Federal prosecutors are poised to leverage Twitter data as a crucial element of evidence in the impending trial of former President Donald Trump on criminal conspiracy charges linked to the January 6 Capitol riot.
In a court filing on Monday, the prosecution outlined three expert witnesses expected to testify, shedding light on their strategic approach, as reported by Independent on Monday, December 11.
The designated experts specialize in geolocation data analysis on mobile devices, including phones associated with Mr. Trump and other individuals at the White House. Previously, these experts successfully mapped the movements of rioters who breached the Capitol grounds and halls of Congress on the pivotal day.
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One of the witnesses possesses expertise in plotting location history data for Google accounts and devices, particularly among those who attended Trump’s rally at the Ellipse before marching to the Capitol.
Their testimonies are designed to present graphical representations of the data, facilitating the jury’s comprehension of the movements of individuals toward the Capitol during and after Trump’s speech.
Another expert will concentrate on data extracted from White House cell phones, including Trump’s, highlighting periods when the phone was unlocked and the Twitter application was open on January 6. This information aims to establish a timeline of Trump’s Twitter activity during the events surrounding the Capitol breach.
The court filing discloses that the prosecution, led by US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith, intends to introduce evidence showcasing Trump’s endorsement of charged and convicted rioters, as well as his advocacy for political violence.
This evidence is intended to bolster the argument that Trump failed to prevent rioters from obstructing the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Elon Musk’s X platform, previously known as Twitter, has also contributed to the investigation by providing 32 direct messages from Trump’s account to Smith’s team.
Trump faces four criminal charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
These charges stem from his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results through what prosecutors describe as a multi-state scheme based on falsehoods and conspiracy theories.
While a trial is tentatively scheduled for March 2024, Trump is concurrently among more than a dozen defendants in Fulton County, Georgia, accused of participating in a “criminal enterprise” to unlawfully overturn the state’s election results.
On Monday, Smith urged the US Supreme Court to promptly address Trump’s attempts to dismiss the federal case on grounds of “presidential immunity.”
In response to Smith’s request, the justices agreed to expedite the case, giving Trump until December 20 to respond. The legal battle surrounding Trump’s actions on January 6 continues to unfold, with the use of Twitter data emerging as a pivotal aspect of the prosecution’s case.
