 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley.
He continued, “Maybe the president is culpable for those actions. But also, you see in the public record too, militia members saying, ‘You know what? We did this because Trump just talks a big game. He’s just all talk. We did what he wouldn’t do.'”
The Senate voted to acquit Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection in February.