After a tweet from Trump inviting protesters in Washington, many of his supporters announced travel plans, some to support their leader, but others with intent to provoke unrest, court documents note.
On Dec. 19, Beverly Hills beauty salon owner Gina Bisignano read a tweet from then-President Donald Trump: “Big protest in DC on Jan. 6. Go, it’s going to be wild!”.
“We will be there,” replied Bisignano, one of tens of millions of people who read the call in Washington to protest the alleged electoral fraud against Trump.
Meanwhile, Ethan Nordean in Washington state and Enrique Tarrio in Florida were in line making their plans for the big day as far-right group leaders Proud Boys.
According to a court case, on December 27 Nordean asked its followers on the networks funds to buy protective equipment and communications equipment.
A week later, he and Tarrio told his followers on a podcast to dress in black and that they should be ready to fight.
“We’re seen almost as right-wing soldiers,” Tarrio said. “That’s for real. We’re at war.”
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In the ranks of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers extremists, between QAnon conspirators and unconditional Republican president fans, the message was clear weeks earlier: Trump wants them to go to Washington to prevent Congress from certifying the election victory of Joe Biden on January 6th.
Radical Trump fans clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Photo / AFP
While Trump is on trial in the U.S. Senate for inciting insurrection for the events of that day, more and more evidence based on court documents shows that the attack on the Capitol was premeditated.
“Boiling point”
After Trump’s tweet, many fans announced plans to travel to Washington, some simply for a final rally in support of their leader.
But others spoke of stopping the certification itself and inflicting pain on congressional “traitors”.
And they decided to come prepared. Many wore combat helmets, stun guns, bulletproof vests, communications equipment and spray for bears and pepper. A handful of them had guns.
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The night before, someone placed homemade explosives in two different places near the Capitol. The bombs never exploded and it is possible that their goal was simply to drive the police away from the Capitol when the assault began.
The alleged leaders of the attack, the ones who seem most organized, according to court documents, were the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.
Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump violently entered the U.S. Capitol. Photo / AFP
In late December in Berryville, Virginia, about 100 miles west of Washington, Thomas Caldwell was allegedly organizing for an episode of serious violence.
Caldwell, described as a “commander” of the Oath Keepers, a violent far-right group made up mostly of ex-military and police, planned to gather on the outskirts of Washington with members of armed militias from across the region.
“Let’s see if they’re able to certify any mier ** on Capitol Hill with a million or more patriots on the streets. This teapot is about to boil,” he said on Facebook.
“They have turned into pure evil, even blatantly manipulating an election and paying the political caste. We must punish now and overthrow,” he added.
Assault on the Capitol
In Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, a supporter of QAnon and Proud Boys, 51-year-old Kenneth Grayson, was also preparing.
On December 23, according to court documents, he sent a text message to family and friends: “I will be there if Trump tells us to storm the pu ** Capitol (…) these elections are not going to be stolen.”
In Georgia, lawyer William Calhoun was angry over the alleged electoral fraud orchestrated by Biden. After the election, he had already been reported to the FBI for calling for an armed attack on Washington.
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On Dec. 29, he posted, “Being physically present in Washington on Jan. 6 is vitally important. We, the people, have no realistic choice to convey our firm intention to demand fair elections now and forever.”
A week later, he announced that he was heading to Washington “to let them know that this is their last chance to Stop The Robbery, or they are going to have bigger problems.”
“Theft is stopped”
On the morning of Jan. 6, Ronnie Sandlin of Memphis Tennessee and Nathan Degrave of Las Vegas, Nevada made a video of their plans.
“I think it’s time to take the Capitol and I’m not saying it lightly,” Sandlin said.
“If we have to occupy the Capitol, we will occupy the Capitol (…) at one o’clock is when everything will happen.”
After the attack, the participants boasted of their triumph, having achieved what they planned to do.
“Today the American people showed that we have power,” Calhoun posted.
Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump are protesting at the U.S. Capitol Roundabout. Photo / AFP
“We occupy the Capitol and we stop the Government, we stop its tricks to steal elections.”
Proud Boys member Nicholas Ochs of Hawaii and Nicholas DeCarlo of Texas streamed a live video of the scene.
“We came here to stop the robbery,” Ochs said.
“That’s why I came here. Damn, we did,” DeCarlo said.
“It may resume, but the theft is stopped for now. ‘Nothing, United States!'” Ochs added.
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