Former President Donald Trump's loud support for Jan. 6 rioters represents a dark attempt to "convince followers to risk their own skins in the future" on the former president's behalf, a new opinion piece posits. It then asks the question: why do they let him?
Salon columnist Amanda Marcotte noted Thursday that while Trump floats promises of pardons, he does not offer material support to the more than 1,300 people who have been charged with crimes related to the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
"Despite his claims to be a 'billionaire,' he hasn't paid their legal bills or helped their families after they lost their jobs," Marcotte writes. "He loves to get publicly maudlin about Ashli Babbitt, the insurrectionist shot by Capitol police, but he didn't offer to say, cut back a little on his golf club budget to pay for Babbitt's funeral."
But Trump's perceived support for those who commit crimes can still have serious consequences for supporters who seek to prove their loyalty, Marcotte writes.
As an example, Marcotte points to Tyler Vogel, 26, who was arrested last week on charges that he texted threats to New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York Justice Arthur Engoron.
Among the messages prosecutors contend Vogel sent: "I will kill you if you even dare to permanently steal Donald Trumps assets or his property."
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Marcotte writes that Trump's influence is partially to blame for Vogel's arrest.
"It's especially pathetic to see someone give up his freedom to defend Trump's 'right' to keep private jets and golf courses that were obtained through decades of fraud," Marcotte writes. "Trump has been on social media for months, unsubtly begging his supporters to get violent against law enforcement trying to hold him accountable."
Marcotte then recounts the tale of one of Trump's most loyal followers, Mike Lindell.
"Lindell's once-mighty linens empire was delivered another humiliating blow last week when his company was evicted from a Minnesota building after falling behind $200,000 on rent," Marcotte notes.
"The month before, Lindell was hit with a $5 million judgment, owed to a software engineer who entered Lindell's 'Prove Mike Wrong Challenge,' in which Lindell claimed no one could debunk his supposed "evidence" that President Joe Biden stole the 2020 election from Trump."
Marcotte ultimately wonders if Trump's MAGA followers believe they can escape consequences, as they've seen their leader do.
"It is repulsively true that Trump wriggles out of consequences for his crimes time and time again," she concludes.
"It seems that MAGA people believe they are endowed with the impunity that Trump has so long enjoyed, due to his wealth and status."
