As they mounted their defense of the former president on Friday, Donald J. Trump\u2019s lawyers made a number of inaccurate or misleading claims about the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, Mr. Trump\u2019s remarks, the impeachment process and 2020 election. Many claims were echoes of right-wing talking points popularized on social media or ones that were spread by Mr. Trump himself.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a fact check.<\/p>\n
What Was Said<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of expressing a desire that the joint session be prevented from conducting its business, the entire premise of his remarks was that the democratic process would and should play out according to the letter of the law.\u201d \u2014 Michael van der Veen, lawyer for Mr. Trump<\/em><\/p>\n False. <\/strong>In his speech on Jan. 6 and before, Mr. Trump repeatedly urged former Vice President Mike Pence to reject the certification of the Electoral College votes, saying Mr. Pence should \u201csend it back to the States to recertify.\u201d Mr. Trump continued his speech on Jan. 6 saying he was \u201cchallenging the certification of the election.\u201d<\/p>\n What Was Said<\/p>\n \u201cFar from promoting insurrection of the United States, the president\u2019s remarks explicitly encouraged those in attendance to exercise their rights peacefully and patriotically.\u201d \u2014 Mr. van der Veen<\/em><\/p>\n This is exaggerated.<\/strong> Mr. Trump used the phrase \u201cpeacefully and patriotically\u201d once in his speech, compared with 20 uses of the word \u201cfight.\u201d<\/p>\n What Was Said<\/p>\n \u201cAs everyone knows, the president had spoken at hundreds of large rallies across the country over the past five years. There had never been any moblike or riotous behaviors.\u201d \u2014 Mr. van der Veen<\/em><\/p>\n This is misleading. <\/strong>While no other Trump rally has led to a siege of the Capitol, there have been episodes of violence, sometimes encouraged by the president. Less than two months before the riot on Jan. 6, Mr. Trump waved to supporters who had gathered in Washington to protest his election loss and who later violently clashed with counterprotesters. Previously, other supporters had attacked counterprotesters, and in one case a BBC cameraman, at several Trump rallies. Mr. Trump called one victim \u201cdisgusting\u201d and offered to pay the legal fees of a supporter who had punched a protester.<\/p>\nThe Trump Impeachment \u203a<\/h3>\n
What You Need to Know<\/h4>\n
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