Giuliani focused on self-described leftist activist John Earle Sullivan of Utah, who was charged in federal court on Thursday on three charges related to the Capitol riot, and argued that the presence and statements of Sullivan and other unidentified rebels indicate that the attack was conducted by forces opposed to Trump.
“We have people who invaded like Mr. Sullivan and his seemingly Black Lives Matter group run by rioters and looters and everything else they are,” said Giuliani in a Thursday episode of his podcast entitled “Another FRAME UP”.
He also said that the riot was something “with which the president had nothing to do”.
In the Tweet now removed, Giuliani included a screen capture of a text allegedly from Sullivan’s brother James, in which the sender claimed to be working with the FBI “to expose and blame John completely” and more than 200 members of the Antifa.
Neither Giuliani nor James Sullivan presented evidence to support the claim that Antifa was involved in the January 6 rebellion. Federal law enforcement officials said they had found no evidence to suggest that Antifa played a significant role in the insurrection.
John Sullivan and his brother James appear to be at opposite ends of the political spectrum.
James Sullivan declined to comment.
Neither John Sullivan nor the lawyer representing him in the charges arising from the siege of the Capitol could be reached for comment on Friday night. Lawyer Peter Kern, who represents Sullivan in a separate criminal case opened this summer in Utah, declined to characterize any political affiliation Sullivan may have.
During the siege, John Sullivan recorded the confusion and provided comments on what was going on. He was accused of disorderly conduct, interfering with law enforcement and intentionally entering or staying in a restricted building, according to a criminal complaint. He was taken into custody in Utah, where he lives.
According to the complaint, Sullivan told the FBI that he was an activist and journalist who filmed protests and riots, “but admitted he had no press credentials”. He told officers he was wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask and entered the building through a broken window, the statement said. While outside the Capitol building before entering, he proclaimed, “Let’s burn this shit.”
Once inside, he can be heard on audio arguing with the police and telling them to withdraw or that they can get hurt, according to the statement.
“You are putting yourself in danger,” he told police. “The people spoke.” The prison statement also says that while a crowd was trying to open the doors of part of the Capitol, Sullivan can be heard on the video saying, “Hey, guys, I have a knife. I have a knife. Let me up.”
When asked about some of the things he said during a 40-minute video he recorded about the incident, he said, “When you’re in a crowd like that, you have to mix it up.”
That case is pending, the court records show online. Kern said that Sullivan’s charge was postponed and that he had not yet filed the suit.
“We [expletive] about to burn it [expletive] “he said to the crowd.” We need to get Trump out of the office over there. “
He then led the crowd in a shout of “It’s time for a revolution.”
In the aftermath of last week’s Capitol siege, Sullivan appeared on CNN’s AC360 and ABC’s Good Morning America, commenting on the dramatic scenes he filmed inside the Capitol.
“I am by no means on the side of Trump or on the side of Biden,” he told Anderson Cooper.