By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Former special counsel Jack Smith stated that Donald Trump was the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the January 6th Capitol riot, emphasizing that the attack wouldn’t have occurred without him. During a closed-door deposition released by the House Judiciary Committee, Smith defended his investigations, rejecting claims of political motivation, and asserted that evidence, including testimony from Trump allies, strongly supported the charges against him. Smith highlighted Trump’s actions leading up to the riot, including spreading false claims of election fraud and inciting supporters to march to the Capitol, as well as his reluctance to stop the violence once it began. Smith also defended the acquisition of phone records of Republican lawmakers who communicated with Trump on January 6th as a crucial part of the investigation.
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The Capitol riot of January 6th, 2021, “does not happen” without Donald Trump. That’s the clear takeaway from former special counsel Jack Smith’s statements to Congress, a sentiment echoing the gut feeling many of us had as we watched the events unfold. Smith characterized Trump as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in a criminal conspiracy aimed at overturning the 2020 election results, a stark assessment that reinforces the undeniable role Trump played in inciting the events of that day.
The evidence presented, according to Smith, pointed directly to Trump as the driving force. The attack on the Capitol was, in essence, orchestrated for his benefit. The other individuals involved were acting, as the evidence suggests, at his behest. It’s difficult to deny the simple truth: Without his persistent rhetoric about a stolen election, his encouragement of his supporters, and his call for them to march to the Capitol, the events of that day likely wouldn’t have transpired. It’s hard to fathom how anyone could deny this, given the plain-as-day visibility of the events.
The fact that this information was released on a slow news day and that there seemed to be a general weakness of justice, particularly from Merrick Garland, is frustrating. It raises questions about accountability and the handling of such a serious situation. It’s almost unbelievable that this is the biggest mishandling of justice in a political landscape in modern times, perhaps even in the country’s history.
The January 6th events were an act of violence, a failed coup, and, as some have rightly pointed out, a form of treason. Trump, in the eyes of many, bears the responsibility for instigating these actions. It’s undeniable that he was at the center of the situation, especially given his constant claims of a stolen election. The evidence is clear: the rally speech, the march to the Capitol, the actions of the rioters, all point back to the actions and words of the former president.
Given the depth of his involvement, the events of January 6th invalidate any pardons Trump issued after gaining office, as those pardons appear to be part of a criminal conspiracy he led. We all watched the events unfold in real time, and the consequences of those actions have been far-reaching. The entire incident was a result of Trump’s rhetoric and specific comments. It’s difficult to overlook the fact that the events were fueled by his words, which incited and encouraged his supporters to act.
It seems even the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee couldn’t deny Trump’s direct culpability. The question of whether the committee was forced to release the transcript and video is unclear, but the implications are undeniable. The world was watching as it was happening.
The fact that so many people don’t seem to understand the severity of the events, or who was responsible, is disturbing. There’s a need to address the facts, the history, and the truth of what occurred, and who was behind it. It’s essential to remember the role that Trump played in inciting the events of that day, and the fact that they were done for his benefit. Trump’s speech was the catalyst, the spark that ignited the chaos. It’s a disgrace that there hasn’t been more accountability for what happened.
The notion that Trump didn’t know about the events beforehand, or didn’t do anything to stop them during the attack, is hard to reconcile with the evidence. It’s hard to imagine that Trump was unaware of what was going to happen, and then didn’t act to quell it during the events, making it seem almost as though he was a puppet.
For many, it’s a simple case of “no fucking shit.” The events of January 6th were a direct result of Trump’s actions. It’s a sentiment shared by many people who were watching that day. It’s hard to imagine those events taking place if Trump hadn’t been the one pushing the issue. It wasn’t about a normal process, but about a president’s rhetoric and actions.