In response to an attorney for Donald Trump claiming that his indictment on four counts related to the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol is an attack on free speech and political advocacy, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) dismissed the argument as “comical.” Raskin clarified that it was not Trump’s speech but his actions that led to the indictment.
Raskin explained that individuals have the right to express their opinions about the election, even if they believe it is fraudulent, but once they attempt to obstruct or interfere with the workings of Congress, they have crossed the line from speech to conduct. To illustrate this point, Raskin used an analogy about printing one’s own money, stating that while one can express the belief that currency is phony, printing counterfeit money would be a violation of the law.
In the case of Trump, Raskin highlighted that his debunked claims of fraud were not the only issue; he also allegedly assembled “counterfeit electors” in an attempt to substitute them for the real electors. Raskin argued that this goes beyond speech and enters the realm of conduct.
Regarding the charge of aiding and abetting insurrectionists, Raskin noted that special counsel Jack Smith did not include it in the indictment. Raskin speculated that prosecutors may have made this decision to avoid focusing on speech, allowing them to concentrate solely on conduct.
Raskin emphasized that the evidence against Trump is overwhelming.
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