On New Year’s Day, Donald Trump accused Liz Cheney of deleting evidence that would have proved the former president ordered thousands of troops to defend the Capitol on Jan 6.
Accusations
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Trump posted the following on Truth Social, the social network he created: “Why did American Disaster Liz Cheney, who suffers from TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), and was defeated for Congress by the largest margin for a sitting Congressman or Congresswoman in the history of our Country, ILLEGALLY DELETE & DESTROY most of the evidence, and related items, from the January 6th Committee of Political Thugs and Misfits?”
Minor Fact Check
The claim that Cheney lost her Congressional election by the largest margin for a sitting Congressperson is false. Cheney’s 37-point defeat in the 2022 Republican House primary was one of the worst on record, but wasn’t as bad as Bob Inglis’s loss in 2010.
All Caps
“THIS ACT OF EXTREME SABOTAGE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY LAWYERS TO PROPERLY PREPARE FOR, AND PRESENT, A PROPER DEFENSE OF THEIR CLIENT, ME,” Trump continued in his Truth Social post. “All of the information on Crazy Nancy Pelosi turning down 10,000 soldiers that I offered to to [sic] guard the Capitol Building, and beyond, is gone.”
Strange Claim
The claim that Trump ordered 10,000 National Guard troops to defend the Capitol against Jan 6 rioters has been repeated by the former president and his supporters for years, despite being proven false. The Washington Post investigated the claims, concluding that, at most, Trump made an offhand remark in a single meeting that wasn’t even related to the preparations for Jan 6.
Conclusions
The Jan 6 committee’s final report also concluded that Trump “did not order the National Guard to protect the U.S. Capitol.” Instead, Trump “floated the idea of having 10,000 National Guardsmen deployed to protect him and his supporters from any supposed threats by leftwing counter-protestors.”
Legal Battles
Of course, the Capitol was, in the end, endangered by rightwing rioters who were potentially encouraged by the former president’s comments to “fight like hell.” Federal prosecutors have charged Trump with inciting the insurrection, an act that could see him barred from the presidency.
Complaints
In his New Year’s Day post, Trump complained that Cheney’s supposed destruction of evidence undermined his legal battle with special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the federal prosecution against the former president.
Trump’s Rage
“The ridiculous Deranged Jack Smith case on Immunity,” Trump wrote, “which the most respected legal minds in the Country say I am fully entitled to, is now completely compromised and should be thrown out and terminated, JUST LIKE THE RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS DID TO THE EVIDENCE!”
Claims and Counterclaims
Trump and his supporters argue that his position as president on Jan 6 means he should be immune from prosecution for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith and his team claim that this argument “threatens to license presidents to commit crimes to remain in office,” which might “undermine democracy.”
Cheney Responds
“Seems like someone is starting 2024 hangry,” Cheney wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in response to Trump’s rant. “Lying about the evidence in all caps won’t change the facts. A public trial will show it all.”
Pending Battle
Though prosecutors have attempted to reach a trial speedily, delays mean that it might not happen before the election gets underway. Trump faces a total of 91 charges, 44 federal and 47 state, across four criminal cases.
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