Federal prosecutors gearing up for the trial of former President Donald Trump on criminal conspiracy charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot have outlined a strategic plan to utilize Twitter data as pivotal evidence in court. The prosecution, led by US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith, is set to bring forth three expert witnesses, shedding light on their intent to establish a comprehensive case against Trump.
The experts, specializing in geolocation data analysis on mobile devices, will play a crucial role in mapping the movements of rioters who breached the Capitol grounds and halls of Congress on that fateful day. Specifically, their focus extends to phones associated with Mr. Trump and other key figures at the White House.
One witness, with expertise in plotting location history data for Google accounts and devices, will present graphical representations of the movements of individuals who attended Trump’s rally at the Ellipse before marching towards the Capitol. Their testimony aims to provide the jury with a visual understanding of the events leading up to and during the Capitol breach.
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Another expert will concentrate on data extracted from White House cell phones, including Trump’s, detailing periods when the phone was unlocked and the Twitter application was open on January 6. This information seeks to establish a timeline of Trump’s Twitter activity during the critical moments surrounding the Capitol breach.
The court filing also reveals the prosecution’s intention to introduce evidence illustrating Trump’s support for charged and convicted rioters, as well as his endorsement of political violence. This evidence serves to bolster the argument that Trump failed to prevent the interference of rioters with the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Furthermore, Elon Musk’s X platform, formerly known as Twitter, has contributed to the investigation by providing 32 direct messages from Trump’s account to Smith’s team.
Donald 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 alleged attempts to reverse the 2020 election results through what prosecutors describe as a multi-state scheme based on lies and conspiracy theories.
While a trial is tentatively scheduled for March 2024, Trump is simultaneously a defendant in Fulton County, Georgia, accused of participating in a “criminal enterprise” to unlawfully overturn the state’s election results. Smith has urged the US Supreme Court to promptly address Trump’s attempts to dismiss the federal case on grounds of “presidential immunity,” with the justices expediting the case, granting 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 shaping up to be a pivotal aspect of the prosecution’s case.
