A former Twitter employee testified anonymously about Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attacks.
As a reminder, the attack took place following the defeat of Trump in the presidential re-election. More than 2,000 rioters then stormed the Capitol, seat of the US Congress.
Attacks encouraged by the outgoing President
A committee selected for the occasion is currently conducting an investigation into these assaults on the Capitol. Testimony revealed details of Trump’s involvement and his use of Twitter to act. A former employee of the platform precisely testified anonymously: he would have tried to warn that the attack was going to occur, without success.
According to him, Trump addressed extremist organizations directly through Twitter. He would have given them clear directives to encourage the attack. The employee clarified that this kind of direct communication between Trump and these far-right groups was a first for the president, who had nevertheless made several allusions to his support for organizations of this type, like the Proud Boys to whom he had request “ back off and wait during a debate.
The employee therefore alerted that Trump was using the social network to organize and encourage an anti-democratic attack that could have destabilized the entire country. In particular, he cites a tweet dated December 19 in which Trump challenged the election results as a clear announcement of what was to come. The outgoing president wrote: Large demonstration in (Washington) DC on January 6th. Be present, be wild. »
Twitter’s role in the assaults
The employee, a moderator on Twitter, then tried to warn. To him, an angry mob was truly organizing on the platform, gathering their weapons and preparing to fight. The messages were vague, but for him, it was clear that Donald Trump was behind this revolt.
However, no action was taken by the blue bird network until January 6 itself. The witness also mentioned that any other user would have been suspended for such remarks. But the platform was cashing in on Trump’s notoriety and frenzied use of Twitter, and so didn’t ban him until Jan. 8, two days after the attack.
In response, Twitter assured, “ know your role in the events leading up to the January 6 attacks. A mysterious answer that shows that this investigation still has work to do…
Source : Engadget
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