Pezzola is not the first accused in the Capitol insurrection to cite Trump’s calls as the motivation for marching and violating the Capitol. But he is among those facing the most serious charges, along with several other members of the Proud Boys, in connection with January 6.
His action also targets Trump more accurately than many of the other hooligans who mentioned him.
“Many of those who answered his call will go through a substantial part, if not the rest of their lives in prison,” wrote Pezzola’s lawyer. “Meanwhile, Donald Trump resumes his life of luxury and privilege.”
Prosecutors called for Pezzola’s arrest, pointing to the destruction of a Capitol window with a police shock shield, which was captured in images of the disturbances. Pezzola is said to have been one of the first rebels to invade the Capitol and accused him of plotting and coordinating his actions with others.
“Given the combination of the defendant’s actions that day, his stated intentions to commit additional violence and his access to the means to carry out this violence in a largely undetectable way, there are simply no conditions or combinations of conditions for release that can guarantee the safety of the community. if the defendant is released, “prosecutors wrote to the court last month.
Pezzola’s criticism of Trump fits the case that the House’s impeachment administrators plan to do on Wednesday during the opening arguments at his Senate trial, on charges of inciting insurrection. Managers claim that Trump was the “singular” cause of the unrest and that his supporters were responding to his calls when they invaded the Capitol.