Trump May Be Shielded From Riot Charges by Klan Speech Case
- Supreme Court ruling set high bar for incitement prosecutions
- Investigation could uncover further evidence of Trump’s intent
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A 1969 Supreme Court ruling that tossed the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader may also shield President Donald Trump from prosecution for inciting last week’s Capitol riot, leaving few alternatives to hold him accountable if impeachment efforts fail.
At the rally preceding the riot, Trump gave an inflammatory speech, urging the crowd to go to the Capitol and demand legislators gathered to formally confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory address his baseless claims of voter fraud. Trump asked his supporters to “show strength” and “fight much harder.” Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump Jr. and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks also spoke ahead of the riot, which led to five deaths.