In a recent social media post on his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump renewed baseless accusations against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney. Trump alleged that Pelosi rejected his offer to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, and he claimed that Cheney illegally deleted and destroyed crucial evidence related to the event.
These allegations, central to Trump’s defense against charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, have been widely debunked by fact-checkers, journalists, and witnesses before the January 6 committee. Trump’s narrative asserts that Pelosi’s refusal compromised security and that Cheney’s actions hindered his legal defense. However, a closer examination reveals a stark divergence from established facts and legal precedent.
Trump’s claim that Pelosi turned down his offer to deploy National Guard troops has been contradicted by former acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, who stated that he received no such directive from the White House. Additionally, there is no evidence linking Pelosi to the Capitol Police or National Guard decision-making process.
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Contrary to Trump’s assertion, the January 6 committee maintains that Cheney did not delete or destroy any evidence. The panel assures that all relevant records, including transcripts of unarchived recordings due to a technical glitch, have been received and preserved.
Trump’s argument of immunity from prosecution faces significant dispute from legal experts who assert that the Constitution does not grant absolute immunity to any public official. Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has moved to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit challenging the grand jury subpoenas issued by his office.
As Trump pleads not guilty to charges ranging from obstruction of justice to incitement of insurrection, he continues to denounce the legal proceedings as a “witch hunt” orchestrated by Democrats. Despite his allegations, the mounting evidence challenges the veracity of Trump’s claims, raising questions about the credibility of his defense and the potential impact on his anticipated 2024 presidential bid.
